Fortunate February, Now Loading

Ready to reframe? I sure am! Plus, more food, sillyness, and songs.

Considering the glass “half full” can take a lot of reframing.

And last week, I was struggling. When I am low on resources and facing multiple obstacles, reframing is a big cognitive load. But, it’s a new month, the sun is finally melting the ice, and The Carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun” cycled onto the stereo.

I’m ready to reframe!

• The electricity was only out for three days. This was difficult to manage, but others in the area only recently had power restored after two weeks!

• When the electricity went out a second time, we had the option to stay at a hotel for stability. Some families did not have that option.

• Despite circumstances, our favorite extended stay hotel just barely had space for us. And the staff, as usual, was amazing and supportive for our whole visit.

• My kids learned important skills and behaviors that will help them if they are ever in a disaster again.

• We only lost one tree and one portion of fence. Others lost much more.

• I already had a week of PTO scheduled after the storm and didn’t need to rearrange work to accommodate my mental health.

I feel fortunate! So it’s a great time to introduce:

The inaugural entry of the Celebration Club!

The lovely Maryellen Brady 💗📚 and I were chatting this week and we both recognized that we are not so great about celebrating our accomplishments. I was inspired to add a monthly column to The Overachievers Club called “Celebration Club.”

Celebration Club is for accomplishments — big or small — that we want to recognize. I would love to celebrate with you, so I hope you’ll submit something to celebrate!

This month we’re celebrating:

• Maryellen Brady 💗📚: accepting compliments without negating them.

• Rachel Tribble: tackling imposter syndrome!

• Me: my Substack Anniversary & my first time driving a rental car (in the ice, no less!)

Now, if you’d like, you can also:

And I will post about it in March.¹ Let’s celebrate, friends🥳

I made crème pâtissière for the first time. Cooking Unit, Complete!

Extra Credit Assignment 2: low-carb crème pâtissière

My version was a loose almond-milk-based custard cream.

As a first attempt, I am pleased. However, I will be sending it back to my test kitchen to improve thickness/richness and kick the sweetness up a notch. A traditional crème pât would be paired with pâte-a-choux (for an éclair or creme puff) or flat puff pastry (like a mille-feuille²). Those pastry components lift or meet the sweetness of the creme (especially with a nice icing on top). However, in a low-carb preparation, I’m pairing the creme with tart fruits that negate the subtle sweetness of my recipe draft.

The bright news about more testing is that I will make additional use of my flat whisk; an item that’s been in the “maybe cut” pile of my annual kitchen audit many times. I almost always forget to use it, but it’s the best tool for a custard-style preparation.³

How challenging is it to make the five French sauces?

Particularly, how hard is it to make them low-carb? Especially given how many of them are based on a roux (usually flour & butter). I might take that on next….

Thoughts?

Making my own digital assets is a forgotten favorite pastime.

I was trying to reframe my anxiety over food waste and realized a pretty list might remind me to use more things before they expired. Now I have a reusable template!

As a bonus, once I looked at the list, I realized I could make a very yummy soup with things I had on hand. Sometimes you just need a pretty list to gain new perspective!

I also made a new book quote template.

For remembering silly quotes⁴. This quote has been cracking me up all week. It’s almost as funny as the word “bunion.” Which makes me laugh. Every. Single. Time! BUNION. 🤣🤣🤣⁵

Some curiosities I researched this week.

Because what is an overachiever if not a diligent researcher at heart?

• single clove garlic

  Did you know about this? There is a variety of garlic that does not produce clusters of cloves. The more I learn about alliums, the more I am amazed!⁶

• Ceylon cinnamon vs. regular cinnamon

  This week I learned that there’s a true cinnamon; Ceylon cinnamon. It’s native to Sri Lanka and harder to yield from the cinnamomum verum tree than it is to get “regular” cinnamon from the cinnamomum cassia tree (which is what we consume in North America.) I am now stocking Ceylon cinnamon in my kitchen.

  Also: My kitchen is becoming more fascinating every week! And I love it.

• Linda Caroll mentioned the story of The Reluctant Dragon this week. I had never heard of it before and I am intrigued by its rhetorical concepts. I’m filing it away for future use/reference. Perhaps it will interest you as well!

1. Extreme Ways - Resound NYC Version / Edit by Moby, Dougi Mandagi (2023)

   It’s rare a remix improves the vibe of a song. To me, this one manages it.⁷

2. Look Me in the Eye by Austra (2025)

   Unusually light fare for Austra, but it just proves the breadth of her abilities!⁸

3. No-One by The Psychedelic Furs (2020)

   Some Duran Duran vibes here.

4. Trouble by Computer Kill (2024)

   And some New Order guitar here.

5. Everybody Knows I’m High by SHAED (2024)

   Close your eyes and pretend you are driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible with the top down and your arms spread wide.

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1. Feel free to DM if you are more comfortable sharing directly.

2. We commonly called these Napoleons in the States.

3. Flat whisks scrape the bottom of the pan, reducing the likelihood of overcooked eggs — which would ruin a custard/cream.

4. Which are arguably as important as thoughtful ones. And equally memorable.

5. Author’s Note: I am laughing at the word, not the condition, which I know is very uncomfortable!

6. I let my onions go to seed last year and am exceedingly curious what I’ll get to dig up come spring….

7. 18 is almost a quarter century old. That’s wild.

8. For new Austra listeners, I recommend Future Politics or Beat and the Pulse as starter songs.