Anyone who camps knows how even the most pedestrian meal is enhanced to a near-miraculous degree after a day in the wilderness. It happens all the time. “How can a bowl of pasta with canned sauce and chopped zucchini taste so good,” you wonder. And yet it does.
The visit to Salem was tense and then tenser. We didn’t manage to capture the cat. The aide had to leave a full hour earlier than expected. Plans had to be abandoned, limitations accepted. But before we got there, a fair amount of hostility was expressed. I spent a lot of time walking around the building, sort of wishing I smoked.
My sister blamed her temper on a transiting Mars / natal Sun conjunction and pretty much everything else on me.
She kept telling me to sit down and to stop moving. I kept suggesting that it might be time to put some pants on. The aide cleaned the kitchen. Then the bathroom.
My wish to get something done collided with my sister’s refusal to move. It’s often this way.
It’s a kind of wilderness, really — and I think it made the salad I made after getting home taste ridiculously good.
The gorgeous food blog, Harvest and Honey, inspired the choice of ingredients.
With the sweet, candy-like beets, the smooth and creamy avocado, plus a little goat cheese, chopped scallion, sliced radish and a handful of micro greens, it was beyond delicious.
Recipe (you hardly need one!)
1 large beet, roasted, peeled and diced*
1/2 scallion chopped, including white end
1 radish, sliced thin
1 1/2 Tbs goat cheese
Handful of micro greens
Dress with a tangy mustard vinaigrette (loaded with garlic).
* if you stow beets, post-roasting, in their foil wrappers in a large, unsealed zip lock bag, be very careful carrying the bag to the cutting board unless you want your kitchen to resemble a crime scene!
You most certainly earned your modest yet delicious indulgence. I can’t wait to try the recipe. I just joined a new CSA. I hope they have beets. I admire your grit and good sense to seek peace for yourself after giving so much of yourself. May your life take on some ease at this juncture. As an x-smoker I can relate to those times when a Gitane or a Galoise would be just the thing. LOL.
CSA! Haven’t joined our local one in a few years. I know you’ll enjoy. And funny about smoking. I think I wanted it in a movie-craft sort of way. “Look at the pacing woman.” No craving, per se.
I have no fear that you nor I would ever go down that smoking road again – I can’t even remember if you ever did smoke (no response required). Ha, yes, I love “… wanted it in a movie-craft sort of way”. On the subject of food (I am on spring break that’s why I’m babbling away here): I learned about teff grain for the first time, last night! I have a friend, whom I rarely see, who is a chef. She grinds all her own grains which she orders in bulk from organic farmers at the best prices she can find. She showed me how to make a teff crepe. Could be a slippery slope of carbs though? but good carbs, right? but then, there’s what I’m tempted to put with the teff crepe that is probably the worst carb danger. by the way on I just read Runaway by Alice Monroe, having checked out to your reading list post way back. Loved it. thanks! xo
Tiff crepes sound marvelous. And healthy. Even if loaded with maple syrup and a dab of butter! I’m reading “Runaway” now — am impressed. Her writing, particularly in service of describing character, is dense and polished. It’s kind of one lonely landscape after another tho, isn’t it.
Thanks for the recipe…..sounds so good!
The flavors were yummy but I think it was the mix of textures that was so so good.
Perfect way to end a stressful day. Telling it with humor … a healthy beautiful meal. Oh and that wonderful rich ceramic bowl. Nice that you treated yourself to all the above … earned and deserved.
And today is : Dog walk; writing; sewing. How lucky am I?
a good day indeed 🙂
Sounds like a perfect day …. I’ll be painting the basement ceiling. 😭
What’s in your basement?
So sorry about your struggles with your sister. My sister continues to go through that with her father-in-law. He should have been in assisted living several years ago, and when they find a place that he agrees with, he changes his mind at the last minute. What a pain. I hope I’m not like that when I get old! But YUM, that salad looks delicious. I have most of the ingredients in the fridge now. Maybe I’ll do it this weekend.
Hi Laurie. These problems of caregiving have woken me up to many many aspects of disability and aging. For that, I’m grateful. It’s one thing to attend to a person’s physical needs (groceries, hand bars) and another thing to attend to their sense of self (self direction, a sense of dignity). One is easier than the other.
(((Dee)))
A huge YES to that wilderness food thing! You’ve managed to put into words a feeling that has always captured my attention. It also takes place after a bad migraine 🙂
Your humor and resolve with your sister is admirable. May we all have someone who is so good to us. (((hugs)))
you remind me that the original recipe had pomegranate seeds in it — how tasty an addition would that’ve been?
always, an antidote. This SALAD. oh, just yes, this salad. it Fixes.
It was sustenance and a balm.
Care giving is just no joke, The Zen group I sit with prepares people to ‘minister’ not necessarily do the actual care giving. I not my impatience with an elder friends stubborn refusal to follow through on suggestions and my own intolerance in using the phrase ‘stubborn refusal’ even if it does apply. He simply can’t let go of his suffering. Depression is insidious and compelling once it gets hold. I pray I am not the old lady everyone detests when my time comes. Actually, if I could, I’d opt for letting go in my sleep so what the hell happens after is simply not my concern. Meanwhile, thank goodness for taste buds, tasty combination and hearty appetites.
drat–second sentence “I note”
All kinds of things holding in our situation. The looser my grasp the better. That’s the trick, isn’t it? Upholding joy of new apt vs the drudgery of making it happen. They’re duking it out.
Is it bad the bit about your sister made me laugh? And beets make me gag. Really digging that bowl, though.
Laughing is good. Always. Is it a texture thing, the beets? Cause they’re so sweet!
Wow, sweet??? They taste and smell like dirt to me. Can’t do radishes, either.
I suppose The sister stuff made me laugh because I understand the ridiculousness of it. I apparently ruined my brother’s life the day I was born. He’s in his 50s now and still hasn’t gotten over it. Haha
New to your blog–here from spirit Cloth. I did laugh regarding your sister. I could feel the tension….. but. Anyway- I love roasted beets and have some that will be in the oven as soon as I hit publish. Love your houses, fabrics, colors. Live a bit north of Portland in Maine. Walk the dog–liked the list of clothing you wear. Was going to list what we wear to walk Riley… next time.
Hi Joanne! Let me know if you are on Instagram or anywhere. I wish I had some beets for the oven today. They always feel like such a treat. It was windy and slightly cold here in Mass. today but at last a little springlike. You know it’s bad when the dog doesn’t want to go out!