Thank you, Kerry. :) I agree—I’m also glad to not feel alone. I have been getting a mix of comments. It’s quite interesting to hear different perspectives on this topic. Some people absolutely love to cook for themselves, by themselves. I think it’s lovely. A testament to the truth that there are several different reasons for cooking and different ways to find joy in it.
Ah, I struggle with this too. When I have no family to feed. I oscillate between 'fantastic, I can cook exactly what I want!' to 'what on earth *do* I want?!'
Thank you for sharing your weekly meals. Those chicken thighs with red pepper, caraway and honey are right up my street!
Oh thanks for saying this, Shell. It feels a little crazy that we do so much cooking and baking in our work, but deciding what to make for just ourselves is a challenge. I like noticing these things and what’s under the surface. :)
Absolutely loving this ,Leslie. This is a very core issue. I started realising this almost right after my son. The importance of keeping yourself nourished even when you are alone.
We just get in whirl wind of eating with and for everyone else. That when we are left alone we almost have no idea what we even want. And as you said end up ordering take away.
This is a must share, I am sure plenty people can use this, and everything looks great on there.
Thank you, Harshita. ❤️ I really hear you…I don’t have kids (yet), and I know this journey will continue, likely at a higher volume, when I do. I honestly do get concerned about how I will take care of myself in the phase of early motherhood. I’m sure that phase will be full of so many bits of reflection and growth. I hope this week laid just a little bit of foundation for myself that I can remember to come back to.
You are in a much more aware place than I was before my son 😆. Yes, let this post be a reminder that while we love to nourish everyone we love. How important it is to spoil ourselves with that nourishment too.
The idea that feeding people out of your love for them really resonated with me. On those nights I find myself alone I do struggle to cook for myself. I thought that this was related to also having to do the dishes :D But you've really brought into to focus for me the deeper reason behind this.
And thanks for the idea of adding salsa verde to chicken. This is one of my go-to dinners but I've often thought it could be lifted just a bit. Now I realise what it was missing.
I’m so glad this resonated with you. Yep, there are practical reasons and then there are deeper reasons. Both are valid. I think when I tuned in to the deeper why, it gave me a bit more… not motivation per se, but maybe just purpose, to cook.
Haha I hear you on the dishes—my husband almost always does the cleanup. Having to do them myself gave me gratitude for what he does. If you try the salsa verde, I’d love to know what you think!
Thank you, Nica. :) I deleted that sentence in one of my drafts and then added it back. Despite being pretty introspective, it feels hard to practice (and name) self-love…but that is really what it’s about underneath everything.
I also really liked the matter-of-fact "homemade food is about love and connection" which it is and I have never quite been able to put a finger on it quite that simply. <3
These are good lessons to learn whilst you are still young Leslie. You are blessed to have found your deep connection with your husband, I notice your delight in one another in your stories and photos. Now here’s the but. We are essentially alone in this world. We come in alone and we leave alone. Our mothers bring us in and teach us our first lessons in nurturing, and our understanding of nurturing continues in life. Essentially we have to master nurturing and nourishing ourselves as we walk with others through life. To make a splendid meal just for ourselves is a fine thing. Then to sit and enjoy the gift of that, knowing you are whole and complete on your own is an even finer thing to my mind.
Thank you for sharing your process Leslie, I hear very similar experiences from young women often in my clinic. Though when I hear it from older women it saddens me, as it seems to me they have been nourishing others and not themselves for a lifetime.
As always, thank you for your insight, Lisa. :) It lands on open ears & an open heart because I know what you are talking about. I practice meditation, specifically a type that focuses on non-attachment. I can’t say I’m very far along the path, but I’m on it. My husband and I, as you’ve noticed, do have a very strong bond. We are life partners, each other’s confidants, best friends, and biggest supporters. Still, we know that we are not “guarantees” to each other. We even discuss that if something happened to one of us, what our wishes for the other person would be. What you say is true, and still, it’s a process to fully embody it. I do plan to keep on this path, and part of it is discovering what it means to be an independent woman while still in a very deeply connected partnership. This was one reflection within that, and I’m grateful you took the time to read it and share your perspective. ❤️
You have such wisdom gained already Leslie, you are on the right path. You know I didn’t necessarily mean that you wouldn’t spend your life with your gorgeous husband, but that we have great lessons to learn about nurturing and nourishing ourselves whether we walk life with another or not. I believe if our nourishment in life is dependent upon another, it can challenge our sense of security and our sense of self.
I understand you were not implying that haha. And yes, I have experienced that challenge to my sense of security and self. It has definitely improved over time, not by chance, but by practice. This is yet another step on the journey. When I looked back at the photos of my meals this week, I thought "not shabby at all." 😆
The struggle is real! Because my family can’t do most dairy, if I have a few days to myself I make all the dairy-filled, cheesy dishes of my dreams, lol. But have to scale them down to a smaller portion size.
I love that you have a go-to category you enjoy by yourself! My husband usually wants one red meat dish, which I can only eat in moderation. It was nice that I didn’t have to consider that this week. 😁
That’s wonderful, Wen. :) For me, it’s not so easy to cook for myself just out of love. Maybe for a day or two, but I realized that an entire week was difficult. I think a beautiful part of life is that it can be different for everyone, and it can change in different seasons, too. I’m glad I did it still. The discomfort I experienced (and just let be) was a little bit of growth.
I relate to tweaking things to appeal to others! I do that when I cook food for different people, too. Certain ingredients, level of salt, level of spice.
My husband took over cooking in our house when we had kids a few years ago, and I've struggled to get motivated to get back in the kitchen. I often end up making pasta or "breakfast for dinner" when he travels for work. I love how simple these ideas are and am going to try to copy a few this week!
I totally hear you. There is nothing wrong with that. (I used to beg my mom to make breakfast for dinner haha.) I’m glad this could give you some inspiration. :) If you’re interested in getting back into the kitchen, I think it’s best to start small, maybe with owning one dinner every other week, then work it up to once per week, and see how it feels. Also, I have an awesome (easy) pasta recipe coming in a few weeks. It might be a fun way to have some variety and explore another cuisine while not stretching yourself too much.
You ate so well while being on your own! I eat the strangestttt things when I'm on my own because I also delight in feeding others (along with myself, ha!). I totally get where you're coming from, but I love that you took the time to really properly cook for yourself, too. Also I really need to make that white bean stew. I already have it bookmarked!
Thank you, Katie! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I definitely ate a few strange meals this weekend lol. Yes, please make it! Another step in your exploration of Turkish cuisine. ☺️
It's nice to know that so many people deal with this issue, and that I'm not alone! Thanks for the recipe inspiration--everything looks delicious!
Thank you, Kerry. :) I agree—I’m also glad to not feel alone. I have been getting a mix of comments. It’s quite interesting to hear different perspectives on this topic. Some people absolutely love to cook for themselves, by themselves. I think it’s lovely. A testament to the truth that there are several different reasons for cooking and different ways to find joy in it.
💯
Ah, I struggle with this too. When I have no family to feed. I oscillate between 'fantastic, I can cook exactly what I want!' to 'what on earth *do* I want?!'
Thank you for sharing your weekly meals. Those chicken thighs with red pepper, caraway and honey are right up my street!
Oh thanks for saying this, Shell. It feels a little crazy that we do so much cooking and baking in our work, but deciding what to make for just ourselves is a challenge. I like noticing these things and what’s under the surface. :)
This was such a great post, Leslie - and all those recipes look DELICIOUS!!
(Although I may decline the shrimp, on the account of being allergic and all 🤣)
Thank you so much, Mark! Haha that is totally fair…the shrimp was not meant for you then. 😆
Absolutely loving this ,Leslie. This is a very core issue. I started realising this almost right after my son. The importance of keeping yourself nourished even when you are alone.
We just get in whirl wind of eating with and for everyone else. That when we are left alone we almost have no idea what we even want. And as you said end up ordering take away.
This is a must share, I am sure plenty people can use this, and everything looks great on there.
Thank you, Harshita. ❤️ I really hear you…I don’t have kids (yet), and I know this journey will continue, likely at a higher volume, when I do. I honestly do get concerned about how I will take care of myself in the phase of early motherhood. I’m sure that phase will be full of so many bits of reflection and growth. I hope this week laid just a little bit of foundation for myself that I can remember to come back to.
You are in a much more aware place than I was before my son 😆. Yes, let this post be a reminder that while we love to nourish everyone we love. How important it is to spoil ourselves with that nourishment too.
The idea that feeding people out of your love for them really resonated with me. On those nights I find myself alone I do struggle to cook for myself. I thought that this was related to also having to do the dishes :D But you've really brought into to focus for me the deeper reason behind this.
And thanks for the idea of adding salsa verde to chicken. This is one of my go-to dinners but I've often thought it could be lifted just a bit. Now I realise what it was missing.
I’m so glad this resonated with you. Yep, there are practical reasons and then there are deeper reasons. Both are valid. I think when I tuned in to the deeper why, it gave me a bit more… not motivation per se, but maybe just purpose, to cook.
Haha I hear you on the dishes—my husband almost always does the cleanup. Having to do them myself gave me gratitude for what he does. If you try the salsa verde, I’d love to know what you think!
"If cooking homemade food is about love and connection, then I owed those to myself, too."
I love this. Great reminder!
Thank you, Nica. :) I deleted that sentence in one of my drafts and then added it back. Despite being pretty introspective, it feels hard to practice (and name) self-love…but that is really what it’s about underneath everything.
I also really liked the matter-of-fact "homemade food is about love and connection" which it is and I have never quite been able to put a finger on it quite that simply. <3
These are good lessons to learn whilst you are still young Leslie. You are blessed to have found your deep connection with your husband, I notice your delight in one another in your stories and photos. Now here’s the but. We are essentially alone in this world. We come in alone and we leave alone. Our mothers bring us in and teach us our first lessons in nurturing, and our understanding of nurturing continues in life. Essentially we have to master nurturing and nourishing ourselves as we walk with others through life. To make a splendid meal just for ourselves is a fine thing. Then to sit and enjoy the gift of that, knowing you are whole and complete on your own is an even finer thing to my mind.
Thank you for sharing your process Leslie, I hear very similar experiences from young women often in my clinic. Though when I hear it from older women it saddens me, as it seems to me they have been nourishing others and not themselves for a lifetime.
As always, thank you for your insight, Lisa. :) It lands on open ears & an open heart because I know what you are talking about. I practice meditation, specifically a type that focuses on non-attachment. I can’t say I’m very far along the path, but I’m on it. My husband and I, as you’ve noticed, do have a very strong bond. We are life partners, each other’s confidants, best friends, and biggest supporters. Still, we know that we are not “guarantees” to each other. We even discuss that if something happened to one of us, what our wishes for the other person would be. What you say is true, and still, it’s a process to fully embody it. I do plan to keep on this path, and part of it is discovering what it means to be an independent woman while still in a very deeply connected partnership. This was one reflection within that, and I’m grateful you took the time to read it and share your perspective. ❤️
You have such wisdom gained already Leslie, you are on the right path. You know I didn’t necessarily mean that you wouldn’t spend your life with your gorgeous husband, but that we have great lessons to learn about nurturing and nourishing ourselves whether we walk life with another or not. I believe if our nourishment in life is dependent upon another, it can challenge our sense of security and our sense of self.
I understand you were not implying that haha. And yes, I have experienced that challenge to my sense of security and self. It has definitely improved over time, not by chance, but by practice. This is yet another step on the journey. When I looked back at the photos of my meals this week, I thought "not shabby at all." 😆
It’s certainly not shabby Leslie, there is nothing shabby about you.
What a delightful and inspiring meal plan. I also think that the chicken thighs (my favorite part) looks inviting.
Thank you, Mom.❤️ I think you’d love them! Of course, I thought of you with bone in, skin-on chicken thighs. 😊
The struggle is real! Because my family can’t do most dairy, if I have a few days to myself I make all the dairy-filled, cheesy dishes of my dreams, lol. But have to scale them down to a smaller portion size.
I love that you have a go-to category you enjoy by yourself! My husband usually wants one red meat dish, which I can only eat in moderation. It was nice that I didn’t have to consider that this week. 😁
Firstly, thank you for providing PDF downloads for the recipes!
Secondly, I often cook for myself out of love. 🥰. And think about how to tweak to cook in the future for other loved ones. It’s a great exercise!
Looking forward to the bread workshop!
That’s wonderful, Wen. :) For me, it’s not so easy to cook for myself just out of love. Maybe for a day or two, but I realized that an entire week was difficult. I think a beautiful part of life is that it can be different for everyone, and it can change in different seasons, too. I’m glad I did it still. The discomfort I experienced (and just let be) was a little bit of growth.
I relate to tweaking things to appeal to others! I do that when I cook food for different people, too. Certain ingredients, level of salt, level of spice.
I’m looking forward to baking with you soon! :)
My husband took over cooking in our house when we had kids a few years ago, and I've struggled to get motivated to get back in the kitchen. I often end up making pasta or "breakfast for dinner" when he travels for work. I love how simple these ideas are and am going to try to copy a few this week!
I totally hear you. There is nothing wrong with that. (I used to beg my mom to make breakfast for dinner haha.) I’m glad this could give you some inspiration. :) If you’re interested in getting back into the kitchen, I think it’s best to start small, maybe with owning one dinner every other week, then work it up to once per week, and see how it feels. Also, I have an awesome (easy) pasta recipe coming in a few weeks. It might be a fun way to have some variety and explore another cuisine while not stretching yourself too much.
You ate so well while being on your own! I eat the strangestttt things when I'm on my own because I also delight in feeding others (along with myself, ha!). I totally get where you're coming from, but I love that you took the time to really properly cook for yourself, too. Also I really need to make that white bean stew. I already have it bookmarked!
Thank you, Katie! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I definitely ate a few strange meals this weekend lol. Yes, please make it! Another step in your exploration of Turkish cuisine. ☺️