“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
We are new to the empty nesting phase and my husband (the cook) is traveling for work this week. I just made a single serving of buffalo dip for lunch and I’m quite proud of myself. Chopped rotisserie chicken, a spoonful of blue cheese dressing, franks and shredded cheese melted in the microwave. Stir up and eat with chips.
We love to play cribbage and gin. We could use some more two person games, for sure.
A coworker told me that when her son went to college she realized she and her husband had been performative adulting for years.
“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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please, PLEASE get into cribbage Catherine. I feel you + cribbage is a match made in heaven.
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.
Best chips ever!!!
Good two-person games: King’s Court/Super Checkers (there’s an ios app for this that’s pretty good), Skyjo (#1 around here!!), and Sequence.
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)
As a non-breeder I feel like I have been empty nesting my entire adult life. Is there anything more fun than Spontaneous Bedtime Icecream?!
We are new to the empty nesting phase and my husband (the cook) is traveling for work this week. I just made a single serving of buffalo dip for lunch and I’m quite proud of myself. Chopped rotisserie chicken, a spoonful of blue cheese dressing, franks and shredded cheese melted in the microwave. Stir up and eat with chips.
We love to play cribbage and gin. We could use some more two person games, for sure.