Small accomplishments

So I followed through on my word. I walked to the market and bought some food. I could have gone to the grocery store, but I needed real maple syrup, and right now the grocery stores only have that fake Aunt Jemima stuff.

I have also been dying to get out and walk around my new neighbourhood and go to the market, which I hadn't been to in a long time. Nothing makes me love a place more than a nice market with local foods. Can't explain it, but it's pleasant and makes me feel connected to people.

However, when it comes to meat-buying, I am lost. I get really scared when they ask me what I want and how much of it I want. I never know. I just buy things and then invent stuff with what I have. I don't do planning well. So I asked the butcher for help. Not only did he explain how to buy and cut pork tenderloin for 3 meals (a good amount for a single person who wants lunch and two dinners), he also gave me recipes for the pork and the merguez sausages I bought, ingredients and instructions included. Now that's service.

So I came home and tackled the pork dish. I didn't have most of what he listed, but I am pretty good at pairing flavours similar to those, so even though it didn't turn out great because I used a little too much clove, I used honey, ginger and clove to marinate the meat, and served with baby bok choy with lemon and garlic, and roasted Nantes carrots with honey, rosemary and garlic. The carrots were the best part, but overall the dish wasn't bad, but you can tell I'm an amateur.

I also bought my paint. Yay! I got to take out the heaping pile of recycling that's been crowding my small apartment all week, and tomorrow it's garbage day!! It will feel so much nicer in here without that.

Alright, off to start my work week. Ugh! :)