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Something True: A truth about myself

Here’s the truth.

I love Valentine Season

I love watching frazzled New Yorkers rush through crowds with semi-crushed bouquets of flowers under their arm. 

I love seeing brunches full of women clinking mimosas swearing off men forever and devoting their love to each other. 

I love seeing someone take themselves out to dinner with a book and a glass of wine.

I love seeing a couple kissing on the subway while the couple across from them whispers about how they would never do that.

I love love. 

Which is probably the reason I was a serial dater for most of my life, and probably why I wrote a book about romcoms and cheese. 

To me, Valentine’s Day is not about whether you have a partner or not to show love to by buying them a pretty box of mediocre saccharin sweets. It is just about showing love. 

I think we all need a lot of love right now. 

Sure, you can be upset and wax on about how Valentines Day is a capitalist holiday, engineered for us to just buy cards and candy…but you don’t have to buy anything to show love. 

Write something. Draw something. Cook something. Text something. Make something. Say something. Use the good stuff you have been saving for some mythical occasion: the good dishes, the special candles, the favorite snacks you already have. 

I hope your day is filled with love. I love that you’re here, and still reading this.

Something Tasty: A cheese pairing to try

Vermont Creamery Coupole

The best cheese to have on Valentine’s Day is not a heart-shaped bloomy rind, or one with chocolate on the middle, or the most expensive truffle cheese you can find. Those are fine and fun, but the best cheese is, and will always be, the one you (or your loved ones) love the most, or the one you have. 

Right now I have Coupole, a bright aged goat cheese with a beautiful cream line, from Vermont Creamery in my fridge. Last night I tried it with masala flavored potato chips I brought back from a trip but never opened, and it was awesome. I will always promote goat cheeses to be paired with chips that have a kick. 

And I will always advocate for you to scrounge around your pantry and find strangely delicious pairings with what you already have. You will be pleasantly surprised how unfussy an incredible pairing can be.

Farm to Fable: How food shows up in storytelling 

Peanut Butter and Oreos in The Parent Trap (1998)

Since we’re watching The Parent Trap at my upcoming event with art gurl all about nostalgia, it’s only fitting to talk about this iconic food moment. Two secret twin sisters that meet for the first time at camp and HATE each other, have the same slightly unconventional way to eat their favorite snack. It’s a great pairing, and it’s one of the first moments they realize maybe they could be friends…and maybe something a little spooky is going on since now they have two things in common: snacks…and they are identical. So.

Until next time,

Anne-Marie

P.S. - Sunday Scaries (it’s Friday, but this is scary enough to last the weekend)

A terrifying AI image to help us all rest knowing AI bots could never replace a real human artist:

This week the prompt was “an antique valentine with chocolate and cheese on it.”

What the hell.

Maybe give this valentine to someone you hate?

I would never give you this valentine. You deserve better. That’s why I made you that coupole pun collage.

www.annemariepietersma.com