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Dinner

Transition Inspiration (Plus the Key to Happiness)

By October 3, 2010October 4th, 20115 Comments

I have a hard time with transitions. Going from elementary school to middle school was a nightmare for me. I was completely lost when I moved from Brooklyn to the suburbs seven years ago. And, perhaps just as dire as these First World predicaments, I can never figure out what works for dinner in late September/early October โ€” when summer market VIPs are more like VMPs (M=Mediocre) and Iโ€™m not quite ready for the heaviness of, say, a beer-braised pork shoulder. This is when I am grateful for my Dinner Diary. I flipped back 11 years (above) to see how my 28-year-old self was dealing with the season switch. She was apparently much more energized than me (maybe because she wasnโ€™t chasing kids around yet?) and had a couple good ideas: Chicken Pot Pies (a nice way to use summer produce that isnโ€™t quite up to snuff anymore) Porcupine Meatballs, Grilled Pork with Apples (just replace apples for peaches in this link) and Black Bean Burritos (this link is a later, better recipe). Thanks 28-year-old Jenny! I knew I kept you around for a reason.

PS: If youโ€™re going shopping today, make sure you pick up the following: quinoa, onions, frozen spinach, eggs, whole wheat pasta, and a can of artichokes. Iโ€™m assuming you already have olive oil, soy sauce, and Parmesan. Even if you donโ€™t check back in later this week to see how many differentย meals you can make with these ingredients, it doesnโ€™t really matter. They are loyal pantry friends with long shelf lives โ€” so they will be there for you when you need them the most.

PPS: My friend Rory just sent me this story about happiness. Turns out a new study has determined that the happiest people eat home-cooked meals at least four times a week. (It also says that they drink alcohol four times a week, but itโ€™s unclear if I reach debilitating levels of euphoria if I exceed that number.) Shall we all aspire to official happiness together?

5 Comments

  • Avatar Trish O says:

    i really do think you get extra credit for more than 4x a week. Is 10:30 on sunday too early to start? Oh, that is why we have bloody marys. I am off to the store and will report back this shopping list. For me, I think the farmers market produce is only part of the september/october story. Our schedule is all new and I am having a hard time figuring out WHAT I want for dinner as I am running around with this new fall agenda. Nothing sounds good and i am so busy I dont want to make it. So tonight I am going to make beet, sweet potato, quinoa hash with eggs alla martha. Sounds warm and easy. Very fallโ€ฆshould fit right into the schedule. And I agree, my family around the dinner table each night is the most happy.

  • Amanda says:

    Well hot damn! I already have all the items on your shopping list. (Do I get bonus points?)

  • Avatar 654Carroll says:

    is Oct. 4 your anniversary? did you go to Babbo for your first? (do the hearts mean you loved your meal or your company, or both?)

  • Avatar sus says:

    quick questionโ€ฆ
    do you have one gigantic notebook with all your years of dinner-journaling, or do youhave lots of little ones, or do you combine the dinner lists with other topics in your notebooks, or how do you do it?
    the dinner journal sounds like such a great idea, iโ€™m just curious how to keep the information for years to come ๐Ÿ™‚

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