Cats, Self Help and Burritos!

Kanye loves to sleep in the pantry!

Although my kitchen pantry has doors, I have never been able to shut them because the kitties love playing in the pantry. Joan and Kanye tear through there, running up and down the shelves like mad women.  I don't know what they would ever do if I really fully stocked it. If that ever happens, I'll have to leave at least one shelf free I guess. I love it, and wouldn't have it any other way.

Kanye and Joan yukking it up

Sorry that it's fuzzy, but they were moving and shaking in there. Actually, they were moving and my jars were shaking! Before I use my sriracha, I always have to wipe the cat hair off! I like that my kitchen is big enough for cooking and playing.
I was thinking how grateful I am for my kitchen yesterday. I love to cook, and I like to tinker in the kitchen. Since I'm horrible at meal planning, or any planning really, I like to go in the kitchen and see what I have and go from there. And I need room to scatter all my options about. I'm a mad scientist like that. I really had lost my spark in the kitchen in Seattle due to my dark closet of a kitchen. I just tried to keep it as simple as possible. Anyway, I love my kitchen now, I enjoy doing dishes, because I have a window to gaze out of. It's the small things that make life bearable.
I've been starting my day with naming three things I'm grateful for in the morning before I even open my eyes. And I've been doing guided meditations again. I try to do them twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before I go to sleep. I also have been keeping somewhat of a journal. I guess it's more of a dream book? I don't know what to call it, who cares I don't like labels anyway. One of my intentions for the month of October is to be more creative in the kitchen. I used to really love making recipes, and getting creative in the kitchen. Especially in the cooler months. I love having sauces or stews simmering and the whole house smelling like onions and garlic. It feels good to remind myself that no matter what I've lost, and no matter how alone I feel, I have so much to be grateful for, and it feels good to be working on improving myself. Sorry, I'm on a bit of a self help bender. When you probably should be in intense therapy, but you can't afford it and also have a deep distrust for therapists, you have to do it yourself!
But back to vegan food. So, I decided to spend some time tinkering in the kitchen yesterday, and I ended up making some really tasty jackfruit and black bean burritos. I made the wet, with red enchilada sauce. The black beans helped make the mixture a little more substantial and filling.

I love that taco seasoning from Trader Joe's. It's only $.79 and not only are there four servings, but it isn't full of scary chemicals and dyes like a lot of the taco mixes. I shredded the jackfruit, and sauteed it with black beans, green onions and 1/4 of the package of taco seasoning. While that was going I made some rice and the red enchilada sauce. I used this recipe for the sauce. It's my favorite enchilada sauce recipe. This was a total success! And it was fun kind of coming up with this meal as I went. I find cooking therapeutic, and you get to eat afterwards so it's a total win.

Who me????

I love this picture of Roxy. She looks so shocked! She likes to keep an eye on things when I'm cooking. And she likes looking down on us all because she is Roxy  after all!
Today you guys were one of my things I'm grateful for. I'm grateful to have people interested in what I have to say, and I'm so grateful to have a place to talk about life in a new city and getting lost and all of that. Normally you would have someone you could call and vent and chat and all of that. You guys help this lonely lady feel less lonely and I'm really lucky to have that.
Happy Monday!