A Recipe for Real Living

I love to make something special out of ordinary moments. It doesn’t have to be fancy or have post-worthy photos emerge from the experience. Most of the time the photos that result from ordinary moments made special are cluttered with sippy cups, mismatched clothes or a mess in the background. That’s ok. Those are personal memories and they don’t have to be shared with the world. Don’t fall victim to feeling like every moment in life has to be shared with everyone. Messes are beautiful too. We are each given a life, it is up to us to make our own existence beautiful in a way that fills us up. Of course, I love a beautiful photo and I get a certain amount of pleasure in staging and making a photo look just right. But mostly that’s a luxury. The bulk of the photos I have are not perfect, or, if they are it’s a happy accident. 

What’s really needed to make the ordinary special is just one thing - mindset. If you shift your mind into fully being present I believe it gives the cue to slow down and notice. And something becomes special when you notice it. That’s it. That’s all that’s required to make something special out of the ordinary. 

I find it helps with the mindset shift if I’ll do something intentional to cue the shift. Put the afternoon coffee in the special cup and put the snack on a special plate. Take the cup and plate over to a window to sit and look outside as I enjoy it. Simple, but effective. Do something a little out of the ordinary to wake your mind up to notice the moment.

One of my favorite ways to cue that shift is through food. I find myself feeding people a lot these days. Most of the time it is definitely not glamorous. Sometimes it’s just about getting some calories in so that everyone stays alive. But food can create some of the best memories and the best times spent with others so, a couple times a week, I try to make something a little bit special for everyone or sometimes just for myself (if I get a rare lunch alone). Slowing down enough to think through and plan something that I and others are really excited to eat is a simple way to do something that has to be done anyway and slow down at the same time. I love when there’s a win-win like that! 

I have a simple smoked salmon recipe idea for you today to help you “cue the shift”.

This week I made a simple take on sushi - no rice and nothing to cook. I have given directions for what I made, which turned out really well. But you can put anything you want inside of these - capers, julienned pepper strips, green onion, olives or carrots are a few ideas.

Smoked Salmon "Sushi" Roll Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package of cold-smoked salmon
• 1 lemon
• cream cheese (the block, not the whipped kind)
• cucumber
• fresh dill

Method

Start with a package of cold smoked salmon.  

Cut the cucumber into small strips or julienne them. Slice the lemons very thin. Cut slices of cream cheese off the block and then cut those slices in half lengthwise.

Slice lemons very thin, cut the ends off of the cucumber and slice into thin strips.

Lay out your pieces of salmon on a cutting board and lay your strips of toppings across the salmon. Starting at the smallest end of the piece of salmon, roll everything up as tight as you can without tearing the fish. Once rolled, use a sharp knife to slice your roll into one inch pieces. You could also use some dried seaweed sheets to roll everything in, which might help if you're struggling with rolling everything inside the salmon.

Lay your topping across the salmon. Starting at the small end roll everything up as tight as you can without tearing the fish.

Place them on a serving dish (one of the ones you don’t use very often). These are really good served with sesame crackers and a little fruit on the side.

Take everything to a table outside. If you have anyone eating with you, talk to them, find out how they are doing. If you're eating by yourself, enjoy the air, let your thoughts come and go. Take a deep breath and really taste what you’re eating.

Let me know if you try this and how it turns out for you by replying to this post! There are lots more ideas for simple things to do to slow down on the Mayhen Press Blog.

I truly hope that this quick and easy idea inspires you to lay aside your to-do list long enough to sit down and get some sunlight in your eyes while you enjoy a tasty and healthy meal. Perhaps it may open a friendly conversation with those you’re with if you are sharing it. 

                                                You have all my best,