I’m not publishing a full meal plan this week - Jon’s mum’s here and it’s Thanksgiving, so we’ve got a lot going on that will replace (at least sort of) standard dinners.

But I can’t help myself from at least sketching it out:

…

Anyway! I thought that instead I might start a new monthly series to share my searches, saves, and sources. These round-ups won’t be long because we’re not buying much as we continue to save up for our renovation, but I’d like to see how they do. So… shall we?

Okay, so Part One was the navel-gazing essay. Part two is the practical stuff!

For many of us, cooking feels like a chore and the idea that we could prioritize it in the name of self-care is beyond strange. I always liked cooking, but through college and grad school it was really a means to an end - the end being entertaining friends over a meal, which I loved doing. A turning point came in 2013/2014, when I was unemployed for nine months. Jon and I were long distance at the time and I lived alone in a studio apartment. My parents were nearby and I had Charlie, but I was lonely, directionless, and deeply depressed. I took refuge in food blogs, meal planning, and cooking elaborate dishes for myself.