Yep. We absolutely have gelato for dinner in front of the telly- like, regularly. My youngest (22 yo) indignantly pointed out how those 2 choices were PARTICULARLY forbidden as she grew up, but we do not even care. Our motto was "It's not about me (as parents) anymore" for 27 years so we are simply tryna re-orient. But I admit the pendulum may have crested?!
“the fall melancholies, the election jitters, big grief, or the nonspecified blues” -- thank you for articulating what, exactly, the hell my problem is lately!
Love the meal ideas too. (Bacon as a main: had never dared to dream...)
Cheater fried rice -- whisk up 3 eggs with a bit of sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha or something similar -- cook a bunch of chopped scallions (or regular onion) in more butter than you would normally, add a big handful of frozen peas when they are cooking, then once the peas are fully thawed, pour the egg mixture in the pan and let it sit until the top is almost cooked. Add about a cup of cooked rice on top, and mix it all up, you can let one side get a nice little crust if you want, or have it a bit wet/looser. Serve (in a bowl) with half an avocado sliced on top/some pickled ginger/leftover tofu or other veg (or meat, if eat it), extra hot sauce or chili crisp as desired.
It is so simple and I pretty much always have all of those things in the kitchen. It's one of those things that is cooking but doesn't _feel_ like cooking, I make it at least twice a month. (Very good for breakfast, too.)
We do buttered popcorn and movie night for dinner sometimes, too! During the summer, my husband asked my 21yo (the younger kid) whether they would count that as dinner, maybe if I added a smoothie alongside, and they responded "No. Because I'm a GROWNUP." And I lovingly gave them the finger.
Other two-person meals around here-- just smoothies (if it's hot), bread which cheese and fruit, buttered noodles (if I'm feeling especially sad/anxious). Random leftovers (we call this "forage night" because it sounds better than "random leftovers". Also good stuff we can occasionally afford if there's just two of us-- seared scallops, maple-chile-rubbed salmon, sushi delivery.
Things are hard this year because, no, this isn't my first empty nest rodeo, but this time last year, my older child (the 23yo) was living with us with their lovely girlfriend and their cat, and now they're 1200 miles away and not even coming home for Thanksgiving because the lovely girlfriend has the nerve to have parents too. Even though I've basically offered to adopt her and am (secretly?) waiting for one of them to propose to the other.
I usually love fall, but the missing the kids and the anxiety about November are all-pervasive this year.
I feel this so hard. My kid and her girlfriend are happily living about 15 hours away near the GF's parents, and we seem to get them for holidays only. I was not ready for that yet, I think.
It's hard. I mean, I'm so happy that they're happy, and they could not find anywhere affordable in NYC, which is where they wanted to live, but I was not ready for the distance. Especially since we had the great joy of having them live here in our house for a few months first. They left their cat with us for an extra month while they settled in in their new place, and when they took him home after Christmas, I was devastated all over again, because I loved living with him, too. My daily Benadryl haze was totally worth it. I miss all three of them. What kind of crazy system is it where the BEST case scenario is that they grow up and leave us?
It's wild, right? That "success" in raising kids means they go away like this? My daughter had such a hard time growing up from undiagnosed neurodivergent stuff and all I wanted was for her was mental health, maybe some friends, and she has all that, just very far away.
And my husband has become one of those people who drops passive aggressive hints about them living closer to us, yikes.
The thing that I realized 6 weeks into simultaneously becoming an empty nester and living alone for the first time was that I was suddenly no one's role model. I didn't have an adolescent judging and commenting on every choice I made. I could literally do whatever I wanted - no one would know. It was such delicious freedom - for eating, dating and everything else
How wonderful! When I'm alone in the house, I feel that too. I might eat a handful of arugula standing in front of the fridge, and then take a bag of chocolate-covered cherries up to bed.
Someone recently told me I should say 'bird launcher' instead of empty-nester to describe our situation. Love that. Our favorite 2-person, bird-launcher meal? Popcorn with Raisinets watching TV (a.k.a. Dinner Theater)
Roasted gnocchi - toss a package of gnocchi in a big bowl. Add to that bowl a package of sausage of your choice (the Trader Joe’s unexpected cheddar sausage are life changing) that you have cut into coins. Toss is some olive oil and seasonings of choice, mix together, and then spread that mixture on a sheet pan. Then cut up an onion in big pieces and nestle those pieces randomly around the pan. Roast at 400 for about 30 minutes or until everything is golden. Serve with fresh parm. Yum!
Our first kid launched this fall and we still have a sophomore in high school at home but I long for the days when this is my reality. I would honestly rather go get a mammogram every single day for the rest of my life over the drudgery of the deciding what the three of us are supposed to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner every. single. day - day after day after day. I've just glimpsed my future and it for sure involves Corn Two Ways.
This was so nice to read. I love this kind of casual eating and it all sounds so delicious. We have a 12-year-old who's not a very adventurous eater and sometimes I long for the day when i can just feed myself and my husband again. Although even typing that makes me feel presumptive grief for when the time comes that she's not living with us! Ha.
Ouisi is a break from words---beautiful photos to match (like dominos)and play however you want. Like: I'm putting this card next to this one because they both are made of metal, or have a rough surface, or are blue, etc. Then the next person builds on it.
Live every word. Will cook every dish. But really, YOU were too embarrassed to comment "Fall Dish"? (Or whatever it was?) I want to judge but I just remembered how I used to be embarrassed to order menu items with silly names, like "Farrah Fawcett's Fiery Fajitas." So I get it.
Late to the Catherine Newman party as I just a few weeks ago finished Waiting for Birdy and now the kids have left the nest! It feels like time travel to this reader. Which I guess it was parenting can often feel like as I blinked and have a 28-year old.
Huge props on half-a-year AF! Just passed 1900 days over here. Your dishes all look and sound delish and some day I might have energy to cook yummy food other than my half-dozen regular rotations. Thanks for the inspiration and the laughs. So enjoy your writing!
WELL since you asked, last night we had bruschetta on the new trader joes gluten free baguette (not super baguette-y? but still good) with our garden tomatoes and a very decent amount of cheese, and a side of pulled pork because protein, I guess?
Tonight it's breakfast sandwiches with my beloved chips from Canada, which I very highly recommend: All Dressed Lays.
The best two person game is backgammon. My husband and I are obsessed and play all the time. When our youngest was home for a few lovely weeks in August, we got him into the act, and then gave him his own board as a house-warming when he moved into his first apartment.
We too went a little feral when our kids first emptied out, and we really enjoyed it. Now, we deploy the bag of salad technique at least one or two nights a week. Bag of salad + protein. Done.
A coworker told me that when her son went to college she realized she and her husband had been performative adulting for years.
Very real.
Yep. We absolutely have gelato for dinner in front of the telly- like, regularly. My youngest (22 yo) indignantly pointed out how those 2 choices were PARTICULARLY forbidden as she grew up, but we do not even care. Our motto was "It's not about me (as parents) anymore" for 27 years so we are simply tryna re-orient. But I admit the pendulum may have crested?!
Ha ha ha! "but we do not even care"
“the fall melancholies, the election jitters, big grief, or the nonspecified blues” -- thank you for articulating what, exactly, the hell my problem is lately!
Love the meal ideas too. (Bacon as a main: had never dared to dream...)
Cheater fried rice -- whisk up 3 eggs with a bit of sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha or something similar -- cook a bunch of chopped scallions (or regular onion) in more butter than you would normally, add a big handful of frozen peas when they are cooking, then once the peas are fully thawed, pour the egg mixture in the pan and let it sit until the top is almost cooked. Add about a cup of cooked rice on top, and mix it all up, you can let one side get a nice little crust if you want, or have it a bit wet/looser. Serve (in a bowl) with half an avocado sliced on top/some pickled ginger/leftover tofu or other veg (or meat, if eat it), extra hot sauce or chili crisp as desired.
Damn Miss B! This sounds fantastic!
It is so simple and I pretty much always have all of those things in the kitchen. It's one of those things that is cooking but doesn't _feel_ like cooking, I make it at least twice a month. (Very good for breakfast, too.)
yummmm
We do buttered popcorn and movie night for dinner sometimes, too! During the summer, my husband asked my 21yo (the younger kid) whether they would count that as dinner, maybe if I added a smoothie alongside, and they responded "No. Because I'm a GROWNUP." And I lovingly gave them the finger.
Other two-person meals around here-- just smoothies (if it's hot), bread which cheese and fruit, buttered noodles (if I'm feeling especially sad/anxious). Random leftovers (we call this "forage night" because it sounds better than "random leftovers". Also good stuff we can occasionally afford if there's just two of us-- seared scallops, maple-chile-rubbed salmon, sushi delivery.
Things are hard this year because, no, this isn't my first empty nest rodeo, but this time last year, my older child (the 23yo) was living with us with their lovely girlfriend and their cat, and now they're 1200 miles away and not even coming home for Thanksgiving because the lovely girlfriend has the nerve to have parents too. Even though I've basically offered to adopt her and am (secretly?) waiting for one of them to propose to the other.
I usually love fall, but the missing the kids and the anxiety about November are all-pervasive this year.
I feel this so hard. My kid and her girlfriend are happily living about 15 hours away near the GF's parents, and we seem to get them for holidays only. I was not ready for that yet, I think.
It's hard. I mean, I'm so happy that they're happy, and they could not find anywhere affordable in NYC, which is where they wanted to live, but I was not ready for the distance. Especially since we had the great joy of having them live here in our house for a few months first. They left their cat with us for an extra month while they settled in in their new place, and when they took him home after Christmas, I was devastated all over again, because I loved living with him, too. My daily Benadryl haze was totally worth it. I miss all three of them. What kind of crazy system is it where the BEST case scenario is that they grow up and leave us?
It's wild, right? That "success" in raising kids means they go away like this? My daughter had such a hard time growing up from undiagnosed neurodivergent stuff and all I wanted was for her was mental health, maybe some friends, and she has all that, just very far away.
And my husband has become one of those people who drops passive aggressive hints about them living closer to us, yikes.
I really feel this.
The thing that I realized 6 weeks into simultaneously becoming an empty nester and living alone for the first time was that I was suddenly no one's role model. I didn't have an adolescent judging and commenting on every choice I made. I could literally do whatever I wanted - no one would know. It was such delicious freedom - for eating, dating and everything else
How wonderful! When I'm alone in the house, I feel that too. I might eat a handful of arugula standing in front of the fridge, and then take a bag of chocolate-covered cherries up to bed.
Someone recently told me I should say 'bird launcher' instead of empty-nester to describe our situation. Love that. Our favorite 2-person, bird-launcher meal? Popcorn with Raisinets watching TV (a.k.a. Dinner Theater)
Omg Dinner Theater! Love, love, love.
Roasted gnocchi - toss a package of gnocchi in a big bowl. Add to that bowl a package of sausage of your choice (the Trader Joe’s unexpected cheddar sausage are life changing) that you have cut into coins. Toss is some olive oil and seasonings of choice, mix together, and then spread that mixture on a sheet pan. Then cut up an onion in big pieces and nestle those pieces randomly around the pan. Roast at 400 for about 30 minutes or until everything is golden. Serve with fresh parm. Yum!
Yes! I’ve been on a gnocchi “sheet pan Sunday” trend recently. Can also do gnocchi, white beans, corn, and red pepper for a veg version.
Sounds perfect!
Our first kid launched this fall and we still have a sophomore in high school at home but I long for the days when this is my reality. I would honestly rather go get a mammogram every single day for the rest of my life over the drudgery of the deciding what the three of us are supposed to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner every. single. day - day after day after day. I've just glimpsed my future and it for sure involves Corn Two Ways.
It's so much--too much.
Please, PLEASE get into cribbage Catherine. I feel you + cribbage is a match made in heaven.
Okay!
Love cribbage! We need to start a movement…
This was so nice to read. I love this kind of casual eating and it all sounds so delicious. We have a 12-year-old who's not a very adventurous eater and sometimes I long for the day when i can just feed myself and my husband again. Although even typing that makes me feel presumptive grief for when the time comes that she's not living with us! Ha.
I understand both feelings!
My wife and I play Rewordable and Ouisi, which is here: https://shop.ouisi.co
Ouisi is a break from words---beautiful photos to match (like dominos)and play however you want. Like: I'm putting this card next to this one because they both are made of metal, or have a rough surface, or are blue, etc. Then the next person builds on it.
Okay! I am buying Ouisi for a multigenerational holiday. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Live every word. Will cook every dish. But really, YOU were too embarrassed to comment "Fall Dish"? (Or whatever it was?) I want to judge but I just remembered how I used to be embarrassed to order menu items with silly names, like "Farrah Fawcett's Fiery Fajitas." So I get it.
Rooty Tooty Fresh n Fruity!
Late to the Catherine Newman party as I just a few weeks ago finished Waiting for Birdy and now the kids have left the nest! It feels like time travel to this reader. Which I guess it was parenting can often feel like as I blinked and have a 28-year old.
Huge props on half-a-year AF! Just passed 1900 days over here. Your dishes all look and sound delish and some day I might have energy to cook yummy food other than my half-dozen regular rotations. Thanks for the inspiration and the laughs. So enjoy your writing!
Thank you so much, Em!
Do Yasso popsicles count?
yes
WELL since you asked, last night we had bruschetta on the new trader joes gluten free baguette (not super baguette-y? but still good) with our garden tomatoes and a very decent amount of cheese, and a side of pulled pork because protein, I guess?
Tonight it's breakfast sandwiches with my beloved chips from Canada, which I very highly recommend: All Dressed Lays.
Best chips ever!!!
Right?? I live about 45 minutes from Canada and every time we go over I have to stock up.
I love those chips! My niece used to live in Montreal, and every time she visited us in NY, she would bring me a big bag of them. Sigh.
V. interested!
The best two person game is backgammon. My husband and I are obsessed and play all the time. When our youngest was home for a few lovely weeks in August, we got him into the act, and then gave him his own board as a house-warming when he moved into his first apartment.
We too went a little feral when our kids first emptied out, and we really enjoyed it. Now, we deploy the bag of salad technique at least one or two nights a week. Bag of salad + protein. Done.
Michael and I used to fight playing Backgammon? But I think we should try again.