So I gotta say, this is kind of the best healthy comfort food I have had in a while. I could totally eat this all week; carbs, coconut, curry, avocado, maple roasted fall veggies, pecans. Plus some cheese. Gotta throw in a little cheese. I mean, it is Monday, cheese makes a Monday more palatable.
Speaking of Monday and the weekend, how was yours? Hopefully it was good and relaxing. Mine was definitely not relaxing, but then over here that pretty much never happens. Really, I think it is impossible. But actually I did do some thinking over the weekend. Just thinking about this blog, you guys, and how I love every single second of what I do every day. Ok, well not every second. I totally dread the hour to an hour and half I spend at the end of the day scrubbing down the kitchen. Yeah, that is definitely my very least favorite part of my day. I gotta do it though, if I don’t I honestly cannot concentrate knowing the kitchen is dirty. Totally OCD about it.
This may be a little boring, or maybe even a little too heavy for some of you, but I just feel like writing today. If you only want to read about the food, I totally understand. But you should skip down to the last paragraph! Anyway, I was thinking about how I have certain people in my life that are clearly very disapproving and unsupportive of what I am doing. And by doing, I mean recipe developing, making messes, cooking, baking, styling, photographing (and sometimes screaming) writing, pinning, and just plain working my happy little butt off day in and day out. What I am about to write may be ballsy to post for all to read, but honestly I am not worried at all. Those said unsupportive people do not read what I write on here every. single. day. They do not look at the photos I work so hard to make better and better on a daily basis. When we do actually talk, which over the years has become more and more rare, I am never asked about the site or my side free-lance projects I am working on. It is all just ignored. Completely. Superficial conversation.
I know this is heavy for a Monday and typically I really like to keep things fun and stress free around here, but lately I feel like it might be good for you guys to really get to know me. To be able to relate.
And for some reason I feel like pretty much everyone can relate to this type of experience in one way or another. Best friends, boyfriends, husbands, parents, grandparents? At some point in everyone’s life I think they are going to go against the opinions of their loved ones, or their friends, or even their bosses and do what they think they need to do. And that is what I did.
I went the untraditional route. The route that had me finish college at eighteen, and did not present me with the typical college experience, another major source for disapproval. Yet it was also the route that led to food blogging and a life so busy, so grateful and so happy. I have decided that I am tired of feeling bad I let them down? The people in my every day life: mom, dad, brothers, sister, friends, cousins, they all could not be happier for me. And really, that is all I care about. I have finally decided to let it go. I am doing what I want, and even though it takes all my courage to say this, I am actually somewhat successful at it too. It still amazes me. Like I really cannot believe it.
For some reason today, I feel extra grateful. And I just thought I would share a little detail of my life. Even if it is not some amazing story, and even if it is not beautifully written (my writing is definitely my weakest area of blogging) – it is still something I felt I should share. The point is don’t let people hold you back. You have to do what is right for you, not any one else. And at this point in my life this is right for me. I am without a doubt the happiest I have ever been in my life. Sure I may be the busiest I have ever been, the tiredest I have ever been and at times stressed, but it is all in a good way. It works for me!
And I am done with the heavy stuff. Let’s talk easy, HEALTHY, fall COMFORT food. Heck YES!
Basically, it is the fall version of this bowl. And I may just like it better. It seriously has all of my very favorite things. Butternut squash, acorn squash, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, pomegranates, pecans, coconut rice and avocado flavored with curry. With a little sprinkle of goat and blue cheese. So much flavor in one bowl. And it is so easy to throw together. The ingredient list is long, but once you get the veggies in the oven, start the rice and mash-up the avocado you have a good thirty to thirty-five minutes to just chill. Clean the kitchen, take a shower, read a book, talk to your mom (!), make some dessert, drink a beer or whatever! Oh and the smells? The smells are amazing. The smells alone makes this dish worth making.
So pretty too? Just could not stop taking photo, after photo. Sorry, but not really!
