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Kitchenlightenment

We Interrupt This Program

By January 30, 2017April 26th, 2017215 Comments


Thank you to everyone who noticed that Dinner: A Love Story was down all day Friday. It was frustrating, but the sheer number of “I can’t log on!” messages I received through social media channels warmed my heart. (They read me! They really do!) In addition to the nightmarishly long phone conversations I had to have with my web host, I was forced to scrap my weekly round-up (“the reading & eating” series) even though it was all ready to go. I would just run that round-up today, but given the events of the weekend, I think you probably know that I can’t bring myself to head straight into cheese graters and Super Bowl menus. Like many of you, I’m disgusted by the Muslim Ban, an executive order that has diminished this country and all we stand for with the stroke of a pen. The outpouring of action — spontaneous rallies, heroic judges and volunteer lawyers, boycotts, marches, postcard-writing mania — has been inspiring, but I fear we have a long road ahead of us. So before I get back to regularly scheduled programming, I’d like to follow the lead of two of my favorite food writers, Luisa Weiss and Julia Turshen by giving away free books* to the first ten people who donate $100 or more to the ACLU. (Forward your receipt to jenny AT dinneralovestory DOT com and tell me which book you’d like. *You can choose not just mine, but Luisa’sJulia’s or the book of any other author or blogger who would like to join forces with us.)

I’ll post the weekly round-up in the next few days, but please take a minute to read this story “A Clarifying Moment in American History,” written by a prominent conservative, paying careful attention to the line about educating our children.

UPDATE: You guys are amazing. The ten books (fourteen actually, it was too close to call) are spoken for. But please continue to donate and forward me your ACLU receipts, if only so my faith in the goodness of this country stays strong. Thank you Katharine, Rachael, Rebecca O, Jay, Victoria, Margaret, Suzette, Jennifer, Rebecca C., Erica, Marian, Elise, Kim, and Tiffany.

NOTE

I want to acknowledge the readers who have told me in no uncertain terms that they come to this blog for recipes and dinner strategies and resent the fact that from time to time I use Dinner: A Love Story as a political platform. I hear you on that, and I understand the frustration. But I’d like to point out that if you click on the “About” section on the top of my home page, it’s been clear from the beginning that I envisioned this space as not only a forum to discuss what’s for dinner, but also as a place to discuss what’s happening around the dinner table. In the past seven years, I’ve posted too many chicken recipes to count, but I’ve also written about how to have meaningful conversations over a shared meal; how to raise compassionate kids; how to raise girls with healthy body images; how technology affects our childrens’ development; how to teach them about empathy and gratitude; where we are traveling; what music we are listening to; and close to a hundred posts about what books we are loving — fiction, nonfiction, kids, YA, adult — which, you might be surprised to hear, are perennially the most popular/most shared/most visited posts on DALS. (More popular than even Pork Ragu!) Do politics fit in with this list? You might not think so. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought so. But I hope you understand, given the extraordinary circumstances of this administration, that it has started to feel disingenuous, almost irresponsible to write only about pork chops and apple pies without acknowledging a conversation that started 18 months ago at our dinner table (overlapping with many of the topics I hit on above) and shows no sign of stopping.

Lastly, I hope I’m not naive in believing that we are in a unique position on this blog. I think it’s fair to assume every person reading Dinner: A Love Story wants what is best for their families and their childrens’ futures. Let’s remember that we have more in common than we don’t, and try to prove my tagline correct as we head into the next few tumultuous years: It all begins at the family table.

Reminder: I welcome reactions from every side here, but the same rule applies as always: If you strongly disagree with me, know that I strongly respect your right to disagree, but you must pretend you are at my dinner table sitting across from me when you post your comment. This corner of the Internet is not the Wild West. I will not approve comments that are flagrantly mean-spirited or that do not advance the conversation in a constructive way.

215 Comments

  • Avatar Naomi Pattison-Williams says:

    This is just IT. Thank you for putting this into words so beautifully and clearly, Jenny.

  • Avatar JessicaD says:

    Jenny, just a note to let you know I strongly support ALL of your posts. Your blog is like an interesting dinner party … or picnic … or conversation at the bar with fun apps. Keep on keeping on. Jessica

  • Avatar Sarahd says:

    I appreciate your speaking up and out. It’s your blog, you should write about what YOU want to write about. It was extra nice of you to be extra respectful to all readers, of course:).

  • Avatar CDW says:

    Well done on speaking out. Always enjoy DALs especially the ‘life’ posts. Keep it up.

  • Avatar Maggie says:

    YES. as I’ve been telling all of my friends who, like me, have previously barred politics from the list of acceptable topics: we need to speak up! your voice is strong and it matters. Your honesty and transparency is inspiring and empowering and makes me love your recipes that much more. Please keep it up! (And thank goodness your daughters have a Mom like you.)

  • Avatar sarah says:

    Thank you for this post and for all that you do… These past few weeks have been so difficult, I used to love listening to the news and feeling hopeful as I cooked dinner, but now, not so much. Cooking for my family and trying new recipes is what is keeping me going these days, and your newest book has come at just the right time! It has become my most treasured cookbook. (that’s saying a lot, since my copy of DALS is completely falling apart from use : ) ) We celebrated being a part of the Women’s March/my mom’s 70th with your Mud Cake – it felt really special for such a hopeful day! We are already looking forward to making it again in a couple of weeks for my daughter’s 3rd birthday. She keeps asking when she’s gonna get her “lolly cake”.
    So thanks so much for this post, for holding tight to your beliefs and not being afraid to share, for your recipes and stories, for providing my little family with new treats to celebrate with, and just for keeping on…. ! You are truly appreciated! *sarah

  • Avatar Julie says:

    I really appreciate this post and subscribe your political outlook, too. There are plenty of dinner/cooking/family bloggers that I don’t feel have a similar life or beliefs to mine, and I read them until I can’t anymore. Your blog is refreshing. By the way, I have your celebrate everything book and make the granola twice a week.

  • Avatar Geri says:

    I so appreciate this post and the fact that you are speaking up. It is far too important to be quiet. I hope and pray that things turn around and move in a positive direction, but having a leader who campaigned hate and belittled all who are different from him terrifies me. The fact that so many are supporting this platform terrifies me. I have read ‘How to Celebrate Everything’ cover to cover and am grateful to you for sharing your secrets for making memories and rituals with your kids. (We had a pancake cake for my 4 year old’s birthday last week – genius and delicious! my new favorite tradition!) Reading your book felt like someone giving me the most precious secrets for making the most of these years that are going too fast already. You have become a great inspiration to me – and I am sure many more – and by not sitting back and letting the fear of insulting others or losing readership is noble and selfless. Please keep doing what you’re doing!

  • Avatar Rosie Lucchesini-Jack says:

    You’ve got to be kidding….

  • Avatar Kendra says:

    I am a long time ready of DALS and I 100% agree with you. Every family and every person in this country is affected by what our government thinks and does and we should be discussing it regularly-no matter what side of an issue you are on-the conversation is important and essential to every person who resides in the USA.

  • Avatar Anne says:

    I admire you for sharing your point of view. To not do so in such times would be disingenuous…it is not business as usual, and it’s important to speak up.

  • Avatar Kris says:

    I’ve quit reading most of the other blogs I visit because right now I just can’t stomach posts talking about new lipstick colors, or the “must have outfit for spring”. This is a scary time and it makes me feel a little better to know that you are having the same worries that I have. Thank you for your honesty.

  • Avatar Lori says:

    Thank you for this post and for all your posts.

  • Avatar Charity Haines says:

    Thank you Jenny! I 100% support in talking about what you want to talk and what you talk about around your dinner party. Your blog = your conversation starter.

    I have donated twice to the ACLU (and many other wonderful non profits) since November 8. Will continue my support and my fight too! Thank you!!! (I still think your In the Bank salad dressing is the best ever!)

  • Avatar Shell says:

    Agree and thank you! Love your food writing but in such a time as this we can’t always ignore what is swirling around us. This Fall and winter have been game changers for many of us. I marched, at 58 years old, in my first march, in San Francisco with my oldest son and his husband….because yes, we just have to put our foot down sometimes and say “Listen to us! We are here and we’re not going away!” That spurred some activism that continues and will at least through these painful next 4 years. We MUST stay VOCAL and strong and persistent! Please….keep it up.

  • Avatar Lisa says:

    The reason I read your blog is BECAUSE of everything else you post! Keep it up!

  • Avatar SC says:

    Thank you. First time commentor. I have read your blog for years, bought your first book, and use your recipes first as a single person now as a young working mom. My family are immigrants and refugees from Asia and Latin America. I sometimes feel a bit alienated reading food and lifestyle blogs because they’re typically written by white women. Your recent posts about politics, the state of our nation and how you’re navigating it with your family resonate deeply with me. They feel so real and human. I feel more connected as a reader. You have a fan for life!

  • Avatar Jenny says:

    You rock. If only the whole internet…the whole world (gasp)…could agree to your dinner table rule. !

  • Avatar Audrey says:

    So many YESes to this!!! I’ve started unfollowing blogs/IG accounts/etc who have remained suspiciously silent. I’m so thrilled your blog isn’t one of them! This is definitely not a time for silence.

  • Avatar Jo says:

    I support President Trump, and I respect your right to speak your mind. It is, indeed, YOUR blog.

  • Avatar Brittany says:

    A-men. Amen. Amen.

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