The June Collection

- what I'm cooking, reading, and noticing -

Some of my favorite posts from others are collections of what they’re discovering, so I’ve curated a few of my own for you. The whats may change as I evolve in this venture, but I’d like to always share things that are important to me. For this season, it’s nurturing myself with good meals (which I’m not doing nearly enough of these days), sitting still with a book, and focusing on the world around me.

What I’m cooking

Can we talk about the never-ending question What's for dinner? I am admitting right here and now that my proper meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking skills have gone the way of the dodo these last few weeks. I can't even put my finger on the problem--out of ideas? laziness? no time? unmotivated? uninspired?--probably a little of each. As empty-nesters, we should be well into the point of adulthood where we can figure this thing out, right?

I won't talk about how much we spent on dining out in May or the fact that the few dinners we had at home were various raviolis from Trader Joe's with some kind of sauce from a jar, but just know it was downright shameful. Even for a woman who gives herself grace on the regular.

I did get motivated to right myself the other day when a local farmer announced a drop off of fresh corn. I haven’t cooked corn on the cob in forever, so I Googled it and found that people swear by this method. Easy and delicious!

I also had some pinto beans I had soaked and a bell pepper a neighbor gifted me, so I sautéed the bell pepper with some garlic and olive oil in my Instant Pot then threw in the beans with a diced jalapeno, onion powder (because this is what you do when you don’t have onions, right?), water, and some seasonings based on this recipe.

And I see you drooling over that cornbread! A couple of years ago I learned that one could make cornbread without a “mix packet” (don’t tell my mama, y’all!). This is the recipe I use and love. Just don’t attempt it without a cast iron skillet because that would be just wrong.

Next week I’m planning to try this meal plan from Budget Bytes. I’ve been a fan of that site for years because the recipes are yummy and budget-friendly. She gives you the approximate cost of each recipe, which could all use with gas prices and food costs soaring. The plan includes recipes, grocery list, and tips on freezing certain meals and using leftovers. I’ll let you know how it goes!

One last note here: if you have not tried Halo Top Ice Cream Pops in Sea Salt Caramel, run to your grocery store now!

What I’m reading

Sometimes I don’t want to cook because my kitchen doesn’t feel like it works for me. We’ve been in our home for almost four years now (a 1930s bungalow that we’re slowly updating), and the kitchen is still in need of an overhaul. While we patiently wait for that reno, I’m trying to make small changes that will help me be in that room and enjoy it. I stumbled upon The Lazy Genius Collective podcast (specifically Episode 245: How I Personally Meal Plan), which led me to purchase The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi.

The tagline says it all: “Have what you need, use what you have, and enjoy it like never before.” Adachi is witty and on-point, giving you principles to help you create a space that works for you, not someone else.

“Time for a little straight talk.

One of the reasons you don’t like being in the kitchen is that you’re trying to be someone else.

You think you have to be good at cooking and planning and gathering, but you’re looking through a cripplingly specific lens. And when you hold yourself to these impossible standards of how you should be, you keep trying until you get it right or until you give up. That Lazy-to-Genius spectrum does not mess around.

Instead of trying to fit into someone else’s mold, allow me to invite you to simply be yourself.”

The Lazy Genius Kitchen, page 41

Adachi presents practical ways to transform your kitchen into a place you enjoy. I’m still reading and applying what I’m learning, but let me tell you one of the first things I did to rid myself of what wasn’t working for me: I threw out the old, ugly, 4-slice toaster and replaced it with this smaller, magnificent, pretty red one! In this season of life, I am eating a lot of Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter on toasted Dave’s Killer Bread for breakfast, and this toaster makes me smile.

What I’m noticing

The other day I walked to the post office—it’s just two blocks away. It was early in the morning before most of the world was stirring. My legs felt light, weightless as I made my way, a moment of gratitude after dealing with sciatic nerve pain for over a year. The humidity was surprisingly low for this neck of the woods. I stopped at our Little Free Library to brush away some cobwebs and check the books before continuing.

Two cats cautiously watched me as I made my way up the curb and into the cool building. I slipped my mom's birthday card into the outgoing mail slot and then checked my box. No bills. I took note of the two obituaries taped to the glass of the door. One of the deceased was 95; the other 52. Life really is so different for everyone.

Exiting the building, the air smelled like pepper, and as I walked toward home the scent turned to sweet mimosa with a hint of urine (it's unfortunate that folks can't find better places to relieve themselves). I finally arrived at the mimosa tree and found a few wispy blooms in the street. I picked one up and sniffed it to make sure that I had identified the scent correctly. I had. A fragrance from my childhood.

My grandmother had a mimosa tree in her yard when I was a kid. We would climb it and pluck its pods and blooms, using them for different creations like "soups" and “mudpies.” Autocorrect is telling me it's "mud pies" but down here it's just one word. Everyone knows that.

Hmmm…maybe I’ll make some Mississippi Mud Pie soon. Let me know if you have a tried and true recipe.

Thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you’re cooking, reading, or noticing this month.