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Welcome to “Is It Ever Okay,” Bon Appétit’s questionable etiquette column. Have a question? Email staff.bonappetit@gmail.com.
I don't know what time or day it is anymore. In this state of confusion, when is it appropriate to have a cocktail or a glass of wine? —Timeless Talia
Well, all of Europe seems to be able to have a glass of wine with lunch so I don’t know why the line of demarcation got officially drawn at 5:00 p.m. in the U.S. Have you ever had a crisp glass of Sancerre with a big lunch burrito? Heaven! Take a little nap afterward; set your Slack away message to “BRB” like a certain colleague of mine does when she’s definitely napping. It’s good for the immune system to rest, relax, and feel joy. However you need to do that, do that.
How much cabbage is too much cabbage? —Cruciferous Camille
I can fit two heads into my crisper, so that seems like enough. It does keep FOR WEEKS, which is amazing. But the answer is three heads. Three is too much. Speaking of heads, don’t lose yours hoarding bulk vegetables (or anything, for that matter) you don’t have the physical or stomach space to store.
Is it a big deal to eat expired canned soup? It seems wasteful to throw it out. —Dated Doreen
The expiration date on canned food is determined by the company that makes it, but most canned food can last much longer than that date (check out this app the UDSA made for more specific timelines). Today I learned that high-acid canned goods don’t last as long, fascinating! Everything you feel iffy about should get a look and smell test. But let this be a learning moment for you—go through that pantry and see what’s expiring in the next few months and put it on the counter. Eat it!
How do I manage my newfound nightly ice cream consumption? I went from a Klondike bar to half a pint of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream. Sometimes I caramelize bananas and pour that over. —Overboard Otis
Nice touch with the caramelized bananas. That sounds like a smart way to get in a daily dose of fruit/potassium, IMO. Ice cream is crammed with bad-for-you sugar, which makes it hard for me to fall asleep, and you’re going with COFFEE ice cream too, so we might not be on the same page, philosophically. But if you’re cooking all your meals, otherwise eating your greenery, touching your toes twice a day—a little ice cream treat isn’t that big of a deal (me = not a dietician). Especially if the happiness payoff is so huge.
Can I snack during Zoom meetings? I’m muted! —Chomping Chester
When I see someone snacking in a Zoom meeting all I want to know is “whatcha eatin?” It’s distracting! And some people are gross eaters, let’s be real. I’m already seeing inside the intimate space of your home, do I also need to see the inside of your mouth? I’m gently advocating for not snacking in professional meeting environments, but then again, I’m a person who feels self-conscious sipping from my Camp Snoopy water glass in video chats. I’d never fathom going full sandwich. But also: I’m not THAT busy. Are you?
What can I do with…. —Lotsa People
Preserved lemons
A cute salad dressing (chop ‘em up, add olive oil, honey, lemon juice, s+p)
Blend with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and serve with fish
Slice the peels and toss with roasted potatoes
Combine with spinach for a restaurant-y pasta dinner
Whole milk yogurt
Make banana bread and freeze slices for impulse banana bread moments
Use in place of sour cream in these ridiculously good biscuits which you can freeze (before baking)
Earl Grey yogurt cake obviously!!
Crispy tachin isn’t really freezer material but you WILL eat ALL of it so don’t worry about leftovers
French green lentils
One of the greatest salads that ever salad-ed
Mujadara makes me weak in the knees
Let Chris Morocco’s lentil burgers wow you
Chickpea flour
Priya’s comforting kadhi!
SOCCA time!
Have a crispy fritter moment
Make panisses, feel fancy
Red curry paste
Other than make a quick curry, you mean?
Try this INGENIOUS peanut dip
Marinate some shrimp in it
Stir into this lentil soup
Fresh fennel and no other produce
Open your mind to fennel dip
Tons of jam
JAM TART. SHOWSTOPPER.
Stir some into your gin and tonic (shrugs)
Make a layer cake, use it as the filling, celebrate something!
Plop onto boring oatmeal
Swirl into boring vanilla ice cream
Pinwheel cookies and linzer cookies are there for you
Parsley
Salsa verde! Blend with tomatillos, other herbs, green chiles, avocado. (Or capers and walnuts, whoa!)
Shove it in a jar with other herbs, feta, and olive oil for ~infused cheese~
Make this lemony, almondy dressing for lentils/kale/grain salads
Meet Andy’s kuku sabzi, an amazing herb frittata
Green Sauce No. 4 (self-explanatory)
Or throw it in the freezer in a bag labeled “future stock”
Is it okay to hide special treats from your quarantine-mates? —Egotistical Elijah
I used to consider an under-the-bed almond M&M stash a normal secret to have, but lately, I’m starting to think about how my selfish decisions affect other people. All of these downright heroic healthcare workers and tireless deliverypeople are out there risking their lives for us, and we’re conniving about hidden Cheez-Its? Is it possible that revealing and sharing the special treat might make your roommates so delighted that your own pleasure will multiply?? There’s a lot heavy thinkers have to say about American individualism in the time of Coronavirus; how our resistance to being told what to do is why the virus spread. But we’re just talking about snacks, aren’t we? Or...are we?