WI T H TH OU G H T
table for one karolina wiercigroch: chickpea spring 2016
Asking for a table for one used to be more scary than it is now. And it was nearly impossible to survive the entire meal without one of the classic dining-alone armours: books, newspapers or phones. You didn’t actually have to read - placing a book on the table was all it took to send the right message: that you’re not unreasonable. That you’re not doing this for pleasure. That you’d much rather share this dining experience with another human being That you simply needed food to survive. You happened to be solo, so you’ll eat quickly, shamefully avoiding the eyes of the “real” customers with actual dining companions and then you’ll leave as soon as possible. It is less scary now. People- watching has always been fine over croissants and cafés au lait in Paris and no one would do as much as cast a glance at a single man enjoying a bowl of pasta somewhere in Sicily. Both long counters in Asian-style casual dining restaurants and annoyingly small bistro tables encourage solo diners. Waiters no longer need several conformations that it’s going to be just you and successfully refrain from offering sympathetic smiles. Somehow it’s still usually lunchtime and not dinner. For some reason it seems perfectly okay to eat lunch alone, but a bit strange to treat ourselves to a solitary dinner. Is it because
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when the lights go down and the restaurant fills with whispering couples and loud groups, we feel that there’s something missing when it’s just a party of one? Is it because we think that it makes perfect sense to do something utilitarian (eating lunch when we’re hungry) alone, but when it’s more of a hedonic experience (checking out a fancy place in the evening), we should have company to share the joy?
Regardless of the reasons, I think that we should be able to dine alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out with other people. But I find it equally important to to be able enjoy my own company. There aren’t that many occasions to spend quality time with ourselves. A casual date-with-self gives us time to relax, think and quite literally be ourselves. Besides, it’s an entirely different dining experience when there’s no conversation involved. We can engage all our senses and focus on the food. We might find it refreshing to do just one thing for a change. Also, no need to share the fries or split the dessert. And no need to compromise - we no longer have to care if our friends hate Thai food or prefer to skip the starters. It should be easier when it comes to companionless meals at home, right? After all, almost everybody does it. But while we all know that every day should be a holiday and every meal a celebration... How many of you have ever devoured a sandwich over the kitchen sink when no one was watching? Consumed a meal straight from the pot, cunningly limiting the number of dirty dishes? Decided it didn’t make sense to go to the trouble of cooking for one and opted for a bag of chips instead?
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Cooking for one is challenging - and neither omnipresent family- packs, nor cookbooks filled with recipe yields for 2-4-6 are making things easier. It does require a certain dose of creativity to plan meals for one and avoid waste. To some, it might even seem like too much of a hassle to prepare a dish from scratch for just one person. I personally think that it makes just as much sense to cook for one as it does too cook for ten and, well, call me an egoist, but if any of these people happens to be me, it’s always worth it. And what about that book? I believe that a literary breakfast in bed is a part of why it’s fun to spend a weekend alone in the first place and staying in bed with a book for lunch could be a not-so-guilty pleasure. I think that reading (or even watching an episode of your favourite series) and eating is fine, as long as you don’t serve distractions as a side to every single meal. Sometimes it’s good to set the table properly, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy your date.
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a kitchen essentialist kyra de vreeze, chickpea spring 2016
Good chance you, like I, are part of the generation that tries to do it all, get it all, show it all, be it all and accomplish it all. We live in a world with a gazillion possibilities and opportunities. The sky is the limit and the other side of the world is only a stone’s throw away. We were taught to grab every chance, impress and have ‘success’ as our life purpose. We are students that have graduated with honours, owners of our own thriving design start-ups, award-winning writers, perfect brides and mothers who juggle full-time jobs, staying fit and caring for kids. Or even better: all of the former at once. We live as if we want to squeeze four lives into one. We continuously accelerate in order to excel. This core conviction might have resulted in a booming career, a beautiful home and all of the gadgets you can possibly think of, yet one question lingers below surface. ‘We seemingly have it all, but are we truly happy and content?’ According to Graham Hill, the founder of treehugger.com, the more stuff we own, the bigger of a responsibility we feel to hold on to it. We don’t want to move into a smaller house because that would be considered a downgrade and failure. We don’t want to sell our car because it symbolizes status. We need to work our behinds off in order to keep our jobs. We need to cook with the most exotic and exclusive produce from Whole Foods because it scores on Instagram and makes us feel good about ourselves. We cling to it all and it sits
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heavily on our shoulders. We feel dissatisfied, restless and stuck. Hill advises us to cut the extraneous and consider an edited life. This is exactly what essentialism is. It is all about deciding what we simply can’t live without. It is all about pausing after every choice you are presented with. It is about asking yourself, “Is this what I need to do, buy, cook or have?” We need to ask ourself this question because we simply can’t do it all. We are not able to do it all. It is not realistic or sustainable. Essentialism is about doing less but doing what you do, well. It is about choosing quality over quantity. It is about creating space around you and in your head. It is this sense of space that gives you room to re-connect with yourself. It makes you sensitive and in touch. You learn about yourself and what your personal desires are. You learn about your mission in life and what truly makes you happy. You learn which work assignments you are willing to spend your energy on and which you may politely decline. You learn which foods support you and which do not. You learn to make the choices that are in line with who you are, as a unique human being. You learn how to say no. You make your own rules instead on having society tell you what happy, healthy and successful looks like. I have found that one of the best ways to ignite change is through food. You become what you eat, on a deep cellular level. Every bite you take and everything you swallow is broken down into tiny particles. This little bit of pre-
digested broccoli gets transported to your small intestines where it is absorbed. It travels through the wall of your bowels and ends up in your blood stream. It journeys on to your cells and settles there, to nourish you. That bit of broccoli, growing on its stalk, has now become part of you. But you do not only become what you eat. You become how you eat too. If you overcomplicate your cooking, you become tangled. If you keep it simple, you are rewarded with peace and space. You buy a lesser amount of ingredients but because you have the same budget you can afford better quality. You don’t necessarily spend less time in the kitchen, but because you have fewer things to prep you can do them with more joy and ease. When you cook slower, you yourself will slow down. You will eat slower and chew better. People who chew well absorb their meals better and sense when they’re satisfied. Overeating becomes rare because both cooking and consuming are done with consciousness and care. Practicing this technique will help you to discern the important from the irrelevant. It will help you to move from wowing others to nourishing yourself. It will get you to reconnect and learn what it is you need to feel satisfied and nurtured. It will help to create space, which will result in comfort and ease. It will have you cook up and dish out your essence.
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café at home chickpea fall 2016
There’s something special about coffee shops. That mix of quiet, background music, the murmur of people around you, a little caffeine, and cosy atmosphere. And sometimes-questionable artwork. It makes me feel more focused and productive and just makes me feel good in general. Sometimes at home I wish I could have that atmosphere, especially when the weather turns cold and I’m sitting in the same old kitchen every day. I want to feel excited in my house, and sometimes I just want to treat myself and put some intention in my day. There’s nothing better than sitting down with something hot to drink, laptop in front of you, music playing and candles lit. (Cheaper food & drink and unlimited wifi & outlets are pretty great, too.)
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grød Scandinavia: a region known for it’s cold weather and minimalist culture. When it comes to breakfast, or more specifically porridge, there are few other places so better suited to a warming bowl to start the day.
hygge
fika
Hygge is the Danish concept that describes an appreciation of the small moments in life and graciousness. Not only does this mean being grateful for the smaller moments with friends and family, it also embodies a cosiness and warmth that comes with staying in with company. The Danish porridge cafe ‘GRØD’ is the epitome of hygge with warming bowls of oatmeal and toppings galore, low warm lighting and a gentle chatter amongst company.
Fika is the Swedish concept of taking a break to enjoy coffee, baked goods and good company. Whilst ‘to fika’ originally included danish pastries such as the classic Swedish cinnamon bun, the term now embodies a similar belief to that of it’s danish counterpart. With regards to breakfast, fika encourages pausing from the whirlwind of everyday life to be present, perhaps taking time to appreciate the food you are eating and the company you are in.
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conscious beyond the table Social media can be a wonderful tool to discover new communities, to expand your interests and be creative but when it all gets too much and you begin comparing yourself to others, it’s time to take a break. Meditative thinking has been proven by the likes of Headspace to aid in the process of reducing anxiety by 69%. Switching your phone off and eating with thought is one way to diconnect from the virtual world, but it’s important that you take the mindfulness beyond the table and into other aspects of your routine.
on the mat Practicing yoga is a method of mindfulness that has been embraced and taught throughout history. In learning to focus on your breath and only your breath, your mind is able to switch off from the busyness of the day gone or coming. To ensure that your practice is as conscious as it can be, switch your phone off and disconnect from everything for an hour of well meditated yoga. According to Harvard Health, yoga has the ability to stablise your mood, and reduce stress instantly. Whilst many are put off at the thought of flexibility and inversions, yoga can simply be grounding yourself on the mat through breath and stretching.
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“Breakfast! My favorite meal- and you can be so creative. I think of bowls of sparkling berries and fresh cream, baskets of Popovers and freshly squeezed orange juice, thick country bacon, hot maple syrup, panckes and French toast - even the nutty flavor of Irish oatmeal with brown sugar and cream. Breaksfast is the place I splurge with calories, then I spend the rest of the day getting them off! I love to use my prettiest table settings crocheted placemats with lace-edged napkins and old hammered silver. And whether you are inside in front of a fire, candles burning brightly on a wintery day - or outside on a patio enjoying the morning sun - whether you are having a group of friends and family, a quiet little brunch for two, or an even quieter little brunch just for yourself, breakfast can set the mood and pace of the whole day. And Sunday is my day. Sometimes I think we get caught up in the hectic happenings of the weeks and months and we forget to take time out to relax. So one Sunday morning I decided to do things differently - now it’s gotten to be a sort of ritual! This is what I do: at around 8:30 am I pull myself from my warm cocoon, fluff up the pillows and blankets and put some classical music on the stereo. Then I’m off to the kitchen, where I very calmly (so as not to wake myself up too much!) prepare my breakfast, seomthing extra nice - last week I had fresh pineapple slices wrapped in bacon and broiled, a warm croissant, hot chocolate with marshmallows and orange juice. I put it all on a tray with a cloth napkin, my book-ofthe-moment and the “Travel” section of the Boston Globe and take it back to bed with me. There I spend the next two hours reading, eating and dreaming while the snowflakes swirl through the treetops outside my bedroom window. The inspiring music of Back or Vivaldi adds an exquisite elegance to the otherwise unruly scene, and I am in heaven. I found time to get in touch with myself and my life and I think this just might be a necessity! Please try it for yourself, and someone you love.” --Days of the Heart of the Home, Susan Branch
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eat simply amy hebert, chickpea spring 2016
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If you are vegan, I am almost certain you have been asked this question, in one form or another: How do you manage to survive or thrive without eating meat or dairy? As I evolve, I often respond that being vegan is not the challenge for me. The challenge is staying healthy amongst a hectic schedule, which I believe pertains to anyone, plant powered or not. I have learned that it’s about making a healthy lifestyle work in my world, and being in tune with my needs enough to know what works for me, and what doesn’t. And that takes simplifying through planning. For example, if I don’t have a plan for what I’m going to eat that day, I could very well resort to eating a bag of chips and hummus for dinner - which is amazing and satisfying every now and then - but could never be sustained long term and will zap my energy in half. Planning ahead helps me simplify as it takes the guesswork and confusion out of the day, and saves me the energy of having to figure it out as I go. In this sense, how we eat is just as important as what we eat. Food is fuel for our minds and bodies. And digestion is key when it comes to being full of energy, and with that in mind - simplicity is paramount. Though I love plates full of all sorts of vegan deliciousness, the simpler I eat, the less energy used up on digestion, the better I feel. Having a routine and a few meals that you consistently make different variations of will help you simplify your life. Outline the components of an ideal dish. Perhaps it’s one legume, one protein, and a few different veggies at each meal. In addition, a simple framework for recipes and how we eat throughout the day can do wonders for energy levels, and combating stress.
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This may not be a perfect plan, but it works for me. I feel good and having this framework helps me keep my health and stress in check. It even helps when I go shopping so that I’m not aimlessly shopping the aisles. Breakfast is almost always a smoothie. (After coffee, of course.) Typically it consists of whatever greens are on hand, almond butter, almond milk, chia seeds, a few berries or a frozen banana, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Lunch is a salad or sandwich on bread of choice, tons of greens and veggies that I have on hand, and the leanest protein source possible, maybe tempeh or nuts/seeds. As of late, my favourite combo has been arugula, avocado, carrots, sunflower seeds and a dressing made up of Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar. At dinner I like to bring on the carbs. A favourite - sautéed veggies in coconut oil, with a starch and flavourful sauce, always adding in spices like turmeric, cayenne, black pepper, and curry powder. Lately I’ve been doing a veggie burger or sweet potato with a portobello and as many veggies as I can fit on my plate. I also like to indulge in cashew cheese to brighten things up. (Bonus: it contains probiotics for better digestion.) Other things I have found that help me simplify are shopping on the same days every week and having a set meal prep day once or twice a week. On Sundays I think about planning for workdays and on Thursday as the weekend approaches, my plan shifts accordingly.
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sunday brunch 1 cup almond milk 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp chia seeds 4 sourdough slices 1 ripe banana - quartered 2 tbsp coconut sugar 2 tbsp coconut oil coconut yoghurt berries maple syrup coconut flakes flaked almonds
whisk all ingredients together until well blended and then refridgerate for 10 - 15 minutes. this will create the ‘eggy’ mixture. heat the coconut oil in a pan and add in the oil and sugar. add the bananas to the caramel until soft. dip each slice of bread into the ‘egg’ mixture for around 20 seconds on each side before then frying to a golden brown. top with coconut yoghurt, fruit and maple syrup. dagmarskitchen.se
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3 cups rolled oats 1 cup buckwheat 1 1/2 cups coconut flakes 1 cup nuts 1/4 cup chia seeds 1/4 cup coconut sugar 1/3 cup coconut oil 1/3 cup maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup fairtrade cocoa powder
preheat the oven to 175°C combine oats, buckwheat, coconut chia seeds, sugar and chopped nuts. melt the coconut oil in a pan and add in maple syrup, vanilla and cocoa powder. whisk until smooth. add into and combine with the dry ingredients. spread evenly over a tray and bake for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring every 5 to stop burning. mynewroots.org
coconut yoghurt - plain or flavoured almond or peanut butter toasted sunflower seeds cacao nibs blueberry chia jam maple syrup buckwheat granola
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layer all ingredients in a glass jar, alternating between the flavours. top with more granola and seeds and drizzle over maple syrup. laurencariscooks.com
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