What’s On My Plate
Today I am eating a meal where the majority of the ingredients cooked overnight in a crockpot. Those ingredients are potatoes, pre-soaked beans, Italian ground sausage, one onion, and a little salt. This was a new experiment for me because I hadn’t cooked beans and meat together in the crockpot yet. Usually, once I turn the crockpot on, I don’t check it again until the morning. Because there were beans that would absorb water and ingredients piled to the top, I checked on it about four to five hours after it had started. I used a large spoon and stirred all the ingredients so they were evenly spread throughout the crockpot. I added a little more water from a garden hose, because the crockpot sits outside when I’m cooking in it, and put the lid back on. About six hours later after sleeping, I turned the crockpot off and let it cool.
When I came to scoop the food into different containers for either today’s meal, to have in the refrigerator, or to place in the freezer, I noticed that the potato chunks were no more. From being in the high heat for so many hours, the potatoes lost their ability to stay as a solid and had become part of the sauce. The consistency and flavor reminded me of a creamy Italian chili. I was so pleasantly surprised, that I already plan to use other orange potatoes I have with some different meat and see how that goes. I’m guessing that the beans cooking in with the meat also absorbed some of the water and assisted in changing the consistency.
In today’s container, I placed in two generously large scoops of the crockpot food, layered that with arugula, and added some pesto from the market. Two small pieces of whole wheat bread I kept outside the container so they don’t get soggy before I eat them.
I intentionally ate my meal sitting on a rock, looking out at the ocean and the coastline. There was a slight breeze, and the water was more calm than it has been. The meal was delicious. I mixed all the food together and bite-by-bite, I could taste delicious flavors of Italian seasoning, sausage, and a little pesto. The green beans were the only thing that was crunchy in the meal. The bread was soft, and eating the bread with the meal reminded me of when I used to eat chili bowls when snow skiing. The lodge at the top of a mountain had small bread bowls that homemade vegetarian chili would be poured in. It was a great meal to warm up with and provide fuel for the afternoon snow ski session. But rather than being in the mountains with snow and layers of clothes on, I sat on a rock wearing a shirt I cut myself, yoga pants, and bare feet.
What did I gain from the food?
Protein — Italian sausage, beans
Complex carbs and fiber — potatoes, beans, arugula, green beans, whole wheat bread
Healthy fats — sausage, pesto oil
Vitamins and minerals — arugula, onion, potatoes, green beans
You’re welcome to experiment with and cook food in new ways.
Stacy 🌺
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I share my experiences and my perspective. Eating and healing look different for everyone. If you are struggling with food or your relationship with your body, please find support. You don’t have to do this alone.