I’ll begin with a soft boiled egg, always a good thing. Lunch today, delicious Rancho Gordo Ayacote Amarillo beans, topped with a Turkish eggplant salad, and a few soft boiled eggs, warmed, mixed around, and a good start to the day.
I’m not sure how to reflect on the week – it was generally a difficult one in a difficult year (for so many of us). I know that I’m not alone in wishing for a better one. But holidays, and particularly this one, make me buckle down and root out the moments of thankfulness that I make a practice of doing every week, and every day here. Doubling down on a good thing.
One thing that was startling and a deep relief – was that Friday was a day without Zoom. My first one maybe since… before the pandemic? My work life is on zoom, I practice on Zoom, and this year has been full of friends and family on zoom, which truthfully I’m so thankful for – but boy was I feeling electronic’d out. I’m going to try to figure out how to make a practice of it.
I sat down today to organize my week: meal plan, batch cook some vegetables, write out my weekly intentions. I know that I’ll have to give myself some breathing room, so getting some of the fundamentals out of the way helps.
I’ve been meaning to get back to slightly longer runs (3 miles, three times a week) after taking a breather after my long summer race adventure. I eased into two 3 milers – a Turkey trot, and then another this afternoon. Last year I was able to sustain good fitness and brain happiness through the coldest months with this goal, and I’m hoping to re-create it!
Tonight I fed myself fall foods – savory herb chicken thighs from Trader Joe’s over some roasted acorn squash, with some cottage cheese, topped with pan sauce. I finished a few house errands that I needed to get done, laundry, dishes are clean, and I managed to squeeze in Jane’s Relax and Renew class.
I’m wrapping up the night with some writing, reading, prepping my coffee for the morning. Here’s to a good week.
The glory of a weekend after a “weekend“. Today was filled with a lot of reading and sitting. We went on a walk and then contented ourselves to survey the neighborhood from the front stoop.
Important PSA: Im thrilled to let you know that Trader Joe’s Peppermint mini cones are in stock, and I have two boxes. I had three, but Somchay got one (alongside her 5 bags of Thanksgiving dinner chips that i delivered 😉). Here they are in their glory:
Dinner: air fried chicken tenders with a rice panko coating with garlic powder, salt, pepper and a trio of sauces: duck, mustard, and cranberry barbecue. I could have let these brown for a few more minutes but i was very hungry.
Lest I forget: delicious brunch – eggs and unexpected cheddar omelet with broken up toaster naan in the pan. You get salty, crispy, a little crunchy, and chewy all at once. I followed up with lunch: a bowl of Rancho Gordo Ayocote Amarillos, and the realization at this very moment that I’ve forgotten to fill myself with any green things today. You win some, you lose some.
Sneaking in some vegetables – deconstructed Turkish “mantı” – seasoned ground beef, cauliflower gnocchi, and garlic yogurt sauce. Hits all the flavor/texture cravings.
I’ll be here on the heated blanket watching some tween witch show again ☺️.
The Second Lunch is a (mostly) food blog by Sam Tackeff about recipes, food writing, ingredient hunting, travel, healthy living, fitness, and everything in between.
Please do not steal! Email me at sam [at] thesecondlunch.com – if you’d like to use one of my photos, and I’d be happy to share my terms. Thanks!
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