Mental work is very gratifying. But do not under estimate the happiness that emerges after a day of physical work! As in cleaning, selling, organizing and sorting papers at the bakery. We [Alex, Sarah, Matt and I] closed down the business with a sparkling shine this evening. And it made coming home to relax all-the-more sweeter. Working on a Saturday is different than a Wednesday, but I kind of like it! The whole day is more exciting in general, so that means work is more exciting too. And there’s Saturday night + no plans Sunday to look forward to!
When I got home, I immediately set to work prepping dinner. Since it was already cooked, I had little to do but chop greens, dice mango, cube grilled pork and slice a pre-baked sweet potato.
Once the prep was done, I settled onto the porch with my two favorite magazines and waited for Matt to join me. I used to save magazines for the gym and never read them at home. But since I no longer do reading-friendly workouts (elliptical or stairmaster, for no real reason other than I’ve moved on to different trends like walking with Pregtastic), my magazine stack is HUGE! It never occurred to me to just sit down and read one cover to cover, but I have to say it was pretty fun!
Matt came home and we lounged and had some good conversation over our cocktails. Sparkling H20 with cherry for me, brew for him.
Then we dined! Took all of 5 minutes to assemble this meal!
I tossed our leftover pork with sweet potato and Bone Suckin’ Sauce
And served it over a cup of brown rice (which I made in the cooker last night) and some steamed collard greens, also tossed in Bone Suckin’ Sauce. Mango on top!
We talked on the porch until the sun set and are just now settling down to an episode of the best show ever!
Although…I’m already hungry again! Going to sip water and consider a little scrumbled crumbled scuffin over yogurt for dessert.
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance says
5 minute meals are the best! Go for dessert – working on Saturday deserves that!
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde says
I love all of the colors in your meal! It looks fantastic. Yogurt with a crumbled scuffin sounds like a wonderful dessert. Enjoy your relaxing night after a long day of hard work!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
Love all the different flavors and textures in that dinner!!! Yum-o!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
now that i no longer go to the gym my magazine stack is HUGE too! and i don’t even have subscriptions anymore…
Andrea says
Those are my 2 fave magazines, too! Just read that BHG mag. at work yesterday 🙂
j3nn says
You’re so right; coming home after a long, hard day’s work of any kind just feels even more sweet when you are done with it all. It’s hard to relax fully when things are looming, but the feeling of accomplishment is also great closure to a long day. I love when meals are easy, too. 🙂
jassy @ Healthy Egg says
you really seem happy==i like the way you write this one–poetry – like 🙂
KathEats says
🙂
Jeri says
Love that you guys are so romantical without even realizing it. So many of us eat sitting in front of the tv not even interacting with each other. This is what everyone needs to do for a few hours a day… DISCONNECT from the outside world and connect with each other, even just sitting on a porch and eating and watching the sun set. So kudos to you and Matt! We could all learn, even me, from you guys.
S/N: Dinner looks awesome!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I would never have thought to add mango on top! Nice choice!
Sana says
🙂 I am glad you and Matt relax and work together! Good for you guys!
Hillary says
I bring my magazines to the gym…and end up reading US Weekly instead. Whoops!
Catalina @ Cake with Love says
Love the mango addition to this dish!
Jen says
Mango kick! I agree about the physical work part. I almost miss the days I worked in a busy cafe during my college years…too bad it paid crappy.
Ellie@Fit for the Soul says
Ohhh bone suckin’ sauce is sooooooo goooooood! And I find it interesting that you like mental work. I always prefer physical labor over mental…hehe.
KathEats says
I much prefer doing 🙂
Tiffany says
I love Mangoes! Just had some with dinner tonight too! 🙂
I hope you don’t mind but I’d love to know your opinion…I’ve recently reduced my running from 1.5 miles 3 times a week to just one time a week. But almost everyday I walk for an hour covering 2.5 miles. Do you think this can be considered a good exercise? I eat a very clean vegetarian diet (lots of veggies, beans, yogurt for protein, not too much sugar…real foods). I’m petite both in weight and height so I just want to make sure I’m treating my body right 🙂
Thank you so much! I thought I would ask you as I know you love walking a lot too. Its just great exercise and a big mood booster. I love to go right when I wake up and come back to a bowl of oats!
KathEats says
Yes definitely. Running and walking a distance are the same… Just a bit more cardio benefit in running, but plenty with walking too
Tiffany says
Thank you Kath 🙂
Angel7 says
I do not even purchase any magazines, because the chances of me getting the opportunity to read through them is slim. But there are magazines that I would love to read.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Laura @ She Eats Well says
The best dinners are those with a bunch of seemingly random ingredients tossed around…and served in a big ole bowl. It just works sometimes and hits the spot! Your dinner looks so yummy!
Khushboo says
That reminds me- I have an ever-growing stack of mags to get through…perfect for lazy Sundays!
Karen says
That looks absolutely yummy! Scruffin = scone & muffin, maybe?
KathEats says
You got it!
sam says
hey kath. cool that you’ve been doing so many nutrition talks lately. maybe you could do a post on nutrition here! I personally would be very interested in reading your take as an RD 🙂
KathEats says
It would be one long post, but I can consider writing about the highlights of my presentation
Andrea says
I would love that as well!
anne says
Agreed!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
There you are again tempting me with those perfect mango chunks! Must get my hands on one. 99% of the time I am okay with TJ’s frozen mango chunks but you have me tempted to pop for a fresh champagne mango!
Michelle (Peachy Palate) says
The combo of the mango and sweet potato sounds divine! Definitely something i have to incorporate in my eats this week!
cathy@1970kikiproject says
saturdays in retails ARE so much fun! it’s my favourite day of the week (i am at a running store) because there are no deliveries, it’s just sales and time with customers.
glad you had such a busy and satisfying day at the bakery!
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
Kath, that dinner sounds SO GOOD! I love topping savory bowls with sweet fruit!
Ma Fea says
Just wondering: when you make your rice cooker rice the night before, how do you keep it from getting all dried up by the next night? I love my rice, but I don’t know how to keep it fresh without making it the day I’m going to eat it. :S
KathEats says
I added just a bit of water before microwaving. It was a weeeee bit dry
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
A very colorful and tasty looking dish, minus the pork of course!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I love that creative dinner idea! What a great combination of flavours!
Aubrey says
Is that your leftover pork from Easter Sunday? I definitely stretch my leftovers for many days, but did you find that it was still good nearly 7 days later? Thanks!
KathEats says
7 days is my max, and I made sure to heat it well
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Sometimes the best meals are made from simple ingredients tossed together! Simple, nutritious and delicious!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
I absolutely LOVE sweet potatoes with pork! What a perfect meal 🙂 And I hear you about the growing magazine stack — and what a luxury to just sit and peruse cover to cover. Looks like it was a great night!!!
Danielle & Allison says
Kath! The cake batter at Arch’s was delicious and intense. We didn’t think it was any more chemically than the brownie batter. Yum!!!
KathEats says
So glad to hear it!! Fun to see you guys 🙂