My car is back in the garage. The kids are doing school from home because it’s too cold. Everything is very stressful right now and our food stock has been running low.
To cope with the stress of mounting pressures of life going wonky and the ensuing anxiety, I meal plan. The urge to cry every time I go shopping is absolutely awful, so I plan. I plan so I can budget and not have to make decisions later. I still wanted to cry when I went and followed my list. Almost double my budget, but I had figured. And I got a few staples I won’t have to buy for a while now.
It was late and well past dinner time when everything was put away. Our oldest actually did most of that for me. It was quite nice. I got the chicken all cut up. Two batches in the oven for later in the week and a third on the stove. Then I started the rice and tossed canned beans in once the chicken was almost done.
This is not our usual setup, but I need life simple when I can. Southwest Bean Salsa. Guacamole in these small containers, which makes me feel guilty, but we almost never throw guac away anymore. Gotta have sour cream and cheddar cheese. I also put out bag lettuce mix. I didn’t cut anything tonight. Not with a knife. And whole wheat wraps.
Everyone else had some rice inside too. I served the wrap with cheese, chicken and beans, and rice and everyone, but the baby (the nine year old), fixed their own the rest of the way. Everyone seemed very happy. My husband was grateful for them, having a third. I was really happy too. Usually, simple is the most delicious.
During these years of our maturing family I’m trying to keep as much as I can simple and easy. Our lives are getting more full and complex. Home should bring comfort. Food that comforts and nourishes is the best.
Now I have to go take that chicken out of the oven before I leave it all there overnight!
The Accidental Domestic Goddess 