I rarely admit this, but after everything that happened this week I’m honestly at a loss for words. Emotions keep shifting—anxiety, disgust, concern—and sometimes it feels hard to find solid ground. I try to remain hopeful and optimistic, and I truly want us to come together as a country and heal. That’s what I pray for every day.
For now, my family and I are staying close to home. In Los Angeles County there’s not much option but to stay put, and that’s fine. I’m finding comfort in routine and the ordinary moments—what my kids call “boring stuff.” I feel fortunate to have a safe space to do laundry, to sit down for meals with my husband and children and talk about the day, and to be able to work from home. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. One helpful change for me has been stepping back from television. I still follow the news and stay informed, but reading an article is less triggering than watching repeated images and constant “breaking news” alerts, especially before bed.
On a practical note, Inspired Everyday Living is hosting a free live webinar on Wednesday, January 13 at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST titled From Resolutions to Reality: Three Simple Steps to Transform Your Home and Life in the New Year. If you’re interested, check their site for details and registration. Also, we all need to eat—so here’s a dinner plan for the week to make meals easier.
For those in my Plant Based Bootcamp, check our private Facebook page for ideas to make these recipes plant-based.
Meatless Monday: Curried lentil, tomato and coconut soup
Tuesday: Kibbeh kebabs with lavash, tzatziki sauce and fall tabbouleh
Wednesday: Asian noodle salad with seared tofu and stir-fried bok choy
Thursday: Shrimp and basil stir fry, roasted vegetables, served with steamed white or brown rice or cooked farro
Friday: Lemon-thyme chicken with crispy stovetop Brussels sprouts
Saturday brunch: Chickpea “tuna” salad served with butter lettuce leaves, sprouts and avocado
Sunday: Chicken enchiladas rojas with Mexican-style sautéed greens
Here are some make-ahead tasks that might make your week smoother:
Sunday
Wash greens and herbs
Make tzatziki sauce
Cook quinoa for tabbouleh
Prepare the dressing for the Asian noodle salad
Monday
Make the meat mixture for kebabs
Tuesday
Mix the marinade for shrimp, but don’t add the shrimp yet
Thursday
Cook chickpeas if you’re using dried beans
My new-ish cookbook Quicker Than Quick is available now. I’ve loved seeing your photos of recipes on Instagram—please tag me @pamelasalzman and use #pamelasalzman so I can see your creations. If you have a minute, a review on Amazon would mean a lot to me.
Also, feel free to take a look at my first cookbook, Kitchen Matters.