Whatever you want! When I have free time alone (a scarce commodity) I like to read, maybe have one drink, listen to music.
If it’s not by choice and you don’t want to be alone, go out and have coffee or a drink, watch people.
If you are trying to make it meaningful, do a ritual. Like write down what you want to get rid of, what doesn’t serve you (anxiety, whatever troubles you) and burn it, let it go. A time that’s unusual is a good time to make changes that you want, to interrupt habits.
I am hung up about weight like this. Spent so long on the far side of skinny that smack in the middle of healthy makes me feel I look fat. I do say I am fat, I know objectively that is not true but I miss being too skinny. Just venting really.
I think just say that she is built great now, and you like it, but it’s her body. She probably isn’t worried that YOU think she’s fat. She is bothered because SHE thinks she’s fat.
I remember my first brother coming home after being born. My mom said I could go in the room and look in the crib but not to say anything, he was sleeping. I leaned down and said his name - I was one and a half years old. I know this is a real memory as nobody was there, nobody told me this happened.
Then nothing I remember until my 3rd birthday, I remember the depressing zoo birthday, and then remember learning to read (sort of- I was 3 and memorized a short book, claimed I could read, but after that just could read, pretty much anything - so I don’t remember the actual learning, however it happened, just that book, pretending to read it and that felt like it magically unlocked all books, it was remarkable and memorable).
That’s about all my memories until 5 years old, but after 5 it’s still just a few memories, even now I’d say just a few memories per year just a whole lot more years.
That’s me! This has to be a fundamental difference in what we consider mashed potatoes. You are going for something textureless and processed like whipped potato porridge, I like them to be, well, mashed potatoes. Recognizably potatoes, mashed up and seasoned. The pressure cooked ones are fluffy as hell, they yield to a gentle fork smash.
I think yes we are all more similar than different but as you move north, there is less income inequality and better social services, less graft and corruption.
Supermarkets in the US are like nowhere else, they are incredible.
Huh. I am the exact opposite, for a small amount I usually don’t want to drag out the mixer, so put metal bowl, whisk, and carton of cream in the freezer for a few minutes then whip some cream. It is a workout but somehow seems easier than mixer. Almost always whip cream by hand.
I’m American, and do use jarred sauce if I have it, but more often what I have is tomato paste, a half bottle of wine hanging out in the refrigerator and some garlic or olive oil and butter. Anchovies. Usually have canned peeled tomatoes too, but those do have to cook awhile to taste good.
I guess I don’t set out to replicate jarred sauce, generally speaking, but can quickly dress pasta for supper with something good.
Paneer I only like homemade, but it’s so easy I hesitate to call it cheese. Pressed curds. Halloumi I don’t like, and what’s funny is I was just thinking today that now that I like swiss I like every cheese in existence but forgot about Halloumi.
This is the only reason I will occasionally make butter. To make it from creme fraiche cultured with buttermilk. More flavor.
Ice cream I sometimes make by freezing a mix that includes some booze as antifreeze, then once completely frozen, cut into chunks and whir it in the food processor. Then back into the freezer. That stays pretty nice, is lovely. Started this because one of my (grown) kids is vegan and it works with coconut milk as the cream.
I am not peeling nor boiling, have never peeled a potato. Boiling them in chunks I agree won’t yield something so much better than dehydrated powdered potatoes - that puts too much water into the equation and makes them similarly gluey. You can microwave chunked potatoes and mash them if you don’t have a pressure cooker or instant pot.
Yes it takes longer than boiling water but in the context of cooking other things it’s easy and potatoes pressure cooked whole are so fluffy and easy to mash.
I have used the flakes for potato bread, they are useful like dry milk is. But just like dry milk, or instant coffee, something is lost in drying and rehydration.
This is a very subjective prompt though - if the marginal time savings are worth it to you, they are. I don’t usually have an urgent timeline for mashed potatoes so letting them cook while I do other stuff works out.
My stepson, the first time I was around for his birthday, asked me specifically for “mashed potatoes made from potatoes”. I don’t think most people would agree with you on this one. Instant pot whole potatoes, mash with milk and butter, salt and pepper. I never peel them. So good and so easy.
I just want to express my appreciation for this phrase.
I also do agree that homemade broth is worth making, but it is more a byproduct of having made something else for me. And it’s not difficult just takes a long time. Chuck everything in the slow cooker overnight, in the morning there is stock. Then from the bones of that stock you can make the bone broth, again overnight will work.
We have a friend who says “There is no problem alcohol cannot make worse.”. I do like cocktails but just one is usually my limit as I don’t really like being drunk. It’s more part of food culture for many of us.
I have that - Nixta? My sister outlaw gave it to us for Thanksgiving. It smells like caramel corn. I tried it with bourbon, Tuaca, and lemon but the corn flavor was lost in there.