This week’s recipe is simply too important to languish at the end of the newsletter — we’re talking homemade dill pickle dip.
We whipped up a trial batch last weekend to enjoy on a gloriously warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, and I think we found a keeper. The general schema is as follows:
1 c. sour cream
2-3 whole dill pickles (we used the big, homemade kind)
a splash of pickle juice
dill weed
pinch of black pepper, pinch of paprika
Chop up the dill pickles (and add as few or as many as you want!), stir into the sour cream with a little bit of pickle juice, and season with some dill weed (fresh is best), pepper, paprika, and anything else you want.
This pickle dip pairs best with a robust kettle-cooked potato chip. Enjoy immediately, or let the flavors meld a bit in the fridge before serving.
The Discourse
Whenever I need ideas for an article, I take a look at what’s going on back home in Michigan — invariably, nothing good. This week, I wrote about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s progressive solution to net-negative migration in the state: “Gov. Whitmer Pays Migrants Who Move to Michigan” in the American Spectator.
I also really enjoyed reading Carmel Richardson’s analysis of Michigan’s new surrogacy law, which makes the Great Lakes State one of the “friendl[iest] places in the country for commercial baby-making.” (“Is Gretchen Whitmer’s Surrogacy Law Too Extreme for Voters?” in The American Conservative)
…But if you only read one article this week, make it Bradley Devlin’s piece in the newest print issue of The American Conservative: "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood."
This is probably my favorite piece that Bradley has ever written, in no small part because it’s a wonderful blend of first-hand storytelling and social/political history of Appalachia. Seriously, go read it.
Shelf Life
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump in recent weeks, but I picked up Mother-Daughter Murder Night for a fun change of pace. It wasn’t my favorite book — or even my favorite murder mystery novel — but it wasn’t a waste of time either. Entertaining, but not excellent.
The story follows a grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter who find themselves wrapped up in a local investigation into a mysterious death. This would be a good beach read, but it was also an enjoyable audiobook that I mostly listened to on the metro or while driving. No substantial critiques!