Page 71 - COMING UNSTUCK by Sara tuck

Sad-arse dinners for one – sounds a bit grim the-night-before soup (see p69); and I feel
doesn’t it? But the truth is, in the beginning closer to my darling boys instantly by eating
my dinners for one were spectacularly Hoobie’s beans (see p85) or Pog’s rice (see
sad arse. Generally they consisted of two p77). These recipes are easy, tasty and designed
(sometimes three) whiskies and a couple of for one, but of course you can multiply them
crackers and cheese. I had zero inclination to to serve more. Many make use of Mother’s
cook for myself, and whilst I carried on with Little Helpers recipes (see p222) because,
my job of recipe writing and photography, quite frankly, when I’m going for speed and
when it came to me – I just couldn’t be convenience, I want the biggest bang for my
bothered. A year ago I felt bereft, useless and buck, and that comes in the form of added
unlovable – basically I couldn’t see the point flavour and texture.
in myself. Having found my purpose in life
as a wife and mother, after losing those roles As Winston Churchill once said (kind of),
(in the main, apart from Facebook messenger if you are going through shit, keep going,
mothering), I was completely lost. It took and I agree. For a long while I really couldn’t
at least three months for me to start being see any light at the end of the tunnel, but
interested in cooking for myself, and even I promise you, if you hang in there, it will
then, I wanted the quickest, tastiest options come. But it takes time, and it is not a linear
available – fuel with flavour. path. I certainly didn’t start at the depths of
crap and go through a lovely line upwards to
So. It is now a year down the track, and here a fulfilled and joyous single life. Instead I
I am. These days I still have my whisky (old would have the occasional good day and think
habits die hard), but I also take pleasure in ‘hurrah – I’m feeling better!’ only to come
cooking for myself – a revelation! The things crashing down again the next day. Gradually
I choose are very much amongst the recipes the good days became way more common, but
in this chapter – there is literally nothing I can still have a few fabulous weeks, only to
in the world more comforting for me than wake one morning and suddenly find myself
perfect scrambled eggs (see p86); if I feel like plunged backwards. Maybe that’s just me, or
a bit of indulgence I’ll grab a bacon, leek & maybe it’s normal, I really don’t know, but I
Gruyère tart (see p91) out of the freezer to do know that I don’t lie down in the evening
heat up; too much of a good time and I’ll go crying into the carpet any more. It gets better.
for fix-me-up soup (see p75) or evening-after-

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