Weekend: Croissant Cereal 🥐

Skimm'd with a few of our favorite things — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today [theSkimm Logo] [Subscribe]( [Read in browser]( February 17, 2024 Daily Skimm Header Image Skimm'd with [a few of our favorite things]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Update location]( or [View forecast]( EDITOR’S NOTE Happy Saturday. If you’re lucky enough to have a long weekend, I hope you’re spending it doing exactly what you want to do — whether that’s molding butter into [seashells and other cute shapes](, listening to Ina Garten’s [favorite love songs](, or watching [this Beyoncé x Irish step dancing collab]( on loop. Oh wait, that’s everything I’ll be doing. Though, feel free to copy. I’ll also be thinking about the “[unexpected red theory](” and whether my living room could benefit from it. And if [double belting]( is the answer to my chronically millennial style. Probably not, but worth a shot…maybe. — Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC [“A Love Song for Ricki Wilde” by Tia Williams] “A Love Song for Ricki Wilde” by Tia Williams theSkimm Ricki Wilde has long dreamed of leaving her family’s business in Atlanta and opening her own flower shop. So when a fairy godmother-like figure appears to help her, she seizes the opportunity and soon has her own store in Harlem. It’s there that she meets and is immediately drawn to Ezra Walker — but while the attraction is mutual, there’s something that pulls him away. A secondary timeline, set during the Harlem Renaissance, offers clues about Ezra’s past. We asked Williams a few questions. Here’s what she had to say… Q: Over the past few years, there’s been [a rise in Black romance novels](. Why was it important to you to write about Black love? Williams: Growing up, I was obsessed with historical romance and “glamour” romance, like Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins. But Black people were never in those stories, so in my mind, I’d recast the characters with Black actors and actresses. I knew, even then, that I wanted to grow up and write books starring us — because we’re not the Black versions of anything. We should exist loudly and proudly in stories amplifying our love. Q: “[A Love Song for Ricki Wilde](” has been called “[a love letter to Harlem](,” which is pretty impressive for someone who lives in Brooklyn. Why did you choose it as the backdrop for the story? Williams: I’ve lived in Brooklyn my entire adult life, and all my novels have been set there. I wanted a new challenge. And modern Harlem has such a cool, chic vibe. But I’m also a huge fan of the Harlem Renaissance. I love the fashion, literature, It girls and boys, all that 1920s glamour. I knew I wanted to weave in the Renaissance, somehow. So, I came up with a Jazz Age-era scandal that has modern-day consequences for Ricki and Ezra. Q: I imagine you’ve since gotten to know Harlem pretty well. What’s the one place you’d say everyone must visit? Williams: [Tsion Café]( — it’s the best Ethiopian food I’ve had in ages. Q: You’re hosting your dream book club: Who’s invited, what are you reading, and what are you eating? Williams: We’re reading “[Flowers in the Attic](.” I’m inviting all my Gen X girlfriends who inhaled this book as inappropriate tweens — and we’re eating Stouffer’s microwave pizza. A night of 1987-era nostalgia. [Erika Kwee's Croissant Cereal] The Brunch Recipe Worth Getting Out of Bed For theSkimm There are many reasons why being an adult is overrated — but getting to eat what you want, when you want isn’t one of them. Especially if that’s [a big bowl of mini croissant cereal]( for breakfast (sorry to moms and dentists everywhere). Inspired by the iconic [Petite Croissant Céréale]( from viral Brooklyn bakery [L’Appartement 4F](, this homemade version from [food blogger Erika Kwee]( makes itty-bitty croissants that are just as cute and just as crispy — without the long lines and [$50 price tag](. Plus, the recipe has one crucial hack: store-bought puff pastry. The Time Commitment: Full disclosure, these take a while to make. As in, approximately an hour and 20 minutes. But that can vary, depending on how fast — or slow — you roll and cut the dough. Erika’s Tips: For a fun, fruity twist, replace the cinnamon coating with a freeze-dried fruit powder, which [you can buy]( or [easily make](. Also, to make sure your cereal looks as good as it tastes, it’s important to keep the dough as cold as possible. After you’ve finished rolling a section of dough into miniature croissants, place them on a plate in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to bake. Try It With: Your favorite milk or milk alternative, of course. And fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries for extra sweetness. Other Takes: We normally wouldn’t recommend revisiting 2020, but we’ll make an exception for the [cerealization of everything](. In case you blacked that year out (we don’t blame you), people were making all kinds of cereal spin-offs, including [pancakes]( , [waffles](, [donuts](, [muffins](, [French toast](, and, our personal fave, [chocolate chip cookies](. Essentially, gourmet Cookie Crisp. [Tromsø, Norway] The Norwegian Destination with ‘Bright Lights, Small City’ Energy theSkimm If seeing the northern lights is at the top of your bucket list, [Tromsø, Norway]( is the place to go. Located more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the surprisingly cosmopolitan city is considered [one of the best spots]( for witnessing the aurora borealis, particularly now that it’s the middle of aurora season, which runs from September to April. Not to mention, scientists are predicting that this year may bring [the best northern lights activity]( in decades. 🛏 To gaze at the northern lights — without leaving your warm bed — check out [the greenhouse-like glass lodges at ÆRA](. They’re 30 minutes from the city center, so there’s no light pollution, and alarms alert guests when the aurora borealis is in view. On the other hand, if you’re more concerned with staying in the heart of Tromsø, you can’t beat [Clarion Hotel The Edge](. ✨ There are many ways to see the northern lights in Tromsø: Hop aboard [a Brim Explorer ship]( and enjoy a three-course dinner while drifting into the darkness of the fjords. Or, ride a [cable car]( to the top of [Mount Storsteinen]( for what some say is [the best view in town](. You could also hire a local guide, like [Legendary Adventure’s Espen Minde](, who offers everything from [evening snowshoe hikes]( to [private tours](. [Tromsø, Norway] 🦌 Need something to do during the day? There’s [a sprawling reindeer camp](, where in addition to feeding its 300 residents, you can learn more about the culture and customs of the indigenous Sámi community. Or, to explore more of the city’s nearby fjords and islands, take a ride on the [Hermes II](, a restored wooden fishing boat from 1917. Whatever you choose, make sure to stop at [Pust](, a floating sauna where you can heat up in the steam room, plunge into the Arctic waters, and repeat. 🍴 Start your day with a perfectly brewed coffee and a fluffy cinnamon roll from [Risø Mat og Kaffebar](. For a taste of Arctic cuisine — think: locally sourced fish, high-quality meat — make a dinner reservation at [Mathallen](, before ending your evening at [Ølhallen](. The pub opened in 1928 and offers 72 tap beers by Mack, the northernmost brewery in the world. Same vibes, different budget. A dark sky and wide open space makes [Glacier National Park]( an ideal option for [experiencing the northern lights from the US](. One of the best viewing spots is [Lake McDonald](, located about 35 minutes from increasingly popular [Whitefish, MT](. [Ask An Expert Etiquette Edition] We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was: Q: My friend invited me to an expensive restaurant for her birthday. How do I ask her who’s paying, or if we’re expected to all split it? [Woman counting money] “If you’re hosting and intend to pay for the group, I always recommend stating that in the invitation. Something like, ‘Please join me on X date, Y time, and Z place to celebrate my birthday. My treat.’ But if it’s unclear who will be paying, you should expect to pay your own way. [If you can’t afford it], you have a couple options, depending on your relationship with the person. If you are very close, you could be open, honest, and direct and say, ‘You know I love celebrating you, but I don’t think this is going to fit into my budget this month. Maybe [the two of us can do something else] or I can drop your gift off this week.’ Alternatively, if you don’t know the person well, you could thank them for the invitation and politely decline, without mentioning why.” [Myka Meier] Featured Expert Myka Meier [Etiquette expert]( and founder of [Beaumont Etiquette]( [tell us] Which etiquette question should an expert answer next week? [I just realized I called someone the wrong name a few minutes earlier. Should I correct myself, or can I pretend it never happened?]( [My friend brings her partner to all of our hangouts — but sometimes I just want it to be the two of us. How can I ask her to stop bringing her partner, without offending them?]( [I really like my co-worker, but they’re pretty negative and often come to me complaining about work, which leaves me feeling drained. How can I ask them to cut the constant complaining?]( [skimm picks] Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently. 1. Up to 80% off at ban.do's annual warehouse sale. Grab these colorful [socks]( and cute [travel mug]( and save them for your next gifting opportunity. [The sale]( lasts through February 23, so now's the time to stock up. [Don’t miss out]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. A buy more, save more sale at Made In. Until Monday, get [up to 25% off]( chef-quality cookware, including our favorite [nonstick pans]( and the quintessential [knife set]( with a nice olive wood block. [Shop now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Thousands of Presidents Day deals at QVC. Stock up on a two-pack of [hydrating body cream](, a [hands-free vacuum](, and [more deals]( across categories. [Add to cart]( --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: Want more product recs? Follow [@skimmshopping]( on Instagram. [game time][Rotating gif of Puzzmo games]( Up for a challenge? [These new puzzle games]( are easy to get into, but tough to excel at. (Trust us, we’re still trying.) You can play alone, as a team, or competitively against your frenemies 😈. [We’ll see you on the leaderboard](. [Icons of Puzzmo Games]( Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them [here](. Skimm’d by: Rasheeda Campbell, Melissa Goldberg, Alex Carr, Margaret Wheeler Johnson, and Niven McCall-Mazza --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos by Grand Central Publishing, Erika Kwee, Myka Meier, MuYeeTing via iStock, pawopa3336 via iStock, Riska via Getty Images, Brand Partners Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to all theSkimm has to offer](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram Icon]( [Tik Tok Icon]( [Linkedin Logo]( [Twitter icon]( [Facebook icon]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Skimm'd something we missed? skimmthis@theSkimm.com Issues? [help@theSkimm.com](mailto:help@theskimm.com) [Advertise with us]( | [Careers]( [See our full sponsor agreement]( | [Update Your Preferences]( or [Unsubscribe]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2024 theSkimm, All rights reserved. TheSkimm, Daily Skimm, and all Skimm-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of TheSkimm, Inc. 53 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010