It’s that time of year again! Although it’s almost too late to start a batch of sauerkraut in order for it to be ready in time for gift-giving (or perhaps to mail a tea set to you niece in Amsterdam), it’s perfect timing to start thinking about most other gifts.
Last year we made bath salts for the people we love. The recipe is here along with a big list of other thoughtful ideas for people who may (or may not) be going through cancer treatment. We have a fresh new list of ideas this year too.
If you’ve ever been to a steakhouse and aren’t a steak person, you’ve probably noticed that the veggies are an afterthought. Under/over-seasoned, under/overcooked, generally unattended to and unloved. I don’t know if this is because they assume nobody eats them anyway, but if you’re only really eating the veggies, it’s not that cool. And even if you’re there for the steak, why should the guys it’s sharing a plate with be overlooked, especially with all of the menu brags that the steak quality gets?
I think about food too much, but I do still think this is a strange oversight. And I’m definitely not telling you to go to a steakhouse; I’m actually hoping to show you how to show up to a friendly, omnivorous bbq without being the guy who brought the hummus.
I was picking up my husband from work one of those very icy nights in January when you wonder why you’re anywhere but home. I left early (because Vancouver + snow = unpredictable everything) and got there a bit early. I was parked and listening to the CBC and they had one of those calm-voiced announcers on talking about a Danish word/concept called ‘Hygge’.
I had never heard of it before, but sitting in my chilly car, around dinnertime at about 40 weeks pregnant, they had my full attention. As it turns out I want to live in Denmark. Hygge is something that we don’t have a direct translation for let alone a word for in the English language. Roughly, it means ‘cozy’ but it’s more than that.
This is one of the many recipes filling my freezer to the brim right now. I have actually never filled my own freezer with food, despite having done it for many others, and I have to admit, it’s pretty awesome.
Having a tiny baby has made me a meal preparing ninja. I was always pretty fast but now, I know my time is limited and there are other things that need to get done too, so I am quick and stealth and usually wearing all black (because that’s what colour my sweatpants are).
