What I Made In A Week: April 12

One of my friends suggested that I document everything that I made in one week, even items for which I did not plan to post recipes, as she was curious about the actual volume of food that I generate in my kitchen, rather than my usual curated version of presenting only recipes with which I am satisfied. I have omitted coffee and tea brewing, cranky evening hot cocoa treats, snacks such as popcorn or cheese and crackers, cereal or yogurt and fruit dinners, but - here you go - photos of the good, the bad, the ugly, and a chronological list of what the items were are below. More than anything, I think my friend wanted to give me a project and focus my mind on cooking because - like many others - I am currently a bit of a mess.

I am not a religious person - spiritual on a good day, maybe - but I have recently found myself praying for the Light to come back into our world. It feels as though Evil currently walks amongst us, that the Devil is fiddling as the world burns. The lights going out for American Democracy, the horror inflicted on the inhabitants of Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, (click here if you want information about even more global populations that deserve our unmitigated sympathy and support), the trampling of women and minorities' hard earned rights, climate change in general, the mass dying of the bees that sustain our food supply, the heart-breaking lack of compassion, empathy and understanding of the world's politicians and billionaires where the lives of those less fortunate than they are concerned, the rise of the far right, fascism, random individual violence towards strangers, malevolent governmental violence towards entire swaths of various populations, Emily Pike, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, to name but a few in this country and only SO FAR...My heart shatters every time I read a new news headline. The state of the world is all that I can think about.

I've said this many times before while up on my soapbox - cooking blots all that out, if only for a moment. There is brief order to the chaos, a flash of creativity that soothes the constant buzz of anxiety, a spark of joy and accomplishment amongst the horrors. Some flavor combinations comfort me for a moment, fleeting solace in what can only be a time of previously unimaginable dread and despair for anyone with any sense or morals.

Still, I am acutely aware that, despite everything swirling around me that horrifies me on a cellular level in its cruelty, waste, inequity, and inhumanity, I know that I am among the world's lucky ones, and I am truly grateful for all that I have. This behooves me to speak up for those who are not. Yesterday's Manhattan march was amazing and uplifting. With apologies for the above homiletics, that is why I will see you on the barricades on May 1. (I will probably be the one with homemade snacks.)

Please scroll for images of each dish listed below and click on the intriguing ones for a full photo reveal. Highlighted are links to the recipes of the things that I made that I suggest that you make too!

Spicy Italian Sausage Nachos

Fried Plantains with Hazelnut Dukkah and Sour Cream Hijiki Seaweed Sauce

Dehydrated Strawberry "Jam"

Mini Pitas Stuffed with Spicy Italian Sausage, Peppers and Onions

My Very Own Niçoise Salad

Baked Li Hing Mui Pork Chops, Bay-Scented Lentils with Onion, Leeks, and Kale

Sweet Potato with Leftover Lentils

Takuan (Japanese Daikon Radish Pickles)

Green Salad with Avocado, Whole Lemon Dressing

Bad Mood, Bacon Might Be The Answer, Sandwich

Red Cabbage and Zucchini Salad with Herbs and Caper - Cornichon Dressing

Steak Salad with Charred Onion-Parmesan Dressing