It's one of those November days when you have to create your own cheer. Rain pelts down and the sky is dark. I taught today (Bible and Home Ec classes) and the students were great, but the school was chilly, chilly. Coming home, all I wanted was a cup of hot tea. So here I sit, with my tray to hand, a little candle burning, Earl Grey with a bit of milk, and the almonds and chocolate are gone. A hot rice bag sits at my back. I have about 45 minutes before I'll begin dinner prep. Ahhhh. Comfort.
Speaking of dinner - when someone in your household doesn't particularly like something, do you avoid cooking it even though you enjoy it? I like brussel sprouts but the man of the household does not. So I rarely pick them up at the market. However, I make granola for him and I don't eat it. Lately, I've been buying sprouts. I had them roasted up at Mater's place last month (cooked by Pater) and enjoyed them so much.
Last night I cooked these - steamed them for a few minutes until mostly tender in a skillet, then added a little olive oil and sauteed them until the water evaporated and they browned a little. Then, a teaspoon or so of honey and some finely grated orange rind. Tim even tried some and declared them not bad at all.
What do you do for comfort on a dreary day? And do you cook things just for yourself, even if other members of the household don't eat them?
I really enjoy Brussels Sprouts, too. Any kind of soup or bread is big on comfort for me. I can't think of anything I cook that Dear doesn't also enjoy. Our daughter is anti mushrooms and she is living with us right now so we just let her pick them off or pick them out of a dish...
ReplyDeleteToday was a snowy day, with big fluffy, light Christmas Eve flakes. We're still recovering and don't have work for a couple of days, so we settled down on the couch with our quilts and hot tea. I love to putter around when the weather outside isn't great. This afternoon, I felt a bit more energetic, so I did laundry, washed the floors, made popcorn and did some writing. Took some pictures of the snow falling and tidied up my art studio. Tonight I want to work on an art project I started before getting sick as I have a class on Thursday night.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do often cook separate food, but it's because of food allergies rather than dislikes. We all love the same foods here but for me, I have to eat the things that won't "kill" me!
What a lovely way to warm up. It certainly has been rainy and dreary today for sure. I can hear the rain pounding on the skylights. Since Don and I like almost all opposites I must cook things so everyone gets a good choice. I don't mind, I make plenty of each dish and put the leftovers in the freezer and then I have several meals to pick from when dinner rolls around the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteFor comfort on a rainy day I pull out handwork projects or a good book on the kindle. During our lovely summers I often find a project that I want to do and on purpose I save it for fall and winter when the rains come - gives me something to look forward too. And always a nice cup of tea brings comfort.
A while back I realized that I often made special things for my hubby that he liked and I didn't, but rarely made thing I liked that he doesn't, and it didn't seem fair. Now I try to make things that I like from time to time, just for me! If he tries them and likes them, then that is great! And Brussels sprouts is one of those things ... I love them roasted, and hubby is beginning to eat them a bit without complaining.
ReplyDeleteI used to make oyster stew on Christmas Eve just for me but have stopped it because I decided I like less work more than the stew. :) Generally, I don't just because there isn't time right now but it's a good thing to do I think. I'd eat sprouts with you!
ReplyDeleteI make tuna salad for myself. My family can't even stand to smell it!!! I'm not big on brussel sprouts either. But those do look yummy! On a cold day I would make soup, drink lots of hot tea and read a book! It's in the 80's here in Texas.... I wore cropped pants and sandals to the market today.
ReplyDeleteYour afternoon tea break looks wonderful, especially on a cool, damp day, and it has chocolate. ;) No, I don't cook special meals or foods for hubby and it's just the two of us now. I didn't much when the kids were here either. When I lived in an apartment in my early 20's with a couple other girls, one of them made us eat our brussel sprouts so we could have some of the delicious dessert she made. :) I didn't like brussel sprouts before but soon learned to eat them. The dessert was worth it. lol
ReplyDeleteYour comforts sound fine! I have this fake fire I like for needed comfort. John likes everything! I encourage him to have the foods he enjoys that I don't cook when we eat out. The way you prepared the brussel sprouts sounds very nice. Maybe I could learn to like them.
ReplyDeleteWe're having a day of drips and drear here too. I read my Bible, wrapped up in a soft blanket, visited blog-land and dreamed about how the world will look when the sunny weather returns this week.
ReplyDeleteBut I am thinking some hot tea and a nice, warm, scented rice bag would be great ideas to ward off the cold--brr!
Blessings,
Aimee
It seems as if you did a good job on creating your own cheer. It all looks so comforting and tasty.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have shared our weather with you today. Beautiful blue skies and temperatures in the upper 70s. This is unseasonably warm for us and expected to be cooler tomorrow. It was delightful while it lasted.
I'm lucky in that my hubby likes everything. I'd be at a loss if I had to feed a picky eater.
Your brussel sprouts look and sound very tasty.
Funny, I can't really remember what we ate (caught up in the conversation, I guess), but Pater will be pleased to know the brussels sprouts made an impression. We have a few foods like that as well, but they're easy work-arounds (he doesn't like papaya, for example, and I do).
ReplyDeleteWe really are moving into the gloomy season, aren't we? Rode my bike home from the ferry in the dark tonight, through the rain. Uggh!
Oh, I think I'd be cheered by your methods!! I like to brew some tea, and do some reading aloud with my homeschooled student.
ReplyDeleteI hope you warmed up quickly. Sometimes after a chill sets in it's hard to reverse it.
Your brussel sprouts are making my mouth water. I'd rather have those than a slice of cake any day.
Now you have me yearning for brussels sprouts! Those look yummy. Hubby loves them...and I don't cook them all that often. I can't really think of anything I cook just for myself. He eats pretty much anything!
ReplyDeleteI can pickles even though Gerry won't eat them. My rainy day comforts look a lot like yours -- tea and a book -- unless the Little Miss is awake. Then it's baby snuggles and board books.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try your way of making them. It sound delicious. I have mood swings about just cooking things for myself. Usually, I don't because I'm busy catering to my children's taste buds. Then I go through a thing where I wonder why I deprive myself and then I do make things I want for a few weeks. Only I make my kids eat them too. They revolt and we go back to their way. My hubby is good about coming home and making himself what he wants though.
ReplyDeleteI think I must follow your example and sometimes cook things I like rather than limiting my repetoire to things we both like! I am not keen on sprouts though I love the tops and the newer varieties which are looser and a cross between a sprout and a cabbage are not bad. Must give your idea a go as Mr M enjoys sprouts!
ReplyDeleteWe always have lots of things to keep us busy on dreary days, though we always miss a little neighborhood walk in the afternoons. And yes, we will compromise on our food choices. DH loves brussel sprouts and I am indifferent. But we will have them now and then. But when it comes to something like beets, I won't touch them at all, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI made lentil soup today. So easy. 6 cups of water, 1 cup of red lentils, 1 each chopped potato, onion and carrot, organic vegetable broth powder, cumin powder and black pepper to taste. Boil then simmer til the lentils break down, 20-30 minutes depending on your stove. Squeeze in juice of 1 lemon at the end. Top with fried pita bread to serve. I always cook whatever I want and to heck with the rest of them. I figure I am doing them a favor by serving healthy food and they should be very grateful. I used to hate brussel sprouts as a kid. My mom would make me sit at the table for hours until I would eat just one and I would literally gag. Now I love them. :) Best wishes, Tammy
ReplyDeleteThese are both so comforting! Brussels sprouts done right are so good - and these look perfect!
ReplyDeleteI do exactly what you did for comfort and relaxing.
ReplyDeleteI rarely cook just for myself. Now I would be sitting
with your husband on the food situation. No to brussel
sprouts, but yes for granola.
I love roasted brussel sprouts and recently my family told me that this is the best way to serve them.
ReplyDeleteI make baked oatmeal for myself. =(