Monday was spent with my parents and aunt and uncle, lolling about and enjoying the sunshine. A blind eye was turned to what I was eating and drinking that day. We made plans to celebrate Julia Child's birthday in a couple weeks by gathering together, and cooking an array of her dishes. I'm not going to worry about food that day either.
Yesterday, the boyfriend came over for dinner and I was feeling rather... Greek. I marinated chicken in yogurt, mint, garlic, oregano and red pepper. Then I chopped up cucumbers into matchsticks and mixed in yogurt, fresh mint and a pinch of cumin. We ate it all with warmed pita and a chilly bottle of white wine.
Here was the real star of the night.
Plum clafouti. Even when I feel Greek, there's still an undercurrent of French.
Notice the geese giving it the glad eye.
It was worth every custardy calorie. I took enjoyment in making it, and in eating it.I think it's important to remember to not vilify food. I didn't get fat eating food like this. I got fat eating a bag of crackers with butter at 11:30 in front of the TV. Or four hot dogs for lunch instead of one. I want to lose weight, but I don't want to eliminate cooking and eating as sources of real joy in my life.
But we all know it's not that simple. I have yet to find the balance and the inner strength to keep half a clafouti in my fridge and enjoy it in small sensible portions throughout the week (I sent that puppy home with the boyfriend last night... I'm no fool).
Workhorse, simple healthy food has a big place in my life. It's my day-to-day. It's my structure. And I get a different kind of enjoyment from it -- a pleasurable feeling of control.
It's time for me to go cook up a little control.
looks deeeeeelish.
ReplyDeleteAah, balance...that elusive phantom.
I completely agree about not villifying food. Well, not the really good food, anyway. I tend to think the extra three hot dogs are indeed evil. But we love to bake at our house, too. I would cry if I thought there was never room again for a triple chocolate layer cake in my life. I have yet to figure out how not to eat the whole thing the next day for breakfast.
I totally hear you. (It is gorgous by the way.) I love to cook and bake, but haven't done it lately. I have an especially hard time avoiding the things that I've made.
ReplyDeleteGod I wish I had your self control. If I were to bake just about anything, it would be a race to eat it all. I'm so all or nothing; I'm either on plan or not. I really like being on plan 90% of the time. But that's just me. ;)
ReplyDelete"I think it's important to remember to not vilify food. I didn't get fat eating food like this....I don't want to eliminate cooking and eating as sources of real joy in my life."
ReplyDeleteAmen.
That's got me written all over it.
It is in fact my entire weight loss philosophy... well that and a lot of exercise. I think if you truly love to cook & bake and you give that up it's so unsatisfying (on a deep soul level) that you'll never be able to stick to a diet long term.
That's a beautiful thing you call clafouti!
ReplyDelete