Meditation: Cooking single-y

One of my very best friends recently moved into her own apartment after cohabiting for quite some time. She's very sweet, smart, funny, and gorgeous-- she'll be perfectly fine very soon. But for now she's got a quandary- what should she eat?

Cooking for oneself can be liberating and fun- you can eat whatever strange things you'd like, at whatever times of the day you wish. But cooking for one after cooking for more than one can be a little lonely. We talked all this over the other day and I started thinking about what sorts of things I loved to make and eat when I lived alone- and what I'll eat when I live alone (albeit temporarily) again. Matt is deploying next month and he'll be gone for almost a year. All this thinking made ME a little sad. But I cheered up a little bit once I started compiling some good things for my friend to eat.

Some good-to-great recipes, when you're eating alone:

Wonderful salmon, but it will stink up the house- This is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant. I learned about M.F.K Fisher from this book and she's become one of my favorite writers.

Something I've written about before-- French Meatloaf. This makes excellent leftovers and sandwiches. 

Brussels sprouts in a bowl are always a favorite. If I have bread on hand (and I try to always have good bread on hand) I'll have some of that, warmed and dipped in olive oil, sea salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. 

I always love daal and you can double the recipe- it freezes very well. It's got maybe 200 calories, costs about fifty cents to make, and is filling and spicy-- the perfect meal. 

This Nigella Lawson recipe is hands down my favorite comfort food. For some reason, I don't think I've ever made it for another person. I eat it all up by myself, lounging on the couch, just as she directs in the recipe. 

I usually try to roast a chicken on Sundays, especially when I'm by myself. It will last for a few days, you can make salads or sandwiches with it and your house will smell like a (delicious) home. When I really want to indulge myself I buy a bag of frozen french fries and make some curried mayonaise (to make: stir curry into mayo). You can also use the carcass to make stock and then freeze it- it's good for stir frys, soups, whatever. This Grant Achatz recipe is my very favorite. 

Lady Dinner

It's all too easy to get a little lost in the midst of a relationship-- and I don't think that your mate, no matter how much you adore them, can or should be your one and only everything. More and more in the past few years, I've been certain to keep in mind how important female friendship is.

Once a month, my friend and (ex) neighbor Sabine and I go out to dinner- lady dinner. Our husbands/fiances make fun of us every time for calling it that, but that's what it is- a dinner just for us to chat, gossip, commiserate. So far we've had a feast at The Rieger and good Mexican food at El Patron (followed by a nightcap and dessert at The Rieger). Is it obvious The Rieger is my favorite place in Kansas City? It's the KCMO version of my loved Cleveland spot, Fire. 

Last weeks dinner was at Nara Sushi in the Crossroads District. I've been going there often lately-  after seeing a movie at Screenland Crown Center a couple of weekends ago, Matt and I had great snacks and drinks at reverse happy hour (starts at 10, ends at close). 

Dinner was last week, and I've already begun thinking about next months. Maybe martinis and rare steaks at the Golden Ox?

Nara Sushi

Leisurely Stroll 1/17/2012

I'm in love with this sofa- looks like a totem pole motif! In the window of an art gallery near my yoga studio.

An alternative to ubiquitous roses

Valentines Day is approaching- what a wonderful holiday. It can be about loving your sweetie, your besties, or family. I saw this lovely alternative to a Valentines bouquet on the Oh Joy! blog today: 

bespoke balloons for Valentines Day!

I always think that the best gifts are things that aren't needed, but that surprise and delight- flowers die, balloons deflate but they are such a treat while they last.

Image via Oh Joy!

Leisurely Stroll 1/12/2012

More arctic than leisurely. 21 degrees this morning, walking across the Crown Center. I need boots!

Leisurely stroll 1/10/2012

Some street art across the street from my favorite Kansas City restaurant, The Rieger Hotel

Leisurely stroll 1/6/2012

Robert the cat is the welcoming committee on a sunny (and unseasonably warm) Kansas City late afternoon

Leisurely stroll

Since October (when I sold my beloved, but very tired Honda Civic) I've been walking or riding my bicycle to work- mostly walking since it's gotten colder. I've challenged myself to try to walk to work every day through the winter, and so far I've accomplished that.
I've been very fortunate- I live a little over a mile from my job, it's been a mild winter in Kansas City, and on the coldest nights I know I can ask a coworker for a ride home, or call my fiance (actually he usually beats me to it and calls me on his way home to see if I'd like a ride- wonderful man).

I'm planning to buy a scooter this spring, but for right now I really enjoy walking. One of the things I miss most about living in a larger city is the connection that's formed through walking, riding a bicycle, or taking public transportation. And of course, an added benefit is that the slower pace forces you to notice little details that are easily overlooked in a car.

I'm going to start documenting those little things here on Sweet Heartland. I'd like to post at least one photo a day of my walk through the Crossroads District and up to the Crown Center where I work.

I've taken a little break from writing here the past few weeks- I began Sweet Heartland as sort of a guide to living well in the Midwest and towards the end of the year, I was veering off course (recipes are lovely, but so many people do food blogs so well). This project is one way of going back to the original purpose of Sweet Heartland.

Here's to a lovely new year with a new sense of purpose- enjoy!

I took this last night around 5.30. Maybe the days are slowly getting longer? It isn't pitch black yet...