Turkey Meatloaf + Fresh Starts!

Turkey Meatloaf + Fresh Starts! 

Where does one even start after a six month absence... I could blame it on my old house, blame my old roommates for being around the kitchen too much. I could blame my busy work schedule, or my just as busy social life. But it really just comes down to me. I lost my hunger for cooking - and yes, while living with roommates that I didn't get along with very well did have something to do with it, I just wasn't interested anymore. I stopped caring about a lot of things in the last six months. I was just generally too tired when I got home from work to do anything, or I purposefully stayed out later so I wouldn't have to have awkward interactions with my roommates. Things were just generally not feeling right, and I wasn't feeling right. Then a month, ago the tables turned! A letter came in the mail saying our rent was being raised by $2,000 and so the five of us unanimously decided it was time to move on. It was a blessing in disguise. 

I now live in a small studio apartment (since Saturday!) in the Marina, one block from the water and one and a half blocks from the Palace of Fine Arts. I can see the Golden Gate Bridge in one minute (if Karl the Fog isn't hanging around). I started taking classes at Equinox that clear my head and help my general mood, and hey, I'm getting stronger, too!

I was letting my unhappiness affect the things that I loved to do in life. I love sports and working out and cooking and hanging with friends and reading and traveling and I wasn't enjoying any of those things. And while I regret not using that beautiful beautiful kitchen more in the three story home that we called the Chateau, I am feeling excited about my tiny kitchen in my own space. I have a shared backyard that I can use and have friends over for summer dinner parties! I feel like I finally own myself again. I own my happiness, which is all I could have asked for.

And with that, I bring you a healthy recipe that was actually found while using Instacart, a sweet company that delivers your groceries for you. They have a bunch of different options of where you can shop (Trader Joe's, Costco, Whole Foods) and then charge a small delivery fee + whatever generous tip you're feeling like leaving for your delivery man (mine was a stoned dude in sweat pants arriving at 8:30pm - YOLO). Don't you love how San Francisco has delivery for AN.Y.THING? Ugh, I do. And like, you should totally use my referral link if you want to try Instacart. It's really a win win situation.

As a side note, I will now be using chia seeds in everything I eat and cook. KBAI!!!!

For fun, here's my tiny kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion

6 cloves garlic

1 large carrot

1 stalk celery

3 cups spinach

1 tablespoon chia seeds, soaked in 1/4 cup water for 15 minutes

1 1/2 pounds ground learn turkey

1 1/4 cups quinoa, cooked and cooled

3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

Ketchup or barbecue sauce to help you enjoy 

Directions:

1. Combine onion, garlic, carrot, celery and spinach in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Set your skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil to your skillet (I used basil olive oil, cause like, why not?)

2. Cook the vegetables and stir them until the vegetables lose their liquid and vegetables start to brown, about 8 minutes. Add a tablespoon of water if your vegetables start sticking. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

3. Add chia seeds, ground meat, quinoa, soy sauce and pepper to the bowl and mix gently with your hands.

4. Add mixture to a well oiled loaf pan. Spread top with ketchup. 

5. Bake until cooked through and browned, about 40 minutes. Let cool and sit for five minutes before slicing! And because I have no furniture, we're eating on the floor tonight.

My happy place!