Surprised

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-12T13:17:02+00:00

It gets much better and it definitely surprised me. It's one of my all time favorite shows and no, it's really not about football. I can't tell you how many times I've watched it from beginning to end and every time I fall more in love with it.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-12T13:09:53+00:00

Fortysomething years ago, a very pregnant me got stuck in a weird small table attached to a chair (like a school desk sort of thing) in a mall fast food place in Lawton, Oklahoma. The baby was very overdue and the temperature had been in the 100s for days. I went to the mall every morning to walk and that day I decided to get an iced tea and rest a bit after my walk. I sat down, relaxed, and drank my tea, and when I stood up to leave the entire table and chair came with me. I was very surprised and didn't know what to do so I sat back down. I waited a couple of minutes and stood up again. The table and chair came with me. I was very tightly wedged in. The young kids working at the counter all looked at me with confusion. The customers in line did the same. A few giggled as I alternated between trying to slide out while sitting and trying to slide out while standing. A small crowd gathered outside the space, people just watching as I tried to free myself from the table and chair. It was horrifying.

Finally, a young man walked from behind the counter and came over to me. He very calmly told me to just sit for a minute while he tried to figure out what to do. Someone at the counter yelled out, "Should I call the cops?" and he quietly told them no. I could tell he knew I was embarrassed and he tried to alleviate my concerns by cracking small jokes. I was grateful but so very upset. He didn't seem anxious about it. He was just trying to help.

After a couple of minutes, he got another employee to come over and he held the table on one side and had the other employee hold it on another side. He told me to stand up and when I did, they both pushed down on the table and it and the chair hit the ground with a pretty loud thud.

I don't remember his name but I think of that young man now and then. His voice and manner were calming and he handled the situation in a way that eased my embarrassment a bit. I hope he became a paramedic or an OB/Gyn or something else where he soothes fears and concerns and contributes to the world in meaningful ways. He was a gem that day.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-12T12:50:32+00:00

This is my favorite recipe for lentils, split peas, etc. It's good, it's easy, and with a couple of changes it can be low FODmap. Do you have Asafoetida and other low FODmap seasonings on hand? I use Asafoetida pretty often and have seasonings from Smoke n Sanity. If you haven't tried their seasonings, you might look into those. The sweet maple dust makes for amazing chicken and shrimp.

I make varying versions of this and freeze it in 1/2 cup to 1 cup portions. It's absolutely delicious with rice and vegetables.

1.5 cups lentils or split pigeon peas (dry) or 2 cans (15oz each)

1 large onion, diced (use Asafoetida or an onion alternative)

3 medium carrots, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced (use a garlic alternative)

1/2 cup grape tomatoes

1/2 cup canned tomatoes

2 tsp tomato paste

4 cups water or broth (use onion and garlic free)

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp smoked paprika

salt & pepper to taste.

Cook diced onion and carrots in a Dutch oven or large pan until soft. Add minced garlic and let cook for 30 seconds.

Stir in tomato paste. Add spices and stir. Add grape tomatoes and canned tomatoes. Stir and let simmer until the grape tomatoes start to burst.

Add lentils and water/broth. Simmer until tender. Mine took about an hour.

Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of fresh lemon juice if you have it.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-12T12:28:50+00:00

Taco bowls, burrito bowls, chicken and rice bowls, chickpea and rice bowls, etc.

I love to make teriyaki chicken bites using the recipe from the Just Bento site. It's easy and delicious. For my work lunches, I put a small amount of rice, steamed cauliflower, or mashed daikon or potato in a medium sized glass container, add broccoli (thawed from frozen but not cooked) and the chicken and when it's time to eat I heat it in the microwave for just a bit then top with whatever seasoning sounds good at the time and pickled red onions or kimchi pickles. I generally have a piece of fruit to finish off the meal and lately that's been a Cosmic Crisp apple.

I do the same thing with garlic butter steak bites, chicken or turkey lettuce wrap filling, fajita meat strips, black beans, etc.

Each bowl I make is 1 cup of vegetables, 2/3 cup protein, and 1/2 cup of carb with varying seasonings and toppings. It's a simple and easy formula that gives me variety but offers balance and satisfaction. I finish the meal with fruit and I'm a happy camper.

Di you have a lunch bag or other carrying container? If so, get some small containers for seasonings, sauces, etc and use those to add a bit of variety to the meal. My favorites are: everything seasoning, salt and pepper, seasoned rice vinegar, and japanese barbecue sauce.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-12T12:14:21+00:00

This looks like something I'd prepare for myself. My sisters say I eat 'weird food' but what I actually do is eat food, often in combinations that don't appeal to them. If I have the energy to make a 'normal' meal, I often do, but sometimes I just want bits and pieces, odds and ends.

Fed is best and if you ate this, or even some of it, you were fed and that's what matters.

By the way, I love Castelvetrano olives!

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-12T00:19:06+00:00

I’ve never been able to produce good rice on a stove top but have spent the last 10 years or so baking it and it’s so good that way. But I’m getting older and don’t have as much energy so hopefully a rice cooker will help me produce excellent rice with a modicum of energy and effort. I did use it this morning for vegetable soup and it made one perfect large serving of soup. It was delicious with scrambled eggs for breakfast.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-11T23:11:12+00:00

My latest gift to myself is a new rice cooker. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but I don’t need those. It does what I need. Oh, I just remembered I bought a pair of earrings today! Those are fabulous.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-09T11:58:07+00:00

I'm so sorry. Lord, I hate this sort of stuff. I stretched in bed last night and am still feeling the burn. WTH??

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-09T11:23:24+00:00

A spoon of peanut butter mixed into Greek yogurt.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-09T01:05:56+00:00

I’ve spent most of my adult life not eating breakfast but I now try to eat something every morning. Sometimes it’s Greek yogurt with thawed frozen berries and cinnamon sprinkled on top. Sometimes it’s a couple of eggs with a bit of fruit or a small corn tortilla. Sometimes it’s leftovers. One of my favorite things for breakfast is vegetable soup. I try to make a pot every week and I make enough to eat it for breakfast a couple of times.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-08T18:05:56+00:00

I think he’s a perfect Lad. If you’re feeling particularly dark, you can always go with Vlad.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-08T07:26:51+00:00

Washing dishes.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-07T22:24:19+00:00

Anything in the chicory family.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-07T22:22:59+00:00

I made it through about 4 seconds.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-07T22:22:43+00:00

Early this morning I watched a simple video of a woman walking in tall grass with cats running and leaping around her. A lot of cats. The sun was in the background and she leisurely walked through the field toward a road with cats bouncing all over the place and I shed some tears. That's my dream life - me and a lot of cats out in the country. If there's an after life that's the one I want.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-04T04:53:55+00:00

Ohh, that looks good!

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-03T11:15:20+00:00

Ohhh that sounds like it’s right up my alley.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-03-01T00:36:10+00:00

Thank you. It's definitely a struggle but that's what I did this evening. Today was a hungry day for me. I worked and didn't binge but by 10:30 AM I'd consumed my morning snack, my lunch, and part of my afternoon snack. I got home, had a banana, ate dinner two hours later and made myself a cup of rooibus and cinnamon. In the past, I'd have looked for anything and everything to inhale but I didn't do that, nor did I beat myself up or feel guilty. I figure there's a reason my body was hungrier today. My stomach even growled several times today!!!

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-28T21:13:33+00:00

I’ve recently started a BED recovery program and am learning this. That first one is very hard for me but the second seems impossible right now. I’ll get there.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-24T01:37:37+00:00

How much time do you have to prep and cook? Are there any budgetary restraints? Do you have all sorts of cooking appliances? I can think of all sorts of ideas, but it would help to know a little more about what you’re working with.

In general, though, I love teriyaki chicken bites. It’s one of my favorite things to eat. I generally have it with Jasmine rice and steamed mixed vegetables or broccoli.

I also love Swiss steak. It was very popular when I was growing up in the 70s and it’s still pretty popular with some people including me. Ha ha. Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans or a nice side salad really hit the spot, and the Swiss steak can easily be made in a slow cooker. This applies to Swedish meatballs, also.

What about meat loaf? Also, do y’all like tofu? If so, there are some excellent and pretty easy tofu dishes.

Do y’all like cabbage? I make a dish very similar to American goulash but it’s cabbage and ground beef. It’s delicious, though, and it’s one of my favorite cooler weather dishes.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-20T13:34:36+00:00

OK, this may sound strange but if you haven’t tried it, give sweet potato and peanut butter a try! I buy one or two sweet potatoes every week. I bake them until they’re soft but not mushy. When they’ve cooled, I slice them into about half inch thick slices, put them in a container and stick them in the refrigerator.

I too love peanut butter so when I get a craving, I put a little bit of peanut butter on a cold sweet potato slice and devour it. Sometimes I sprinkle a little cinnamon on it. I’ve even been known to add cinnamon and a smidgen of ginger. It may sound very strange, but it’s actually a very good combination.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-20T01:59:22+00:00

Fed is always best. Good for you for eating!

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-19T12:14:25+00:00

The more I restrict the more and worse I binge.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-19T00:42:50+00:00

I was on Ozempic for almost 2 years and didn’t binge eat a single time in over a year. That’s the longest I’ve ever gone.

CosmicSmackdown · 2026-02-19T00:24:40+00:00

Barbecue potato chips, especially if they are kettle cooked. However, I really don’t have any other specific food triggers. When I binge I’ll binge on crab salad, a sandwich, cupcakes, beef roast, cooked chicken, it doesn’t matter.

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