You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
― Marcus Aurelius
Well, coming to the end of the weekend, I am feeling much better than my last post. Sometimes you just need to take a day and breathe. This is something I need to get better at doing to be honest. Maybe that will be one of those life lessons that I get from this period of time. That’s for another day though. Today is Sunday after all. A day of rest.
After taking Friday to regroup, I decided that this would be a good weekend to take a break from a few things such as the book I’m reading and other household projects.
This whole self care thing is very much a balancing act, as I’m finding out. There are two kinds of self care it looks like. There’s the self care that involves exercise and eating right, maintaining a routine, showering, etc. Then there is the other kind of self care… This varies from person to person but I am finding out that it really is just doing what you enjoy doing, or what your heart is telling you to do that the time. Could the former be considered self maintenance?
Based on the current circumstances, I decided that I have focused too much on self maintenance and not enough on this whole self care thing. So, I chose to explore some cocktails that I have been dreaming of as well as dive into a take-out dish that has been missing from my life since my Calgary days. If I can’t physically travel, I may as well use my food and drink to do it.
If you know me, you’ll know that my love for old fashions is no secret. They are the perfect balance of strong and sweet flavours. And they warm the soul. I am currently on a mission to find the perfect old fashioned recipe. I am starting simple this weekend as I am pretty new to this so the one that I have been using is….
- 2 oz top shelf bourbon. I am using Rock Town currently
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Orange twist and cherry to garnish
Add all ingredients to rocks glass with ice, stir and garnish.
Since Bourbon looks to be on the menu this week, I also decided to make a Gold Rush. This drink is also very good but I still found myself going back to an Old Fashioned as the Gold Rush is quite a bit sweeter.
- 2 oz Bourbon Whiskey. I used Rock Town as well
- 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
- 3/4 Oz Honey Syrup (Equal parts honey and hot water)
- 1 lemon twist to garnish
Combine all ingredients in shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into rocks glass filled with ice. Add lemon twist to garnish.
Now, for the coup de grâce of the weekend.
The Chana Masala and Naan Bread. I copied the linked recipes basically word for word, so I will give credit where credit is due. Now, this was my number one go to for ordering take out on a lazy Sunday back when I lived in my home town. I used to look forward to this meal like a kid looking forward to Christmas. This is always a dish that I figured would be outside of my realm of cooking skills, but I figured I would try it anyways. It’s something I have been craving for well over a year.
To my surprise, it actually turned out pretty good! I added some frozen peas and a little bit of extra chili powder and garlic because the spicier the better. But overall, it scratched that Masala itch!
Now, coming to the end of the second isolation weekend, I feel rested and refreshed. I am ready to take on the next week ahead with continued self maintenance and continued attempts to achieve my goals.
My Avocado Toasts 