My husband and I are sitting on our couch, watching a tied* Saints and Buccaneers playoff football game. The pup is munching on a bone. My glass is full of a nice, lemony, mineral Gavi I picked up for a special dinner, and I decided tonight counted. I’m trying to finish meal planning for the week, but my belly is just so FULL it’s hard to think about food.

Tonight, we ate a nice pan-roasted piece of salmon accompanied by dijon glazed vegetables and vinegar-and-salt crispy potatoes. It was just the perfect bright meal to end a snowy, homebound day. Ordinarily, folks accompany a cold day with something hearty and warm and I like a good Sunday gravy as much as the next person, but sometimes I want to cut through the winter blues with something acidic and light. I’ve started following Carla Lalli Music’s method of pan-roasting salmon in her cookbook Where Cooking Begins and it comes out perfectly every single time. Nothing kills a meal like overcooked salmon. This method, I don’t have to worry about it (as long as I don’t miss my timer!). I’m happy.

As I look ahead to the week, though, I feel a bit of fear. What will these next days bring? Will our nation swear in a new President surrounded by further acts of violence, or will heroes of peace rise up to help move our nation forward? What are the ways I’m personally called to work for justice and peace? Essentially, lots of BIG questions accompany my glass of wine and this football game. Dessert anyone?

I like to think when I cook, because it’s very contemplative practice for me. Here’s what I’ll be cooking this week as I ponder and pray for our country:

Monday – Fried Chicken with Mint & Honey – I’m off work on Monday and thought I might tackle a new challenge for dinner tonight – I borrowed the TexMex cookbook Amá from the library and this recipe just looks mouthwatering. I’ll likely do a big salad on the side. I considered making something from this other cookbook I just got from the library – Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food – in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but honestly I know so little about black cooking. I need to do some more reading before I feel ready to tackle it! Reading and tasting – I need to find some good soul food restaurants in Chicago to order from and learn more about the flavors.

Tuesday – Shepherd’s Pie! My husband picked this one and it’s a house favorite. It is just one of the most comforting meals, plus I love a good tray meal where my protein and vegetables can all be served with one big scoop. I’ve riffed on this recipe in the past, and plan to again this week. Last time I added a splash of apple cider vinegar to the brown sauce to at some bite.

Wednesday – Take out! We’ve got some appointments and I’m just accepting the fact that I won’t feel like cooking. We’ll see what we feel like that night!

Thursday – Slow Braised Beef with carrots & turnips – This was on the menu last week, but then my local butcher was sold out of chuck roast. I’m going to try again this week! Plus, I’m trying to get a bit more mileage out of my slow cooker.

Friday – I’m feeling adventurous at the start of this week. I’ve flagged some walleye cakes from my well loved Lake Michigan Cottage Cookbook with spicy lemon aioli. I’ll do a Caesar salad (maybe kale?) with my favorite Smitten Kitchen caesar dressing. If I’m still feeling adventurous by Friday. And if I can find walleye! If not, I might go for a simpler shrimp (taco? salad? something like that) situation.

Happy cooking yourselves this week, friends! Take care of yourself! And let me know what’s on your menu in the comments, if you wish.

*The game was tied when I started writing, then the Saints took the lead, then the Bucs tied it again, and now the Bucs have a slim three point lead. It’s a nail biter, folks! (Although as long as I have my Gavi, and the brownies I baked yesterday, I’m the real winner!)