Inspiration

I am a creature of habit. To some extent we all are. Which is a good thing, I guess. Of course some habits are detrimental, but most have their benefits. Setting your alarm before bed gets you up in the morning and showering before work gets you there without odor. Getting there at all pays the mortgage, and....well, you get the point.

But lately I feel like I've been in a rut. Or digging one anyway.  I live my life in two parts. Monday through Friday I feel like all I can manage to do is work. When the weekend comes I run errands, I do laundry, I go grocery shopping and I cook...And when I cook, I've been cooking the same things. Summer ended and I went straight from Greek and Caprese salads to comfort food.

Chili. Tortilla soup. American Chop Suey. French onion soup. Chili. Cream of broccoli soup. Tortilla soup. Chili.

[insert sound of tires screeching to a halt]

[insert conversation with self] My god, Joanne. It's only October. Snap out of it!

I wanted to cook. But I didn't want to make more soup. And I didn't want to thaw soup I've already made and stored in the freezer. (For that cold and snowy day I won't feel like cooking? Oh, okay, that'll happen.) I needed inspiration.

I found it in this package of snow white mushrooms. A quick inventory of my freezer rendered some sirloin cut for stir fry. Every thing else I needed to make this beef and mushroom lo mein I had on hand, including the last minute additions of carrot and broccoli for color.

Tomorrow? I'll let baby spinach be my guide.