Clubbing

The other day, post-anxiety attack, my older sister asked me what I liked and what I liked to do to calm down. I couldn’t (and didn’t) reply immediately. I don’t do yoga. I rarely take baths. I’m often too busy to read. All those typical relaxation devices aren’t mine…and then out popped my answer: “cooking.” I do like to cook. It does help calm and center me. I like being busy in the kitchen. I enjoy the peeling, chopping, stirring, sautéing. I put music and an apron on, and get my hands busy and I start to feel centered and better.

I also like change and challenge and variety. But structure as well. So here’s me joining my first ever cookbook “club”— #rainydaybitescookbookclub — my own form of kitchen-bound self-care. Something new, but relatively guided (specific dishes to be posted on specific days: stay tuned). A club that meets on my stovetop, oven and Instagram grid. A class that isn’t a class, but just me, feeding my little family on a dark, rainy Tuesday night.

And here’s my first dish from the January book, OTK: Extra Good Things by @ottolenghi and @noorishbynoor

Butter-poached shrimp with celeriac and herb paste. 🦐 🦐 🦐

Winner winner crustacean dinner.

Turns out, Woody was wrong (about a lot, frankly, but that’s a whole other thing): I would definitely join a (cookbook) club that would allow a person like me to become a member!

This is fun, @rainydaybites 👩‍🍳