Cheating for a cause

I cheated. I'll admit it. It wasn't necessary, but I did it. A good friend of mine is going through a rough time. House fire, rebuilding, etc. No fun. On top of that she's an amazing artist who is in high demand. Doesn't make for simplicity in life. I've been asking her for weeks for something I can do to help. Each time she says there is too much going on to find one thing for me to help with.

Today I didn't take no for an answer. She had only a greek yogurt for lunch. So I got take out. For both of us. Not a social thing...which is my loophole, but just a way to bless her.

I hope to cook for her tomorrow. I really can't wait!

Out.

When you don't get take out, those meals at restaurants become just so much more fantastic.

Meal #1. Cara Mia

White wine, bread and olive oil, calamari, and rigatoni with chicken and sundried tomatoes in a vodka sauce. Heaven.

Meal #2 Southern Hospitality

Hush puppies, BBQ chicken sandwich, french fries and margaritas. Justin Timberlake's new restaurant. So tasty!

Thank you to Cathy Parrott and friends for making these two meals possible. You are all amazing!

Just add water...

That's exactly what I like to read on the front of the Aunt Jemima pancake mix. With a coupon I spent only $5.00 on the mix and syrup.

So I added water. And wrestled a couple of vegetarian sausages out of my freezer. Popped them on the stove for a few minutes and I could hardly see the tiny bits of freezer burn.

I made a whole batch of pancakes. And ate them for breakfast this morning as well. Still more left. And more mix left. Such a great and simple dinner....and breakfast...and well maybe even lunch:)

I've really cooked. once....

Totally for real. I'll prove it:)

For days I had been craving pasta with chicken. Funny to be craving chicken since I've pretty much been a vegetarian for the last 5 years. Anyway....while stopping by the store for ingredients I somehow came across this lovely package.

$2.99/lb! So awesome!

I took the goods back to my kitchen, and cut and sauteed half the package, while freezing the other half.

I also cooked up a vat of pasta. Threw in some sundried tomatoes and some spices (fennel is my new favorite)

and voila! Dinner. With lots of leftovers. So good.

reflective

I've noticed that eating reflects life. My meals are quick convenient and simple. Cheese and crackers for lunch. Diet Coke for breakfast. Many of my relationships are the same. They are connections of convenience. They are simple because going deep takes too much time.

The close friendships I have are due to time and effort. We eat. We drink. We cook.

Some of these people live very far away and our friendships have become quick and convenient. But we have eaten. We have cooked. Its funny how much that makes a difference. In a life where I work til I drop, those moments are priceless. I want more of them. I don't want to just cook for myself. I want to cook for people I care about. I know I need to start somewhere, and get myself to a place where I'm ready to let more people in. Slow down, work less, embrace the world around me instead of zooming so fast I don't see it as it goes by. Its hard for me to slow down. I get bored as I wait for something to fill the void. And then I get another job...and the cycle begins again...and again...and again...

incentive

Yet another reason I am anticipating time to cook. My dinner. Portion controlled, calorie conscious, relatively healthy, but also pretty disgusting.

Dreaming

All I can think about right now is a hot meal. Fresh, flavorful and satisfying

I'm still at work for a few hours.

Next year I plan to give up working overtime for Lent.

That is all.

Unsure

Thinking back on my past 20 or so days of not eating take out, I have mixed feelings.

There have been a few days that I've wanted nothing more than a hot meal that I didn't have to prepare myself.

I've been craving bagels every morning. I totally should have bought a pack and toasted them myself...but in my morning haze it always seems like too much work.

This morning I had free bagels at work. Surprisingly less satisfying than I had hoped they would be. Old stale and unfortunate...though my bagel craving is at last squelched.

I had hoped for a significant change in my life by not getting take out. I think there has been. In my stubbornness I find myself at the grocery store every couple of days. I feel like I'm cheating, buying pasta roni, Campbell's soup, and basic bread and cheese. I'm not really cooking, like I'd hoped though I am definitely saving quite a few dollars.

I guess I'm beginning to doubt the daily benefits of this challenge. When I'm run down and exhausted, eating a few carbs and some cheese doesn't quite cut it. As my vegetable intake wanes....I feel more and more unhealthy. The pounds I lost when I first started have begun to creep back, and I'm feeling as wasteful and out of touch with reality as normal.

I feel like in most challenges there is a plateau, or a wall that you just have to push through. Once you're past the rush of trying something new and different, you are back to just what you have every day, life. Life seems to so often get in the way. I plan to push through. If I make it, I will be proud of my accomplishment. A little silly I know, but to keep with something through think and thin?...I think is an accomplishment for us all....