What's Working: December 2025
What’s been working well in my life - plus a curated list of links to what I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, and cooking!
My dear reader.
On the first Tuesday of each month, as my free offering for all subscribers, I share what’s been working well in my life plus a curated list of links to what I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, and cooking.
In the comments I’d love to hear what’s been working well for you (even/especially amidst hard times), as well as any of your own recommended links.
Enjoy!
What’s Working
Getting totally lost in a book. Daily vacuuming. The moment each night when I get to burrow into the cozy cocoon of my bed. Cutting my spending in creative ways. The ritual of early morning tea & podcast listening. Getting more involved with the food pantry. Not having a hot take about everything (anything?) anymore. Long voice notes from friends. Unsubscribing from all catalogs. $10 thrift store finds with the tags still on. Doing lots of little winterizing projects around the (175-year-old) house, and feeling such satisfaction that it’s actually making it less cold!
Top 10: Reading, Listening, Watching
- Over the past three weeks I have been (let’s euphemistically say) going through it with my mom, and one of the only things that helped was plunging into a super engaging romantasy duology. A+ recommend The Courting of Bristol Keats and The Last Wish of Bristol Keats, by Mary E. Pearson.
- If listening to a two-hour “point, counterpoint”-style deep dive into the double-sided coin of “ethical consumption” and “ethical salesmanship” (or its alternative, “selling out”) under capitalism sounds like your idea of a good time, may I happily present this episode of Diabolical Lies.
- This year, more than ever, I have been intensely drawn toward writing that has at its foundation an unabashed moral clarity, such as: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, by Omar El Akkad. Absolutely the most impactful book I’ve read all year.
- I recently listened to an excellent podcast interview with French economist Timothée Parrique, author of Slow Down or Die: The Economics of Degrowth, and there’s a question he posed in that conversation that I cannot stop thinking about. He said, “If the cobalt mine were in my backyard, and my children worked in it, would I think twice before upgrading my phone?”
- Sherry Ning nails it in this whole piece about overspending as a spiritual problem. This passage in particular really got me: “Standing in front of all my stuff, it hit me that all of it used to be money, and all of that used to be time. I was standing in front of the metabolic waste of my existence, materialized. I was looking at the amount of my time, therefore my life, that had been turned into garbage. And the worst part is that I could’ve prevented it.“
- The holiday season is a time of gathering for many folks, and this conversation between Sam Sanders and Priya Parker all about Priya’s book, The Art of Gathering, is full of actionable wisdom.
- On the topic of holiday gifting, Katie Hawkins-Gaar has a lovely suggestion.
- I’m totally inspired by Mel Mitchell-Jackson’s AI policy page, which I saw after reading their long, thoughtful essay about being “AI sober.” (My other AI-related rec of the month is this 16-minute video by Hank Green about the current state of the AI industry and the wild circle jerk of money that’s being passed back and forth between a small number of companies. Thanks for sending me all these links, Amelia!)
- I’ve been craving writing & conversations that continually push me to imagine a better world (and the ways we can live it right now). This essay by Douglas Rushkoff delivers on that, as does this new podcast series by Daydriane Chapman called What If?
- If adrienne maree brown is being interviewed, it’s immediately a “hell yes” for me, and this conversation on Vibe Check about learning to thrive within darkness was medicine for my soul. (As was this episode on adrienne & Autumn Brown’s podcast, in which they talk with Francis Weller about grief and ritual.)
Cooking & Baking
This is the most delicious delicata squash I have ever had. You’re welcome.
From October through March, Gent and I are hosting a monthly soup night for local friends (we make 2-3 soups, and everyone else’s job is BYO bread/beverage). Here’s what was on the menu in November:
- Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup
- Lentil soup
- Vegan Instant Pot Pumpkin Lasagna Soup (I prefer it with smaller pasta though, such as ditalini, because the lasagna noodles can stick together and not cook properly.)
Lastly, a request! I’m planning to go hard on holiday cookies this month, and I’d love for you to share a link to your favorite cookie recipe. Bonus points if there are no nuts, because I am absolutely Team Nuts Don’t Belong in Desserts (don’t @ me).
Your turn!
What’s been working well for you lately? Do you have any reading, listening, watching, or cooking recommendations of your own to share? Tell us, tell us!
<3
Nic
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::goes to share almond crescent recipe:: whoops!
I love almond crescents too!! I’ve been trying to make my mom’s recipe but she clearly doesn’t follow it because they do not taste the same as hers.
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I am obsessed with diabolical lies - their podcasts always make me consider issues in new ways. The recent episode on the “women ruining the workplace” debate was phenomenal.
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Chocolate crinkle cookies ALL DAY
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/chocolate-crinkle-cookies-recipe
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What's working: Finding a psychiatrist; making time for rest like it's an appointment; hiring someone to take care of fall yard cleanup this year; cleaning the bathrooms monthly; taking up meditation again; regular physical therapy; Oven-Roasted sheet pan Chicken Shawarma: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017161-oven-roasted-chicken-shawarma?smid=em-share
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Is it a cookie, or are rice crispy treats their own entity? Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/11/salted-brown-butter-crispy-treats/ - and a classic: Candy Cane Cookies: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/candy_cane_cookies/
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I read the essay by Katie Hawkins-Gaar a few days ago and definitely going to do something like that for my mom's Christmas gift.
I love that you and Gent do "Soup Night" with friends. I'm going to borrow that idea since soup and a casual hangout with friends is the perfect way to spend dark winter nights. I've been obsessed with making Iranian soups lately which I find pretty difficult cause the authentic recipes are rather vague with "a pinch of this, and some of that" type of instructions rather than exact measurements, but my mom said one of my soups tasted exactly like what my grandma used to make so yay!
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The burrowing-into-bed moment - nothing is sweeter! Other things working are Christmas lights, gently pondering next year’s goals and hopes, and getting back to the gym 12 weeks postpartum. These are perhaps the greatest cookies (technically bars) of all time! https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/tahini-chocolate-bars-recipe
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LOVE LOVE burrowing in bed! And the soup night idea.
This is a tried and true, fast and tasty "cookie". We do cookie tins for neighbors each year and this is always the hit - you can also add sprinkles or toppings if desired. I have a homemade recipe card, but it's basically this link: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/sweet-and-saltines-recipe-2107651
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What’s working for me is my healthcare provider Jenna. She spotted something on a back X-ray this morning that could be the cause of the pain I’m experiencing. She questioned the original diagnosis and treatment plan, and has given me hope that the new plan will give me long lasting relief. Dare I say permanent?
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Ottolenghi's spice cookies are SPECTACULAR and nut-free: https://thewednesdaychef.com/2012/12/05/ottolenghis-spice-cookies/
Also, there are nuts in this recipe, but they are ground fine and used in the cookie crust layer. I don't like cookies with nut chunks that much either, but I LOVE these: https://www.seriouseats.com/pistachio-millionaires-shortbread-with-coriander-butterscotch-recipe
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I loved these lemon tumeric cookies that I made last holiday season - I think they taste like sunshine in cookie form! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026302-lemon-turmeric-crinkle-cookies
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TEAM NO NUTS IN DESSERTS!!
As another member of this club, I want us to shout it from the rooftops! Nuts are delicious, but get them out of my brownie/pie/sweet delicious thing. (My brother in law is making his amazing carrot cake for a family gathering next week, and I called him last night to request he leave out the nuts, and I might have succeeded!)
I agree, and I am especially offended by nuts in ice cream. The texture variation goes too far 😂
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I made these last year for a cookie swap and they were delicious. https://www.wellseasonedstudio.com/miso-chocolate-chip-cookies/ I made these in cookie tins for my work buddies and they were a hit, just the right amount of crunchy and chewy. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/raspberry-chocolate-chip-cookies/ Since making these I consider browning the butter in all my recipes (as long as it calls for melted). And I think vanilla bean paste has a much stronger flavor than extract, so it's worth adding to your pantry.
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There’s not a single person I’ve made these espresso chocolate cookies for who hasn’t asked for the recipe. They’re THAT good — https://bromabakery.com/espresso-chocolate-chip-cookies/ Enjoy!!
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What's working for me is slowing WAY down, Stardew Valley, allowing myself the permission to eat food, ice cold water, shawls and shoulder wraps, Upaya Zen Center podcasts, used books, new books, Only Murders in the Building, and putting as many blankets on the bed as my body can possibly handle.
Thank you as always for sharing a piece of you, Nic! I hope you have a peaceful season.
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This is such a wonderful list, I look forward to digging into it! I am absolutely with you on the hot takes. I have had enough.
What’s working for me: The Memoirs of Lady Trent. These books are so delightful and so much fun, I read all five on the incredible audiobooks in a single week, and I ordered print copies because I need to reread these ones. Also, more books. James Baldwin, James Joyce, Celeste Headlee. Give me all the books.
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What's working for me: noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, letting things take the time they take, especially when I'm pivoting things and need to give myself a longer runway to gain momentum, walks with my dog, letting my food choices be super predictable, creating more sleep opportunity for myself [I just finished the book Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker and learned a lot about the science of sleep - It's a good book but more science explanations heavy than strategies/tactics] And naps, always and forever naps.
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What's working for me is getting up early before work to read, spending time in front of my Christmas tree with just the lights glowing in the dark, everything Catherine Newman writes (just finished Wreck), chocolate, crewnecks, the hero's journey journal, and making time for honest check ins with my partner.
My partner made these cookies recently and they are hands down my favorite chocolate chip cookie ever: https://iambaker.net/copycat-levain-chocolate-chip-cookie/
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