random thoughts – Day 1,285 – (Saturday) – home comforts

PB and banana toast.

The first day of autumn was on the cool and grayish side, and the morning coffee was accompanied by the comfort of toast with peanut butter and sliced banana. 

Despite having had the opening of the  National Park Service ”One City Many Cultures” exhibit on my calendar for months, I failed to muster the energy to attend. Part of the hesitation was the fear it would be crowded, and jostling through a crowd to see an exhibit is frustrating. 

Instead, the afternoon was dominated by the continued binge-watch of A Discovery of Witches on max. And a nap.

I was chilly (not unusual), and too lazy/frugal to turn on the heat (also not unusual), so I grabbed the cozy blanket strategically located on the back of the sofa and snuggled under it. The equinox noted on the calendar is usually also the early days of the annual fall installment of “wake up way too many times overnight,” so I was tired. Chilly, tired, and under a blanket are the exact recipe for a nap and it was sleepy time on the couch for the win.

Stuffing with stuff.

The change of season felt like the official blessing to kick off the winter food menu, so after the nap, there was time spent in the kitchen over the stove. The cast iron fry pan and I are still in the early stages of courtship, and today marked another date. Despite having been seasoned, the pan has a couple spots where food seems to stick, so we aren't enjoying the smoothest of relationships yet.

The cooking project was one of my favorite fall and winter fast food dishes. It starts with a package of corn bread stuffing mix which is prepared and mixed with diced apple, celery, pecans, and cranberries sauteed in butter. Also onions and a splash of orange juice, if available and remembered (tonight they were not). While married to Mr. Meat and Potatoes (X2), it was a side dish, but now, it’s just supper.

By 7:00, the house was dark. It felt like bedtime, but of course, it was too early. Now the challenge is to hang in there until a more adult hour. Do I hear 8:30?