Spinach casserole, a Q&A and some links
Sophie is inspired by Lessons in Chemistry's Elizabeth Zott's spinach casserole, we ask author Jodi Wilson what she's eating and reading and share a few fun things to read and listen to.
Hello!
We’re back for our fortnightly, free ‘between-episodes’ newsletter, which this week (hopefully as always) is full of good things to read and eat! Plus some news about our first live event.
If you would like to support the podcast and receive show notes, recipes and extras from us, please consider subscribing to the tune of $5/month! Thank you so much.
Sophie and Germaine x
If you’ve listened to our latest episode of the podcast, you might remember it included a little discussion about spinach casserole, one of the dishes that Elizabeth Zott, the protagonist from Lessons in Chemistry (our book this episode) demonstrated in her tv show ‘Supper at Six’.
In the book, Elizabeth sent this casserole home with her producer Walter Pine whose daughter Amanda proclaimed it to be the best thing she’d ever eaten.
A big call.
Not one I (Sophie) could imagine ever saying about spinach casserole, despite how good, healthy, sensible and nutritious I imagine this dish could be. So, my challenge since recording that episode was to find a version worthy of Amanda’s high praise (and ours).
I found a few versions online. Tried them. Didn’t dig the amount of cream cheese and sometimes mayonnaise called for. Combed through my grandmother’s recipe boxes, no spinach casseroles there.
Then, finally, I found this recipe by English food writer Rachel Roddy. Roddy lives in Rome and writes many good things, including books. Two Kitchens (Sicilian recipes and stories) is a favourite of mine. She is also a regular recipe contributor to The Guardian
So rather than reinvent the wheel, I give you Rachel’s spinach and bechamel bake which, in short, is a huge dump of spinach wilted down then loosened by a good stirring through of bechamel, then lightened by a folding through of whisked egg whites. On top, we layer the rest of the bechamel, add a good shower of parmesan, and breadcrumbs, and into the oven it goes.
The result is more like a gratin (perhaps not a casserole then? Apologies) that is both light and comforting. I don’t think this needs anything else except perhaps a glass of cold white wine to be a perfect supper on a cold wet spring evening. Thank you Rachel. And Elizabeth for the inspiration.
Our first live event - save the date!
We are excited to announce the first-ever live event for Something to Eat and Something to Read on Saturday, December 3rd, at 4 pm. We will be recording a very Christmassy podcast recording full of books, recipes, and festive feels at the Happy Hens Community Garden in Gladesville, Sydney.
Join us in the garden for champagne, festive treats and conversation. We will be prescribing books and recipes for audience members too so get your questions ready! Cost will be $30/pp and includes drinks and nibbles. We’re working on the booking link and will share next week!
Something to Eat and Something to Read Q&A with Jodi Wilson
Jodi Wilson is the author of Practising Simplicity and co-author of The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth (available for pre-order now). She lives with her partner and four children in Tasmania and is an advocate for living a simple, meaningful life.
Every Sunday, over on her Instagram and in keeping with the theme of her beautiful book, she shares five ways to practice simplicity over the week ahead. These tips are always so doable, so comforting and never ever judge.
I have been a big fan of the way she lives, writes and shares for many years, so am thrilled she agreed to answer this week’s Something to Eat and Something to Read questionnaire.
What was the last book you read and loved! And why?
Small Things Like These by Irish author Claire Keegan is a short, exquisite novel full of perfectly formed sentences. I borrowed it from the library, read it in an hour and then bought a copy because I know I’ll return to it. I’m in awe of Keegan’s eloquence.
What was the last meal you paid for and made and loved? And why?
Hot chips wrapped in paper and carried home to be devoured by four children who weren’t unlike a flock of seagulls. But really, a cold, blustery winter beach walk is made all the better by hot chips and tomato sauce, isn’t it? As for the meals I’ve been making; slow-cooked soups once a week, so I’ve got a constant stash in the freezer and the fridge. There is an undeniable comfort in knowing there’s nutritious food stashed away. The privilege!
What’s your go-to comfort read?
I recently meandered through Midnight Chicken by Ella Risberger which was nothing short of delightful. Tamar Adler’s An Everlasting Meal is similarly comforting because as the subtitle cooking with economy and grace suggests, there is an immense privilege when we know how to cook with the essentials…and know how to cook them well.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
I’ve recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease, so my comfort foods have changed. Instead of sourdough and croissants and cake I’ve rediscovered the joy of a heap of roast vegetables, mashed potato with plenty of black pepper, a soul-filling bowl of chicken soup and a fragrant curry with all the condiments.
A cookbook you are loving cooking out of at the moment?
Use it All: the Cornersmith guide to a more sustainable kitchen …. Because limiting food waste, using what I’ve got and making the most of all the tid-bits at the bottom of the fridge is pleasing. And I’ve got four growing kids to feed. I just received a review copy of their hefty new book, Food Saver’s A-Z and it’s brilliant. I know it will be a kitchen staple for many, many years to come.
You get to invite 4 of your favourite writers over for dinner; who are they, and what will you cook for them?
Meg Mason (witty, clever, delightful), Helen Garner (needs no explanation), Elizabeth Strout (because her writing is always perfect) and Joan Didion (again, no explanation). You know what, I actually don’t think I’d cook. I’d get someone to come and cook for us, so I could be fully immersed in the conversation.
Miscellaneous links we thought we’d share
Jodi’s mention of Meg Mason prompted a share of the most recent episode of You’re Booked, which asks the author to run through the books that have impacted her most over the years. I (Sophie) was thrilled to see Brother of the More famous Jack in the mist. One of my all-time favourite reads, it made me happy to hear host Daisy Buchannan and Meg agree that having read that book is almost like a secret handshake when you meet another who has as well!
I (Germaine) also loved listening to this podcast and was also thrilled that Meg devoured the Cazelet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard during lockdown. We talked about the first in this series, The Light Years on this episode of the podcast.
Given how often Nora Ephron circles back into Sophie and my conversations, I enjoyed reading this article about cooking the recipes from Heartburn — lots of tins!
We knew this already of course, but here’s proof of the benefits of reading for 30 mins a day
We acknowledge that the land on which we work and live is the traditional land of the Wiradjuri Nation and Wallumedegal people. These people are the Traditional Custodians of this land and form part of the wider Aboriginal nation known as the Eora Nation. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all First Nations people.