The stars of Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene’s debut joint novel, Rebecca, Not Becky, are far from fast friends. In fact, for Rebecca and De’Andrea, their relationship is one fumble after another. De’Andrea is new to the very tony, very white Virginia suburb Rolling Hills. As she settles in with husband and daughter, missing her tight Atlanta circle of now-hours-away friends, De’Andrea works to find her way through the social and school dynamics of her new home. Rebecca is ever eager to befriend De’Andrea, but somehow can’t stop herself from going about it in the awkwardest ways possible. Touching on themes of race and community, and featuring a quite entertaining cast of characters, Rebecca, Not Becky is as delightful as it is deep.
Rebecca, Not Becky
by Christine Platt - Catherine Wigginton Greene
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| Howard Park Miamup Cabernet Sauvignon | Ziobaffa Organic Prosecco |
| When an effort to remove a statue paying homage to a Confederate Lieutenant is unexpectedly countered, the conversation on the local listserv gets quite spicy. As Rebecca settles in to follow along — ultimately becoming quite unsettled at what unfolds — she opens a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. We wouldn’t be surprised if it were this Howard Park Miamup Cabernet Sauvignon, which is complex and bold with a slight touch of salt on the finish. | There is no shortage of wine poured throughout Rebecca, Not Becky. And on Wednesdays, at the weekly Stretch and Sip, Rebecca, Jenny, and Victoria pop open the prosecco. For a perfectly crisp and floral-edged bottle of bubbly that’s chill enough for a weekday in athleisure, try this Ziobaffa Organic Prosecco. Also fitting for a Wednesday afternoon is its low 11% ABV. |
Alfredo Cauliflower Casserole
From True Comfort by Kristin Cavallari
In spite of her abundance of earnestness, it takes Rebecca some time to figure out the right approach to her relationship with De’Andrea. One well-meaning — and well-received — act comes in the form of a perfectly timed casserole delivery. Hers has tater tots as a central ingredient. While our casserole recipe here does not, we wouldn’t be mad if you served them alongside it.
INGREDIENTS
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STEPS 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 × 11-inch baking dish with parchment paper. 2. Place the chopped cauliflower in the prepared baking dish and set it aside. 3. In a large saucepan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, until aromatic. In a small bowl, whisk the arrowroot powder with 2 tbsps of water. Add the dissolved arrowroot to the oil and garlic, whisking continuously to prevent clumping. Add the almond milk and whisk until the sauce is smooth and has thickened, 4 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp of the salt, the pepper, and the chives and stir to combine. Pour the sauce into a medium bowl and set it aside. 4. Heat the avocado oil in the same saucepan over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, season them with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and sauté for 5 minutes, until browned. Place the cooked chicken in the same baking dish as the cauliflower; toss to combine. 5. Pour the sauce into the baking dish until the chicken and cauliflower are completely covered, then sprinkle the leeks over the top. Bake, covered with foil, for 40 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes, until the leeks are golden brown. Serve hot. |
| Excerpt from TRUE COMFORT; More than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar by Kristin Cavallari. Copyright © 2020 by Kristin Cavallari. Published by Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. |
True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar: A Gluten Free Cookbook
by Kristin Cavallari
The wine flows early and often during book club at Rolling Hills, and the meeting at Rebecca’s that serves as De’Andrea’s first experience with the crew is no different. Inspired by the bottle of 2015 Cabernet Monte Bello she brings, we’re recommending five grapes that are always perfect for a literary turn with the ladies.
Get the 5 book club-perfect wines.
Rebecca has very good intentions when it comes to race in America and in her community. In spite of those intentions, she still manages to have a very embarrassing moment in her book club when it comes to light that she didn’t ready their pick, Woke Yet? Wake Up! Understanding the History of Race & Racism. Rebecca, dear: please don’t stop trying. In fact, we recommend she dig into any of these books that highlight the Black experience, all courtesy of Oprah’s Book Club.