Clarity In Tinolang Manok with Kale, And Organized Chaos

At 10:30 am on a Saturday, my brain is currently performing at half its capacity - a state which could be construed as not very good, but in its own way is preferable and, to me at least, better for my overall well-being in the long run.

These last three months have gone by in a flurry - of snow, activity, directional thinking and psychological consultation (with the doctor who made this in my head). Through the day-to-day changes of starting another new job, switching professions to go back into the world of luxury hotels, adjusting to overnight shift work (and more importantly, sorting, packing and moving in with the boyfriend!) - it's taking me awhile to adapt.

It's no surprise, however, as I'm perennially in a state of organized chaos, made evident by the perilously stacked jars, reusable takeout containers and lunch bowls that have taken over an entire kitchen cabinet. I imagine it was this particular fact that prompted my adorably crazy partner to order a book called "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up", a book written by a former Japanese shrine maiden, as he says, "for the both of us."

Anyhow, I spent most of this week feeling pretty awful with a bad cough and cold, and desperately wanted some good, down home chicken soup. With the Asian market well out of the way, and my local grocery not stocked with chayotes, out came the kale from the crisper..to great results. A cruciferous vegetable to be added to further pots of tinola. I'm liking the sweetness of kale with that cold-snuffing gingery broth.