Today I’m proud of myself for eating greenery multiple times. A big lemony salad for dinner here with some pork chop and Popeyes Pierogies. I’ve been on a kick. They are probably better boiled and pan fried, but frankly the air fryer puffs them up and cooks them in no time at all from frozen.
We went for a long mid day walk. Notable because this was at the end when he was uninterested in heading back upstairs. Hello, little teefs. Also notable because I am wearing jeans, which is a first since probably…. February?
Tonight this little one was particularly “helpful” during my Yin class. Which is to say he had a LOT of feelings and just needed to be close. Here he is sitting on my meditation cushion.
We are now winding down with some mindless tween witchy tv and some time on the heated blanket before heading to bed in just a few.
Hope you are all treating yourself kindly as the holiday comes upon us.
I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday about how easy it is to fall into eating odds and ends rather than real meals when you are tired and depleted. I tend to go into mono-eating of color-less foods when I’m dealing with fatigue and decision fatigue. If left to my own devices I’d just eat bowlfuls of Annie’s and nothing else; I was delighted when cauliflower rice and cauliflower gnocchi came en vogue, so that at least I’d sneak in some nutrition for myself during these phases.
Last week I found myself a few too many meals into odds and ends when I realized that I needed vegetables, so for the past two days I’ve been focused on getting in a green thing and trading greenery photos as positive encouragement. Today’s lunch: still odds and ends, but lots of green things: some leftover roast, soft boiled eggs, the end of the beans, over a mess of steamed leeks. Color! Fiber!
Today it was raining and dark for most of the day, but I still managed to sneak in a good run, walk the puppers, and hop on a long overdue friend zoom. Tomorrow is a packed day, but I’m looking forward to my meetings, work, and my Tuesday night regular class: Yin with Yasmene!
Finally managed to feed myself some greens today. A simplified version of my favorite Epicurious kale and date salad with almonds and parmesan. This is an absolutely stand out recipe if you have the time to make every component. When I’m feeling lazy I get the idea of it in the bowl. I make a lemon olive oil dressing in the bowl, add a few chopped dates, a cube of Dorot garlic, and some parmesan. Then toss in the kale. I forgot the almonds completely, it’s still good. For dessert: a warmed, okay, two warmed stroopwafels, because Trader Joe’s had them.
Good Things Today:
Dealing with some fatigue, so I spent the better part of the morning finishing a book of YA fiction, and keeping electronics off.
Prepped some vegetables for myself. Chopped the kale, some sweet potatoes, my leeks. Soft boiled a dozen eggs.
Long conversations with friends. Thankful for shared experiences, and my weekly “retro” buddy.
A short run, walking the dog around the block, and relax and renew yoga with Jane.
I’ve reached the part of my evening where I’m assessing when is too early to go to bed on a weekend. Which is to say, it’s probably never too early to go to bed. But dropping a note of just a few good things, today:
Dinner from Super Fusion 2.
This dog and this blanket.
Squash soup with stirred in Rancho Gordo Domingo rojos.
Friend Zooms.
The Mandalorian.
Queen’s Gambit.
Leigh Bardugo books.
My family making their (first) Turkey of the week. “It’s just six pounds!” (Me, giving them all a side-eye.)
Anticipation and savoring of Ore-nells delivery (the holiday itself will be zoomed.)
BEAN CLUB DELIVERY.
Puppy snuggles.
Enjoying fall leaves and the temperate weather, we walked three miles and change this afternoon and it was lovely.
:: Self reminder: It’s okay that GOOD THINGS are really just a collection of small good things, sort of on repeat, because we’re living in a pandemic, and frankly recurring simple joys are important at all times of life.
:: I *love* a good pun. There’s nothing I love more than rolling in with a timely pun. I’d say 1/3 of my twitter replies are puns and I’m happy with that.
:: Bertram’s backyard play date with Sawyer, his bestie.
:: Squash soup for lunch. For dinner I wanted the flavors of Mississippi Roast without the time commitment, so I bathed a piece of beef in Trader Joe’s Green Goddess dip, and a half jar of pepperonici, covered with foil, and cooked in my convection toaster for a few hours. Delicious.
:: Book club. We’re reading “Who not How” (affiliate link).
Important question: Charcuterie Chalets. Heaven or Horror?
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!
Disclosure
I occasionally link to products using affiliate links, including Amazon. I get a small commission if you purchase something from that link and this helps cover hosting costs (I use DreamHost and have been a happy customer since 2009). Thank you for supporting The Second Lunch!
