The sheet-pan cookbook helping me to survive wedding planning, civil-rights lawyering, and debut novel revisions
Not an ad, just passionate
In Michelle Obama’s memoir, she writes about how—during the years that Barack was a state congressman and she was working a full-time job while also basically assuming full-time responsibility for their kids—she hired a private chef.
Well, I am not Michelle Obama, and my fiancé is not the future president, and I don’t have kids. But my fiancé did bill over 200 hours for the past few months at his corporate law job (meaning that he actually worked far more than 200 hours for each of those months). I am working full-time as a civil-rights litigator while also revising my debut novel for publication with Penguin Random House, and planning our wedding which is costing way too much money, and I am also in charge of ensuring that we eat dinner each night and that the dinner includes some semblance of nutrition and that we don’t get constant takeout, etcetera, etcetera.
If you want a peek into my daily life:
Anyway, I know probably all sounds totally weak sauce compared to Michelle Obama. Nevertheless, there are many weeks lately where I’ve felt like I’m flirting with burnout. However, there are a few reliable bright spots in my life. And this is why I write to you today: to rave about the sheet-pan cookbook that is genuinely, truly, getting me through it:
Hot Sheet: Sweet and Savory Sheet Pan Recipes for Every Day and Celebrations by Olga Massov and Sanaë Lemoine.1
Not joking, I make two to three of these recipes per week.
I love this cookbook because they are actually, truly, really easy. Sometimes cookbooks say they’re easy and then they’re not! Most of these recipes have minimal chopping or prep. The instructions are genuinely very good and organized in an intuitive manner that makes sense for efficiency in the kitchen. I get most of these meals made in 20 to 40 minutes. And there’s leftovers, perfect if you eat at your desk like me, like a troll.
And also I love this cookbook because they taste actually quite elevated compared to many of the “easy, weeknight” cookbooks. My fiancé and I are often totally amazed by how restaurant-adjacent these recipes taste.
Finally, sheet-pan meals are perfect if you are working a full time job while also writing your novel. Here’s what I do: I end my workday, maybe do a little stretch or workout if I’m lucky, or finish up some chores if I’m not. Then, I prep the sheet-pan meal. And while it’s in the oven, I write. Chef’s kiss!
With no further ado, my review of the recipes I’ve made:
Roasted Strawberries with Yogurt and Sumac
Prep Required: 🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚📚📚
I admit that I messed this one up because I wasn’t paying attention and poured za’atar instead of sumac on the strawberries. (Our sumac and za’atar spice jars look the same!) I managed to scrape off za’atar before I put it in the oven and try again with sumac and it was delicious, though. Great for breakfast prep for a busy gal—just toss it on some yogurt in the mornings as you run out the door to work. The sooner you log in the sooner you can log off to work on your novel!
Spiced Yogurt Chicken with Chickpeas and Eggplant
Prep Required: 🔪🔪🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚📚
My fiancé is obsessed with this recipe. It does require more prep because you have to marinate the chicken thighs. I like to marinate on Saturday and make it on Sunday night, or marinate Sunday night and make on Saturday. My fiancé is obsessed with this recipe. I like to serve it with store-bought pita warmed up in the oven. Because of the cook time, it is perfect for revisions.
Chicken “Stir-Fry” with Green Beans and Bell Peppers
Prep Required: 🔪🔪🔪
I love this recipe and it’s near the top of the list for me, but my fiancé only likes it fine. I think he’s wrong! There are few tweaks I make on this one to make it more Asian: I mix the cornstarch into the marinade, I use Shaoxing rice wine instead of sherry, and I use Chinkiang vinegar instead of balsamic vinegar. The trick is to get it all charred on the edges under the broiler and serve with rice-cooker white rice. It makes great leftovers to take to the office, and it is very easy to eat with one hand while you work through your lunch.
Sausage with Fennel, Peaches, and Spinach
Prep Required: 🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚
You only have to chop two things for this dish, the fennel and the onion, and you don’t even have to dice the onion. (Three if you count mincing the herbs.) It is so easy, and it tastes like summer, and it looks like something you’d get at some farm-to-table restaurant with reclaimed wood dining tables. However, it does require a knife and fork to eat, so maybe you can’t type and enjoy this at the same time.
Gochujang Steak Fajitas with Kimchi, Onions, and Peppers
Prep Required: 🔪🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚
You have to chop the steak, unless you buy pre-cut fajita steak, and you do have to chop the onions and peppers. Also, it is very messy to eat. But it’s worth it! Somehow, eating Korean tacos on a weekday feels sort of extravagant and a break from the mundane. Even better if you can get tortillas from HEB.
Japanese Oven Burgers with Cabbage Salad
Prep Required: 🔪🔪🔪🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚
This is my fiancé’s favorite dish in the whole cookbook so far. I grew up in a Japanese-American family that loved yoshoku cuisine, though, so this recipe reminds me of home and childhood. I make my fiancé call it its proper name, “hambagu”! It takes some time to make but it is delicious. My two hacks for this to increase the convenience are: (1) food process your onion so you don’t have to chop it, and (2) buy the pre-shredded cabbage in the bag from the store. I’m lazy and busy! You must serve it with Japanese white rice.
Fish Over Cabbage with Sambal Oelek Sauce
Prep Required: 🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚📚
This recipe is so easy. I mean, so easy. All you have to do is chop a cabbage in half and julienne a piece of ginger. Extremely convenient except for if you hate microwaving fish leftovers, in which case then you do not get the added leftover bonus. We eat this with white rice (did I mention that I am Japanese).
Salmon with Baby Bok Choy and Soy Ginger Sauce
Prep Required: 🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚📚
Also extremely easy. All you have to do is cut and wash some baby bok choy. Don’t overcook your salmon though. The FDA 145ºF recommendation is way too dry, friends, way too dry. We eat this with white rice (did I mention that I am Japanese). You gotta get some Lao Gan Ma on this baby, none of that gentrified chili crisp, am I right? As my fiancé says: “Girls only want one thing that starts with L.” (Lao Gan Ma!!!!!)
Arctic Char with Buttery Herb Sauce, Broccolini, and Potatoes
Prep Required: 🔪🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚📚
I made this last night! I think this recipe gets it wrong by telling you to roast the potatoes for the same time as the fish. That’s a lie. You need, like, at least 15 extra minutes on those potatoes. Maybe 20. Otherwise, no notes. Delicious. I drank about three glasses of wine on Monday night with this dish (because I’m a DINK, double-income no-kids (for now)) and it really helped me get through the night’s revisions, including some scenes set in Paris. Given the Paris thing, the wine was really just research, you know?
Caramelized Bananas With Ice Cream
Prep Required: 🔪
Convenience for a Writer Working a Day Job: 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
Late night revisions are fueled by dessert. Pop these babies in the oven, fire up that Scrivener, and once you’ve written a couple hundred words it’ll be time to treat yourself.
Other Good Stuff
I made the Master’s Review Debut Fiction Prize Shortlist! Here’s hoping this piece finds a home.
I’m obsessed with this Instagram @baseballforbaddies, because my fiancé loves baseball.
I am currently reading Daniel Mason’s A Registry of My Passage On the Earth and it is brilliant, all-caps brilliant.
I already convinced
to buy this book! You should ask her if she disagrees with me on how AMAZING this book is.
I fully endorse this recommendation!!! I’m so glad you introduced me to this gem 🤗
What a great idea, can’t wait to try those recipes!
But no matter how time saving, the secret to finding rest is not in a cookbook. 😄