— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY
Creamy Rigatoni With Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage? Say Less
theSkimm
We probably don’t need to tell you that pumpkin is the Homecoming Queen of Fall Flavors. But if you, like us, need the occasional break from the season’s most popular gourd (we swear, it’s nothing personal), allow us to make the case for Cherry on My Sundae’s Rigatoni with Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage. Packed with perfectly al dente pasta, hearty Swiss chard, spicy sausage crumbles, nutty Parmesan cheese, and velvety butternut squash, this crave-worthy dish hits all the right notes: sweet, salty, savory, and outrageously comforting. Pumpkin, who?
The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes. But to save time — and energy — use precut squash from the store. (It’s literally the same thing.)
Key Tips: If you can’t take the heat of spicy sausage,Christine Ma (aka Cherry on My Sundae) suggests swapping in a mild Italian sausage or chicken-apple sausage. And keep in mind: Seasoned ground meat (for sausage haters) and soyrizo (for vegetarians) are also good substitutes. Plus, you can easily replace Swiss chard with spinach or kale.
Other Takes: Flavorful and versatile, butternut squash shines with pasta, which is why we also love this Brown-Butter Orzo with Butternut Squash (it gives risotto vibes, minus all the standing and stirring) and this pillowy Squash Gnocchi with Thanksgiving Chili Crunch — which you absolutely should not wait until Thanksgiving to make. But if pasta’s not your thing (we won’t judge), this Smoky Butternut Kale Salad combines crunchy pumpkin seeds, creamy goat cheese, and an irresistible apricot vinaigrette, while this Butternut Squash, Kale, and White Bean Soup comes together in 40 minutes (in one pot, we might add) and “will become an instant favorite.”
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim
theSkimm
Even if you don’t know Glory Edim by name, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled across her wildly popular neighborhood book club turned online literary community, Well-Read Black Girl. Now, in her moving memoir, Gather Me, the lifelong booklover is telling her own story, recounting the powerful ways in which writers like Maya Angelou and Audre Lorde helped her through various life challenges (a chaotic upbringing, deep depression) and shaped her into the person she is today. A moving love letter to literature, Gather Me is part autobiography, part reading recs by your…well-read friend. We asked Edim a few questions. Here’s what she had to say.
Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?
Edim: Victoria Monét’s latest album, Jaguar II, is on repeat. From “Alright” to “On My Mama,” you can’t help but feel self-assured and sexy.
Q: What’s the last social media post you sent to friends?
Edim: I’m constantly sharing [the beautiful poems posted by] @poetryisnotaluxury. The last one was written by Chana Bloch, and the opening stanza reads: “The past tense is so severe, it makes everything smaller.”
Q: What’s something you recently read that you’re still thinking about?
Edim: Kennedy Ryan’s romance novel Reel. I’m obsessed with the main characters, Neevah and Canon — and their chemistry is palpable on the page.
You don’t have to fly across the world to find adventure. There are plenty of exciting experiences waiting for you within driving distance. So today, we’re highlighting a few epic American road trips you should add to your bucket list — all of which are that much more magical in the new 2025 Ford Explorer® SUV. We call shotgun.
🏞️Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park’s iconic 105-mile National Scenic Byway is all about enjoying the view. No matter what season you ride along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll either be in awe of the foliage, a wild flower-dotted landscape, or sweeping green vistas. You’ll climb to 3,680 feet above sea level with75 scenic overlooks to take it in along the way. If you need a break from driving, there are countless activities to choose from including hiking, horseback riding, stargazing, and wine tasting.
🌊 If the ocean is calling your name, cruise along the rugged, 600-milePacific Coast Highway to enjoy the best the golden state has to offer. Begin your journey in San Francisco and travel down to San Diego — but don’t make the trip in one day. Stop to stretch your legs on theDevil’s Slide scenic walking path, visit with adorableelephant seals at Piedras Blancas, and sip on delicious wine in theSanta Ynez Valley.
🏞️Glacier National Park covers about one million acres of land, and the 50-mileGoing-to-the-Sun Road highlights a particularly picturesque slice. People come for the breathtaking views like the one atJackson Glacier Overlook, but stay for potential sightings of mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and grizzly bears. Pro tip: Time your trip so you can see the sun rise atLogan Pass, the highest point on this roadway.
Ready to get going? The new 2025 Ford Explorer® SUV has everything you need to enjoy each moment along the way. We’re talking an available V6 engine with 400 horsepower† and available Ford BlueCruise driver-assist technology.‡ Plus spacious, comfortable seating for up to seven passengers. See for yourself.*
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: My sister doesn’t earn a lot, so my parents always pay for her flights home for the holidays. While I can afford my flight, is it wrong to ask my parents to cover the cost of my plane ticket too?
“My initial reaction would be to not ask your parents to pay for your flight. However, if this is a bigger issue about the way your parents support [your sister] and [how it feels] less fair to you … maybe it’s time to have a conversation with [them] … [Don’t] lead with talking about money, but your concern that the treatment feels unfair … I’d [also] avoid starting with ‘you, you, you’ and blaming your parents. [Instead], frame it as: ‘I want to talk about how I’m feeling,’ so you’re exploring your [perceptions], rather than brushing them under the rug and letting them manifest into something bigger.”
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Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.
Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
Skimm’d by: Taylor Trudon, Alex Carr, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson
Photos by Cherry on My Sundae, Ballantine Books, Caia Image via Getty Images, courtesy of Mariah Grumet, Brand Partners
Design by theSkimm
*PS: This is a sponsored post.
†Horsepower and torque ratings based on premium fuel perSAE J1349® standard. Your results may vary.
‡Available feature. Equipped Ford vehicles come with either a complimentary trial period or an included duration, after which purchase of a BlueCruise subscription is required. Modem activation is required for subscription purchase and for initial activation of BlueCruise (for pre-2024 model-year vehicles). See ford.com/bluecruise for details. BlueCruise is a driver-assist feature and does not replace safe driving or driver’s attention, judgment, or need to control the vehicle. Only remove hands in a hands-free Blue Zone. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations.
