Eat, Read, Go: Egg Roll in a Bowl , “Friends and Liars,” and Amelia Island

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. I guarantee no one had a better Thanksgiving than Sydney Sweeney, who broke from the usual festivities for a week-long Friendsgiving — complete with a cleverly named yet deeply random-themed costume party. I can’t say I’ll ever match that level of Friendsgiving enthusiasm, but there are a few things from this week that I do feel that passionate about:

• There’s no social media trend more cringe than this one — and it’s getting increasingly inescapable by the day.

• Kendall Jenner deserves a Nobel Prize for bringing back this lazy-girl hairstyle, which is just as chic yet 10 times easier to pull off than the slicked-back ponytail.

• If you thought there was nothing more rich-looking than burgundy, allow me to introduce you to its slightly more vibrant cousin — aka “2026’s Most Elegant Color Trend.”

• As the president of the Almost Famous Fan Club, I’m thrilled to report that not only is this iconic coat having a revival, but it’s even cooler than I remember.

• No one is doing cheeky style better than Alexander Skarsgård, as evidenced by this statement-making T-shirt (Pedro Pascal, you’ve been beat).

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Who Needs Takeout When You Have This Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe? 

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We are dangerously close to the time of year when takeout becomes a main food group and meal prep sounds utterly laughable. That’s where The Woks of Life’s Egg Roll in a Bowl comes in: It’s an easy dinner you can make tonight and keep in your rotation when things get chaotic. The protein- and fiber-packed meal is basically a deconstructed version of the Chinese-American classic, loaded with savory ground meat, shredded cabbage and carrots (store-bought coleslaw mix for the win), and a sweet-and-salty sauce that tastes almost identical to the real deal. Top it with crispy wonton strips — and prepare to have a moment of silence for your go-to takeout spot.

The Time Commitment: Just 25 minutes.

Key Tips: One of the best parts of this recipe? It requires minimal chopping. But for even more authentic flavor, add sliced celery — well worth the extra two minutes of work. You can also throw in cooked shrimp (for additional protein) or serve it over rice, quinoa, or your favorite grain. 

Other Takes: For more quick, restaurant-worthy dinners that’ll shrink your Uber Eats budget, try…

• This 30-Minute Beef & Broccoli, featuring velvety flank steak, crunchy broccoli, and lots of saucy goodness — which probably explains why over a million people have bookmarked it.

• Dan Dan Noodle Salad. Cookbook author Hetty Lui McKinnon has a knack for turning Chinese staples into salads (see: her wildly popular dumpling salad), and this clean-out-the-fridge meal delivers.

• One Pot Golden Salmon Fried Rice. Sure, this last-minute dinner hero is simple, flavorful, and deeply comforting. But the trick for ensuring you always have leftover rice handy is worth the click alone.

Friends and Liars by Kit Frick

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A Lake Como getaway? Sounds like a dream. A Lake Como getaway at the glamorous palazzo where your wealthy friend unexpectedly died five years earlier, with the rest of your now-estranged friends who might be responsible? That’s the nightmare at the heart of Kit Frick’s Friends and Liars. When Clare’s family invites Harper, Luca, Sirina, and David on an all-expenses-paid trip back to Italy for a long-overdue memorial, the crew quickly realizes that someone knows the truth about Clare’s death — and wants them to pay. As the four are taunted and tormented by their mysterious blackmailer, the details of what really happened, and who’s actually to blame, unravel in a highly satisfying thriller perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn. We asked Frick a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about? 

Frick: I recently reread In the Woods by the inimitable Tana French. It had been a good 10 years, and it was just as utterly absorbing upon reread. I’ve read that French knows what happened [after that ending], and I can’t decide if I love being left with my theories, or if I want to bang down her door and demand answers.

Q: What’s the one thing you can’t leave the house without?

Frick: Aquaphor Lip Repair. My husband and I watch Survivor together, and I’m often struck by the thought that I wouldn’t last a day in Fiji without it. I’d be a horrible player for a million other reasons, but it would be the absence of [lip balm] that’d do me in.

Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?

Frick: Trust Me. It’s a podcast about cults, hosted by two women who were raised in cults … The hosts are funny and great entertainers, but they’re also very sympathetic and understanding. In a sea of cult podcasts and documentaries, it stands out for the personal perspective the hosts bring to the show.

Welcome to Amelia Island, the Florida Beach Scene That’s Somehow Stayed Under the Radar

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Apologies to spring breakers, but we firmly believe now is Peak Florida Season. And while you could go to one of the usual suspects (looking at you, Miami), consider this your sign to try Amelia Island — the Florida beach scene for people who are over Florida beach scenes. Located about 30 minutes from Jacksonville, the low-key barrier island has a pristine coastline, a surprisingly rich history (there’s a reason it’s called the “Isle of Eight Flags”), dreamy oceanfront stays (see: the Omni Amelia Island), and enough fresh seafood to justify the trip alone. Add in the state’s oldest working lighthouse, and yeah, no wonder it’s been named one of the best islands in the continental US.

🌊  First things first: Amelia Island has more than 40 public beach access points, so consider beach-hopping a nonnegotiable. Start at Peters Point Park for an hour-long sunrise horseback riding tour, then swing by the überpopular Main Beach Park, home to some of the island’s most picturesque sand dunes. After that, head to Fort Clinch State Park, where you can check out a well-preserved Civil War fort, hike oak-lined trails, and hunt for shark teeth.  

🍺 At the heart of Amelia Island is Fernandina Beach, a historic downtown spanning more than 50 blocks. There, you can pop into cute boutiques (give your closet a Florida makeover at Twisted Sisters!), admire charming Victorian architecture, and browse local galleries, like the Island Art Association. Also, don’t miss the Palace Saloon, the state’s oldest bar, serving up live music and its signature Pirates Punch.

🍤 Fernandina Beach is also the “birthplace of the modern shrimping industry” in the US, so expect to eat your weight in seafood. Try the Salty Pelican, where the Shrimp Plate comes with housemade cocktail sauce and sublime harbor views, and Timoti’s, a no-frills local favorite known for its seafood baskets.

🚲 One of the best ways to explore Amelia Island is by bike. Pick up a rental and cruise along two standout routes: The Amelia Island Trail, a seven-mile stretch through the area that overlaps with the larger East Coast Greenway, and the Amelia River-to-Sea Trail, which ends at — you guessed it — the sea. 

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Q: A friend recently introduced me to her friend, and we immediately hit it off. I’d like to ask her to hang out on our own, but our mutual friend can be a little sensitive about this stuff. Should I ask for permission to pursue this new friendship?

“It might be best to tell her up front. That doesn’t necessarily mean that, as a grown adult, you need to ask permission, but [you should] make it clear you’re not intentionally leaving them out or hiding something. After all, if your friend says no, then what? You can’t hang out with the other person? So [be up front and unapologetic about it]. The tone should be: This is happening, and I’m telling you because I know you might feel some kind of way. [You could even] add something like: ‘That’s cool with you, right?’ If your friend seems uncomfortable, lead with curiosity and ask [gentle] questions. Do they have past experiences with abandonment or losing a friend to someone else? Research shows our friends are a social resource, and this might feel like a threat to her resources. So reassure her that this won’t take you away from her, you won’t be [gossiping] about her, and your friendship with her [isn’t changing].”

Is it even the holidays without complicated family dynamics? We vote no. Which is why Ella McCay couldn’t come at a better time. This sharp new comedy stars Emma Mackey as Ella, an ambitious 34-year-old who just became governor of her home state. Between the politics of a new job and an estranged dad who’s suddenly back in the picture (hi, Woody Harrelson), things get…tricky. Add in Jamie Lee Curtis, Kumail Nanjiani, and Ayo Edebiri, and you’ve got the perfect mix of heart, humor, and generational tension (the fun kind). Grab your tickets — Ella McCay hits theaters December 12.*

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.