That's a pretty long list! Today's food blog is dedicated to more than just my favorite comfort foods, but also to what I have uncovered about FEELING GOOD in the past few years. Welcome to Tableforsue.com! It is always my hope to inspire joy in any way I can through writing and delicious dishes!
It should be no surprise the number one feel good food for me is always going to be pasta! It is the whole ritual, really. Recently, Lars went to Kentucky for work for four days. He was returning on Sunday evening, so I was all ready for CHURCH that morning. Got up, fed the kitties, cleaned my kitchen, threw on my apron, along with "On Golden Pond" in the background, and set up my mise en place. Yes, church. The senses begin to fill my morning. I am almost transported back to many memories of eating homemade pasta throughout my life with family and friends. The beauty of the classic movie playing in the background as my cutting board is positioned just so. I can see George and Joey, fat and fed and so happy their mumma is cooking up a storm. They each take a spot to watch the joy. I start with mixing up my meatballs. Grass fed ground beef and a bit of sweet, Italian sausage along with finely chopped onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper and some hand made bread crumbs soaked in a bit of milk like Nana did. A bountiful handful of freshly grated parmesan reggiano and a gentle mix. I rolled em larger than Nana did cuz, well, everything is bigger in Texas. Popped those in the oven and started my gravy. Simple. Into the Ninja goes San Marzano tomatoes, fresh parsley, basil, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano. Ninja dat up and get it into a nice pot on the stove. Once meatballs are browned, but not cooked through, get them into your sauce with some thongs. Simmer all day with a partial cover and that is better than any room freshener you'll ever buy. Clean up the kitchen so it's spotless and get a big pot of water ready to boil for dinner tonight.
Here's an 'oldie' vlog where I make a simple red sauce with stuffed shells for anyone who would like the gravy recipe.
Lars came home and we had classic spaghetti and meatballs (well, buccotini - the spaghett with the hole through the middle mmmmm). I added a pad of burrata for good measure.
FEEL GOOD! I happen to think I have always had a bit of an addiction to the quest of doing just that. (Not always in the healthiest way!) Through aging and menopause and a work pause and I guess just growing, I have come to observe that people are really having a hard time feeling good. Especially without 'aids' that ultimately do not, in fact, help us feel good. We have certainly had our share of global, national, local, and of course, personal obstacles. I have come to experience, though, that even challenges that weigh the very heaviest on our hearts can hold such important life lessons. And when there is love, no challenge is too great.
Some things I do to feel good - swim, play with animals, write, watch old movies, call a friend, dance, cook, EAT!!!
I feel very fortunate to have always had a positive relationship with food. Oh, I have always been "chubby." My whole, entire life. I think it is difficult for society to wrap their heads around a chubby person with high self esteem. I don't know why. There are so many layers to all of us and I have come to the conclusion that I am determined to harness and maintain the best balance for feeling good. 1. Spiritual 2. Emotional 3. Mental 4. Physical I definitely believe they all spill into one another, however, I feel grounded and steady with spiritual, emotional, mental - but, my physical is in crisis which weakens the other three. My physical crisis has zero to do with weight, food, or exercise. Yes, Lars and I are interested in trimming down for our health, but my obstacles are letting go of things that add ZERO value to my life and, in fact, do harm. Nicotine! I have never been a huge drinker, but I have basically been Cheech and Chong's little sister for the last few decades so for me, I guess it's like that song, "...maybe it's time to let the old ways die..." I fully understand that FOR ME I need to bring about the balance I seek by tackling my physical negatives. It is different, of course, for everyone. How we each find ways to feel good, that is. I can guarantee you, though, that how we treat and speak to ourselves and others plays a huge role in all good things.
How we treat and speak to ourselves - let's start with that one. Feel Good Foods can really be significant to us. They can be nostalgic and help you feel closer to a time and place you miss. They can be shared and experienced with loved ones, passing on traditions. Feel Good Foods start with ingredients that are beautiful and whole and maybe even grown with your own hands. They can be simple or complex. Maybe even found at a favorite diner or dive. All of these things and more are true about FEEL GOOD FOODS. It always surprises me when I come across folks who sort of preach their 'healthy' choices loudly and often around anyone in their path WHILE food is being enjoyed. "Oh, we don't eat carbs." "If you're full, I have an idea, quit eating!" "I never eat red meat!" I mean I could go on and on and on. What all of these folks have in common, I think, due to their agitated demeanor, is that they just need something to eat!! You simply are not going to convince me that your perfect weight is all of the work you need to do. They do not show that they feel good because they've boycotted buns. Alcohol is as significant of a depressant as a gallon of ice cream. I always know when I meet someone with incredible balance. It is very rare. Those people treat themselves well and speak to themselves well. Yes, my goal is maintaining that kind of balance.
"I had a wonderfully productive day and now I am going to gratefully enjoy my honey's wood fire pizza!" Amen.
Next time you go by the freezer section, skip it! Grab some bread from the bakery. Slice it in half the long way. Whisk up some butter, herbs, garlic, spicy garden peppers and a shit ton of grated reggiano. If you make things yourself the taste is entirely unmatched and you will always FEEL GOOD without the processed crap. ox
I grew up always always always having garden veggies with Italian food. My favorite, like my dad, are cukes!! & spring onions!! All part of the FEEL GOOD formula! Always, always get in some clean veg and fruit. Balance baby!
Can you believe some of those above comments? I imagine you know what I mean because you have been on one end or the other of them. Oh yes, not long ago at all my honey and I were at our favorite summer Farmer's Market enjoying the music and an Italian Sausage with peppers and onions! Before I was finished, I said to Lars, "...ooofff, I'm getting full..." You know? Just matter of fact. Immediately and intensely after I said it, a family member of his said so abruptly, "...I have an idea, stop eating then! There's a genius idea!" Just like that. My younger self would have reacted poorly. Instead, I took internal breaths and I could sense that Lars was waiting for me to strike. lol. I have dealt with this kind of behavior so many times before. (Males who need to lash out on other females because they are unable to do so at home.) Eventually, I made some calm remark like, "I think someone needs an Italian sausage." While he sat eating his plain baked potato. My point is dear readers, would you rather be physically fit like a fiddle, but angry, angry, angry Or happy and chubby? Lars and I agree if you thought - why not fit and happy? We are at a point where we would like to have a balance of both. A healthy weight for us, healthy activity, healthier diet, and also that love and joy. I have learned there is such power in both how we speak to and treat ourselves and how we speak to and treat the world around us. One day at a time. We have a lot of thoughts each day and it is difficult to process all of them, but I have also learned that this is where our FEELINGS come into play as being our guide. By giving myself a moment to breathe and not react with the ick feelings I had about this rude comment, it allowed me to stop and realize that the rude behavior was not about me so I could almost empathize with this person I love because I know how badly he just needs an Italian sausage and peppers WITH the bun. We just don't know why people are angry, but how we react keeps us steady with our own balance. I think.
Recently, Lars had a conference in Orlando. I have never been to Florida. At the end of the weekend we were to spend the entire day at 3 different Walt Disney Parks. I was over the moon. Very quickly I realized that I was feelingggggg miserable because of the humidity. Feeling miserable. That brings about all kinds of things like impatience, frustration, anger.... I was at Disney World. I wanted to cry because on one hand I was like in awe of everything around me. Lars and I would hop in line for a ride and I was so pumped that he was a rider too!!!! My exes weren't. I was trying so hard to not let the weather ruin this for us. It was impossible to not be physically uncomfortable, but then I went ahead and let myself feel frustrated by the sea of cell phone users. Instead of snapping photos of various scenes of users, I should have sought out the non users. That is my next goal when I am in a busy place again. When I was losing the fight of feeling miserable, I would stop and say to Lars that I was so grateful and happy to be there, but that I was feeling so miserable. He would share that he was also uncomfortable and then we would try and find somewhere to cool off. Our feelings can really help us in any situation. We can articulate them to those around us. Like my best friend since 4th grade always says, "You know I have to eat when I have to eat." Yes. She makes it very clear to everyone always that if she hasn't eaten, she is unable to focus or function and her already light filter becomes completely invisible. ha. It's kind of hilarious, really. She's like a freaking gremlin. I have witnessed her tell strangers off at the mall or where ever. And she was like the world's hardest working waitress for many years. The kind of waitress they should make a movie about because she ate hecklers and would give her clothes to someone who needed em. Point is, sharing how we are feeling can be an incredibly powerful tool. It beats acting on a bad feeling. I love Lars so much and I loved the awesomeness of Disney. It just made me so sad and angry and frustrated to feel so sweaty and miserable. It did not affect our day as poorly though because he understood how I was feeling and was feeling the same. I just wanted a swim suit and a pool. It would have made me a new woman. We shoulda gone to the water park park. Lars loves the water too. Shoulda coulda woulda.
Anyway.....
To have bad feelings is life - how to get through them so it's healthy for everyone - that can be done so seamlessly by just saying out loud how - you - are - feeling - in - that - moment. ox
Back to my favorite "feel good food" - an original when Tableforsue.com started in 2022. I love making gnocchi and meatballs. And honestly, unless you are allergic to gluten which I absolutely extend my love and apologies, then do not make faux pasta for Italians. It's offensive.
Eating pasta in Naples & Sorrento, Italy was beyond what feeling good can be! The love that went into the dish; the backdrop; the servers who I fell in love with - FEEL GOOD and have some pasta!
Above and below - Sorrento, Italy - the love here was proof that it always makes us feel good.
You can see that both Chef Kaiser and I are not afraid of good food. You can also see our joy. Whenever I feel lonesome or blue, I always feel better when I walk into Himalaya in Houston. I brought Chef some pasta on this day before sitting down for lunch. Food sure brings us together. It can bring us so much love and friendship.
If you are ever in Houston, Himalaya is a must! I love stopping for lunch because you can try a few different delights for the day on this nostalgic cafeteria tray. (Plus the best naan in town!) I have lived in Houston 3 years and have eaten here many many many times. Alone. With friends. With Lars. Every guest that comes to see us. Chef Kaiser's food makes me feel good even if I am having the worst day ever. Indian-Pakistani food, in my opinion, is unmatched and it is the only cuisine I do not attempt myself and the only cuisine I really hate to compete against in any competition! lol
Check out my Great Minnesota Recipe blog for more about this hotdish creation!! My Godmother, Tona, used to make the world's best pierogi!!! They were my ultimate feel good food!! Inspired by Tona's pierogi, I made a hotdish layered with pierogi dough, potato-cheese, onion, sauerkraut and garnished here with a bit of caviar! lol. I love this dish!!
Seems only appropriate to wind down this blog with some feel good sweet treats. These are unbelievably outstanding! Lars makes these wild blueberry muffins with wheat flour and honey. The whole house smiles when these are in the oven. Now that is a feel good muffin!
As we approach another election, I believe most of us are sort of holding our breath in anticipation of the pendulum swinging in a kinder, lighter, more unified direction. Although, I am also sensing from the majority of folks in my world that they are just resigned to the mentality, "...what has this world come to?" I believe there were a combination of things that led me to blog about "Feel Good Foods." But I think the biggest reason was because so many people that I know and love and so many people that I just see in the world are definitely not feeling good.
If any steps I have taken toward feeling good can support even one reader, then yay!! Every day - one day at a time - everything you say and do to yourself and to others in the world is significant. If you can uncover love and positivity even out of the most challenging of situations, but also in the very easiest and most minor situations, the flood doors of good will come. I have practiced what is known as "The Law of Attraction" one day at a time since 2018. Put out at least 51% positivity into the world each day. Watch what happens. I have been able to find beauty in every challenge, heartache, frustration, or unpleasantry that inevitably comes with life through each of their lessons. If you would like to read The Secret Power by Rhonda Byrne, it will give you a much more detailed explanation. The Secret Power translation.....FEEL GOOD.
Lars was the one who shared with me one evening that being an "expert" requires both time and success. (We were visiting about leadership/politics) Well, over many years of learning and doing and succeeding!!! Lars is definitely highly respected in his career as a surgeon. A pediatric urologist. I shared my observation with him about that. He is a very humble guy and does not respond comfortably to compliments. I explained that he 1000% has earned that respect. He works so hard. So many hours. He is dedicated beyond what is even close to the norm in work ethic today. I told him though, that I think surgeons are automatically respected and seen as experts. And if it is true that an expert is someone who has mastered a craft over time and success, then I began thinking about the expertise in my tool box. Thirty years teaching 5th grade; and really K-8 in many ways. I certainly have the data to mark the successes. What are those skills that I am possibly an expert in? I can absolutely tell you that MOST people I have come across over my lifetime assume that we teachers sit around and eat PBJ's and paint by numbers all day. It's a big chill fest and then we get the summers off. Seriously. Even if you are like, "Oh my God, I have so much respect for teachers....", unless you physically get inside a classroom, I think those people assume we are saints just because we're around your kids all day. People just have no idea how unreasonable the work load is. It is miles high for a classroom teacher and you never, ever get done. You are pulled in every direction that brain of yours can come up with. After Lars and I visited about this topic of leadership/expertise, I thought about the years and years of my beloved career serving high poverty families. Detailed stories came to the surface. One after another. Faces of my students over the years; routines we had; jokes we shared; families who I loved and circumstances that were anywhere from jaw dropping magical to gutt punching traumatic. Meetings, meetings, meetings. How nearly every leader I ever had was the furthest thing from anyone I would ever look up to in a million years. How grand the lessons were that I took away from them as well. It took thoughtful conversations with the love of my life, a surgeon for decades, to point out my list of expertise that are unique in any field or life situation. (in addition to 30+ years on stage) Communication, problem solving, forgiveness, regulating emotions, organization, etc. Not to say all teachers possess these skills - hence expert comes with both time AND success. God knows it took me my whole career to achieve them harmoniously. I realized after Lars and I chatted that oh my gosh yes.... there are multiple!!!!! relationships around me that are seriously suffering. Some completely broken with no hope of repair. Some, I have an essential stake in, some weigh less heavy on me personally. What they all have in common is that I intervened in various communicative ways to open up more communication with all of them and what they all have in common is multiple adults unwilling to navigate through something as terrifying as communication, vulnerability, accountability, or the giving and receiving of forgiveness. They were all met with anger, ghosting, fear, complacency, silence. Yes, I do not always get there right away, I may not always succeed the first or second time, and I may even be seen as 'the bad guy' for shaking things up, but I am an expert in my field. As a 30 year teacher, those every day, human interactions were the foundation of my role. Facilitating conflicts between various backgrounds and personalities of children and adults was constant. Day in and day out. Damn right I am an expert. And I see it crystal clear because my high poverty 5th graders, many of whom were dealt a deck of cards of unfathomable suffering, were mountains more advanced with learning interpersonal skills and social/emotional strategies than the enormous list of adults closest to me and beyond. What. Is. Up. With. Dat???
Reflecting every, single day has brought both joy and correction into my life. We get one, uncertain trip around this sun and I intend to achieve FEELING GOOD (naturally :) ) as often as humanly possible. There is no way to meet that goal solely in solitude. It is all about the love we give and receive in every moment of every day - first with ourselves, then with every thing & everyone around us!
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