What we’re eating, and other things

This past week has been rough. Emotionally, mostly. On the list of not smart things I have done, staying up to watch some of the Farrah story last week ranks high. It didn’t occur to me how just the glimpse of a waif thin Farrah dying in her bed would send me right back to the spring, when Michael’s mother was enduring roughly the same experience. I never really cried about the shitty-ness of the situation back then, except for the last three horrible days. So the sight of Farrah lying there hit me hard and I wasn’t prepared, didn’t have any shield up. I really freaked out the cat…not to mention my husband, who was smart enough to avoid the television like the plague that evening. It didn’t help any that his family has been…difficult…when it comes to my MIL’s remains and estate. That situation came to head last week, too. And I learned Thursday morning that there is a decent possibility that we might have to close five library branches. I’m not likely to lose my job, but still…crappy.

I wasn’t too interested in food last week, it turned out.  I guess that’s not so surprising, except I’m ALWAYS interested in food. I’m feeling kind of ambivalent again this week, but also, hungry.

Random, food-related thought: I’ve been drinking a lot of Green Monsters lately (smoothies w/spinach) and usually I include a decent amount of protein + wheat grass powder + a banana for some sweetness & texture. Tonight I made one with three fruits and no protein or wheat grass powder. It tasted like CANDY! It was actually too sweet and frothy for me. Which is crazy because I always hate going to those smoothie places where they add all those powders in. Perhaps I have retrained my taste buds.

Before I spin off into total random world, here’s that menu:

• Monday–leftovers, found food (I work late)
• Tuesday–Maple Glazed Tofu, French Lentil Salad (my version is closer to the original in French Food at Home**), Asparagus
• Wednesday–Black Beans & Rice, Grilled Veggies, Watermelon Slices
• Thursday–Edamame Salad, Broiled Salmon, Rice

Friday we’re driving up to Alabama again…I’m attempting healthy road food that we’ll eat:

• Breakfast–Coffee in thermos, warm chocolate pecan scones (made ahead & frozen), fruit
• Lunch–Sweet Potato & Black Bean Wraps w/Chipotle Sour Cream, carrot sticks, fruit salad
• Dinner–probably out somewhere in Birmingham
• Snacks–roasted almonds, cherries, homemade granola bars, graham crackers, homemade tortilla chips & salsa (this is more portable than you’d think)

**I was looking for a link to the lentil salad recipe when I came across the fact that Laura Calder has a cooking show!! Very exciting to me. Also kind of funny to read the reviews on Amazon from folks who only know of Ms. Calder from the show–they are disappointed by the lack of pictures and also that none of the recipes from the show are available. Except the book was published before she ever had a cooking show.