October 20, 2013
It was one of those weekends I had a lot to get done. Working full-time during the week, weekends are time for my “other jobs”, i.e. freelance writing, blogging, cooking, cleaning and trying to be a decent friend, wife and family member.
Turns out, I can’t do it all. Inevitably, I only achieve half of what I need to cram into the two short days I’m not in the office. It comes down to a choice. Sometimes, I choose to spend quality time catching up with a dear friend, like I did Friday. Or saying screw my to-do list and watching garbage TV for three hours, completely zoned out, i.e. Saturday. I consider it a win that I managed to clean the kitchen, do some laundry and have a nice dinner with my brother. Today was best spent with my mom, aunt and Oma over a long lunch.
No, I did not get everything done I needed to. Yes, I feel a little guilty about it. But what I don’t feel bad about is sometimes pushing everything I HAVE to do to the side and doing things I WANT to do. It’s a tricky battle in my head, but I’m trying to be better about making my weekends more focused on me time and spending time with those I love rather than always working. Balance is coming, slowly.
October 6, 2013
When I make soup, I really go for it.
In our house, it’s only my husband and I, but it’s no matter. I make HUGE portions of soup at a time. It’s the kind of thing where when you’re making one of my soup recipes, and you start to wonder, “How many people is she feeding? Does she have 10 kids? Am I going to be eating this for a month? Is my pot going to hold all these vegetables?” You may even start to doubt my sanity.
Why make soup if you’re not making a giant batch? I can’t see a reason to make single-serving soups or stews. They’re economical, easily frozen for eating later, great for sharing and taking to work for lunch. Most importantly it’s just as easy to make a giant pot as it is to make a little bit.
Oktoberfest is upon us, and I can only imagine the amount of beer that has been consumed during this favorite of German celebrations. As if you needed another way to consume even more beer, it is fabulous when paired with cabbage, smoky meat and potato. While this was cooking, our house smelled like everything good from the Oktoberfest festival, minus the funky smells of thousands of frat boys and fraulein packed into a drinking tent.
September 29, 2013
It’s Sunday, and the seemingly ever-present sound of football is playing in the background. All I’ve done today is drink my first hot chocolate of the season, browse Pinterest and listen to the incessant rain on the windows. In my opinion, an excellent day.
Last weekend, I attended the International Food Blogger’s Conference, which happened to be nearby in Seattle. I left feeling rejuvenated, re-inspired and ready to get back to sharing recipes here with you. Perhaps it was they keynote from my favorite cookbook author, Dorie Greenspan, or the session from incredible New York Times food photographer Andrew Scrivani that jump-started my desire to get back in the kitchen. Both of them have wonderful generous spirits, and their love for their work exudes from their beings. Mission accomplished, and I’m back.
Today had us craving burgers. My mom makes a mean turkey burger, loaded with grated vegetables that is satisfying, yet doesn’t come with all of the calories and heartburn of a genuine beef cheeseburger. Now, I have nothing against a good cheeseburger, but there’s something slightly virtuous about my mom’s turkey burgers that makes them okay to eat more often.
August 28, 2013
I’m very much looking forward to attending the upcoming International Food Blogger’s Conference September 20-22. I haven’t been to an IFBC since it was in Seattle in 2010. It was a great experience last time — mostly because it’s fun to meet other bloggers, listen to fancy-schmancy speakers and get recharged.
And boy, do I need a recharging.
Clearly, this blog — my original baby — has been neglected of late. It’s like having a second child and forgetting/not having time/not making time for your first child. I’m a bad blog parent.
Sure, I’ve been focusing on restaurant writing and my second blog-child, Tacoma Foodie. But seriously, the other day I had a coming-to-Jesus moment.
I miss cooking.
Being a restaurant writer is great. It’s an amazing gig, and I’m not complaining about it one bit. However, it’s a bit like when you’re on a long vacation with no kitchen, and all you eat is restaurant food for a couple weeks. You start to feel a little…weird. A little bloated, maybe. A little unbalanced.
