Turn off the Noise, Turn on the Stove

I just cannot anymore with CNN, Axios, NYT, WaPo, The Guardian…I’m overwhelmed, overinformed, and overstimulated. I’m not sleeping. I’ve gritted and ground my teeth so badly I now require a night guard.

It started during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued with the worsening climate change crisis. I’ve finally hit a wall with the current US political situation.

I’m done. I’ve shut off my news feeds and refuse to check social media. For someone working in communications this might not be the best decision, but for my mental health it’s the only way I can cope.

I don’t want anything else pushed into my Inbox or crammed into my head.

I’m playing ostrich. I know this. But the way I look at it, my other option is self-medicating with way too much sleep or way too much alcohol. It’s not healthy to endlessly consume horror, panic, and stress. I have precedent for this. During the pandemic, I had days where I could barely get out of bed. The news was just too overwhelming. And, thinking about my kids’ future in the global shitstorm of a new reality, sent me down a rabbit hole of doom.

Unfortunately, I live with a news-obsessed, sometimes TV commentator, whose job and lifeblood depend on being an expert in US politics.

He cannot get enough of the chaos.

While I practice deep breathing and dip into meditation, he scrolls news feeds and consumes Trump articles like buttered popcorn.

While I go for long walks listening to Crime Junkie podcasts, he gleefully watches videos of Musk’s faux pas.

Every once in a while, he pops out of his office into my workspace, makes a scheming steeple gesture like Mr. Burns in The Simpsons, then just cackles at the ensuing insanity.

He starts about 90% of our conversations with, “Did you read/see/hear…”

My reply, “Nope. Dinner at 6. I’m making curry/risotto/stir fry…”

At which point, I turn on some 80s pop or Grateful Dead, pour a glass of something—most days it’s sparkling water zhuzhed up with a slice of lime because if I consumed all the wine I wish for I’d have much bigger problems—then start my mise en place.

I call it “cooking for calming.” Chopping mountains of carrots, onions, and garlic puts me into a Zen-like state. Listening to the sizzle of veggies and alliums soothes me. The scent of blooming spices is a balm for my soul.

I’m not a baker—it’s a little too precise for me. I dabbled in perfecting brownies during COVID, and my Double Chocolate Squiggy Squares are damn good! But never could I bring myself to start with sour dough. I prefer improvisation and cooking with whatever is on hand. Plus, I live on the equator. As a friend says, “Who wants to cook in an oven when you live in one?!”

I was recently trying to explain my cooking style to someone, and he said, “Oh, you prefer jazz to symphony.” Yes! 100%!

My Kitchen Riff goes something like: Open the fridge. Select some carrots, wilted broccoli, a nub of ginger, and a few roasted garlic cloves in oil. Slide over to the pantry. Seize cans of cannellini and tomatoes and pick up some orzo. Chop. Saute. Sizzle. Serve.

I call my husband to the table for a delicious risotto-like comfort meal. I’m in a happy place. He starts with…”Did you just see…?” Me: “Nope. I’m thinking 10-minute Sticky Date Pudding for dessert.” Which always elicits a “Yes, please!”

We may not be in sync on our news consumption, but we are definitely in sync on desserts!

Get my Clean-out the Fridge Almost-Risotto Recipe here.