Little Things
When life gets overwhelming, you can taste it in my food. It's rushed, sloppy. Boring.
I'm happy when I have time to try new recipes, pace things so they're done on time, do them right.
Time being relative, of course. Time being a mindset.
On Sunday I made some tenderloin steaks in my new stainless steel pan, and they came out beautifully. Exactly the kind of sear I was hoping to see when I moved away from teflon. I was even able to make a proper sauce from the fond for, like, the first time ever. It wasn't a particularly good sauce, but it was quite lovely.
I also braised some cabbage in apple cider vinegar, another first. Unfortunately the Godking didn't love that one, so I have to find another liquid to try, but I like having a way to make it other than fried (don't get me wrong - Alton's fried cabbage is amazing. Just, you know, variety.)
Last night I made pan-fried pork chops, which came out perfect because I gave them enough time to rest in the batter before cooking them. I also let the pan get hot enough, fried them 2-3 at a time instead of crowding them, and I monitored the temperature with two meat thermometers (since one by itself is likely to lie to me). Then I let them drain for a bit and kept them warm in the overn until everything was ready to serve, the result being perfectly browned and crunchy chops with tender insides. The extra time in the oven allowed my roasted potatoes to develop a perfect crunchy skin, too - Tom missed out on those because he's avoid skins right now, sigh, but ah well. I know I did good. Served it all up with some sauteed veggies - frozen, but since I fully carmelized the onion first and browned the heck out of them in my stainless, they came out nice. Even tossed mine with a dash of sesame oil, which is my new favorite thing ever.
Was also able to wash dishes while I go, and last night Tom washed most of what I couldn't get to after (while I gave Wiggles a bath), so my kitchen isn't totally trashed. Always a good way to start a day. And tonight I don't have to cook, because thankfully there are enough for leftovers, even though I personally ate two chops. Good times.
It's the little things.
I got a lot done yesterday, too, which really helps. I'd be feeling even better if I got some exercise in, but today I did a little stretching before breakfast. If I can just nudge myself into getting away from the laptop enough during the day, without feeling like I'm falling too far behind...
We're going to order a cheap-o elliptical machine. Just something to give me an opportunity for cardio during the day, maybe 10-15 minutes in between tasks, at first, or after lunch. Something that I can stash when I'm not using it so it doesn't become a secondary closet or a child trap. I think anything at this point would be helpful. Hopefully the thing won't break after a few tries.
I am so far off the path of fitness, but given the health issues I'm looking at, I've got to change the paradigm.
Little things.
I brought my old altar out of the basement, where it's been since we moved into this house. Never was able to find a spot for it, so it got shoved against a wall and collected dust. I'm amazed it didn't suffer any water damage from the various floods. But I spent a Saturday (now that I have free Saturdays!) organizing down there after the Godking built me some shelves for all the bins, and I saw it there and thought, I need to do something with this or put it out of its misery. So I brought it up, cleaned it off, and spent another Saturday rearranging furniture until it had a place - front and center at the big study window. Tom bought me some double-sided tape to secure the marble top (so the baby doesn't pull it over on herself). I put a single silver candlestick in the center - the one shaped like a witch/crone - with a black candle. This is me clearing my throat: a little nudge in, maybe, a magical direction.
Did a little meditation out there after my stretching, watching the candle and the snow falling behind her. Then came out here to share some thoughts over breakfast.
Like I said. Little things.
I'm happy when I have time to try new recipes, pace things so they're done on time, do them right.
Time being relative, of course. Time being a mindset.
On Sunday I made some tenderloin steaks in my new stainless steel pan, and they came out beautifully. Exactly the kind of sear I was hoping to see when I moved away from teflon. I was even able to make a proper sauce from the fond for, like, the first time ever. It wasn't a particularly good sauce, but it was quite lovely.
I also braised some cabbage in apple cider vinegar, another first. Unfortunately the Godking didn't love that one, so I have to find another liquid to try, but I like having a way to make it other than fried (don't get me wrong - Alton's fried cabbage is amazing. Just, you know, variety.)
Last night I made pan-fried pork chops, which came out perfect because I gave them enough time to rest in the batter before cooking them. I also let the pan get hot enough, fried them 2-3 at a time instead of crowding them, and I monitored the temperature with two meat thermometers (since one by itself is likely to lie to me). Then I let them drain for a bit and kept them warm in the overn until everything was ready to serve, the result being perfectly browned and crunchy chops with tender insides. The extra time in the oven allowed my roasted potatoes to develop a perfect crunchy skin, too - Tom missed out on those because he's avoid skins right now, sigh, but ah well. I know I did good. Served it all up with some sauteed veggies - frozen, but since I fully carmelized the onion first and browned the heck out of them in my stainless, they came out nice. Even tossed mine with a dash of sesame oil, which is my new favorite thing ever.
Was also able to wash dishes while I go, and last night Tom washed most of what I couldn't get to after (while I gave Wiggles a bath), so my kitchen isn't totally trashed. Always a good way to start a day. And tonight I don't have to cook, because thankfully there are enough for leftovers, even though I personally ate two chops. Good times.
It's the little things.
I got a lot done yesterday, too, which really helps. I'd be feeling even better if I got some exercise in, but today I did a little stretching before breakfast. If I can just nudge myself into getting away from the laptop enough during the day, without feeling like I'm falling too far behind...
We're going to order a cheap-o elliptical machine. Just something to give me an opportunity for cardio during the day, maybe 10-15 minutes in between tasks, at first, or after lunch. Something that I can stash when I'm not using it so it doesn't become a secondary closet or a child trap. I think anything at this point would be helpful. Hopefully the thing won't break after a few tries.
I am so far off the path of fitness, but given the health issues I'm looking at, I've got to change the paradigm.
Little things.
I brought my old altar out of the basement, where it's been since we moved into this house. Never was able to find a spot for it, so it got shoved against a wall and collected dust. I'm amazed it didn't suffer any water damage from the various floods. But I spent a Saturday (now that I have free Saturdays!) organizing down there after the Godking built me some shelves for all the bins, and I saw it there and thought, I need to do something with this or put it out of its misery. So I brought it up, cleaned it off, and spent another Saturday rearranging furniture until it had a place - front and center at the big study window. Tom bought me some double-sided tape to secure the marble top (so the baby doesn't pull it over on herself). I put a single silver candlestick in the center - the one shaped like a witch/crone - with a black candle. This is me clearing my throat: a little nudge in, maybe, a magical direction.
Did a little meditation out there after my stretching, watching the candle and the snow falling behind her. Then came out here to share some thoughts over breakfast.
Like I said. Little things.