Avoiding Cooking and Despair

We’re deep into summer, where everything feels vibrant and green and alive with possibilities. In central Virginia, the sun is gentle in the morning but by afternoon, anyone lingering outside will become a soupy, sweaty mess. Hair either wilts or poofs, refusing to fight the humidity. Even the strongest deodorant grumbles about having to work under such unforgiving conditions. The air conditioning system in my house complains about the overtime work and refuses to cool my kitchen when the oven is in use. That’s fair, I guess, since there’s only so much a person or a machine can do without needing a break.

In the summer heat, instead of heating up the oven every day and turning my kitchen, AKA my office/workspace, into a sauna, I like to make simple meals and desserts. Sometimes I find recipes online that require very few ingredients and minimal effort. And to keep myself from falling into complete despair during this particularly weird time in history, I have been listening to music that fills me with good energy. I’ve also been watching movies and listening to songs that give me a measure of peace and hope for the future or at least distract me from the present.

Read on for a top five list of my current no-bake meal and dessert favorites as well as list of songs, books, and movies that I’ve been enjoying.

Top five favorite no-bake meals. (Dessert counts as a meal, because… why not?)

Charcuterie boards – I love this kind of thing because I can prepare everything as simple or elaborate as I wish. Sometimes, having little portions presented on a pretty plate in an array of colors makes me absurdly happy. I usually create a meal of crackers, provolone cheese, turkey or salami slices, grapes, orange and apple slices, and pretzels or sunflower seeds. Simple, easy, and not a bunch of dishes to wash afterward.

Guacamole – I smash up two ripe avocadoes in a dish then add some lemon, soul food seasoning, and pepper. Tortilla chips and homemade guacamole with nice a coconut and pineapple drink is perfect to have outside once the sun goes down. I just have to light a bunch of citronella candles so I don’t get eaten alive by mosquitoes.

Pasta salad- Okay, so you have to use the stove to boil the pasta but I have realized I can make a ton of pasta at once, which means I will have enough to several servings for different meals. I get the boxes of pasta salad mix from the grocery store and just make a few boxes at a time. I add in precooked chicken, shrimp, tofu, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, or whatever else I wish.  

Watermelon slushie - I found the recipe online and never wrote down the exact specifications so basically-  two cups of frozen watermelon, a splash of lemon juice, and about half a spoonful of honey. Mix in the blender until smooth.

Chocolate pudding pie – I’ve been having some version of this since I was a kid. You’ll need two boxes of instant chocolate pudding, milk, 8 ounce tub of whipped cream, graham cracker crust (premade if you don’t want to spend a bunch of time making the crust). Make the pudding and add in a cup of whipped topping to the mix before pouring into the pie crust. Put the rest of the whipped cream on top of the pudding.

Books I’m reading or recently finished

Espresso Yourself by Lara McKenzie (just finished this one and loved the interesting format)

They Hang Me in Tokyo by Allan West (just started reading)

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Flea Market Magic by Bella Falls

Songs I’ve been listening to on repeat

We Don’t Need Another Hero by Tina Turner

All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix

Gloria by Laura Branigan

Breathe by Latroit and Charlz

Alive and Kicking by Simple Minds

Movies and Shows

Practical Magic (I like to have this one on in the background while I’m working or cleaning the house

Fried Green Tomatoes (I would love to run a cute little diner or café, but I suck at cooking)

Twin Peaks (I am a couple shows in and can’t believe I didn’t see this show years ago when it first came out)

X Files (I love weird monster stuff)

School Spirits (suspenseful without annoying jump scares)

 

What I’m working on now:

I’ve been busy writing steamy, paranormal romance, Hawk’s Heart. This will be Jordan and Luke’s story, and the very last book in my Stranger Creatures series. I’ve also been working on a couple of romantasy novellas featuring women in their forties navigating unexpected new paths in life, as well as writing more poetry and learning how to write flash fiction.

 

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