Summer Glow

“You have a summer glow” said a friend. “Look, it’s like a halo” and took a picture of me to show. He must have been blinded by the sun not to see my horns sticking out too, or maybe he just knows me well enough not to point out the obvious. If anything, another friend calls me “sugar and spice and ‘don’t f*** with me’ nice”. 

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But I do know what he means, about that halo. I’ve been instrumental in creating the person he is today (even though there’s not much of an age difference between us). I’ve had way too many men who later told me “I’m a better person and definitely a better man because of you”, and I’ve had many more than I’m willing to admit who felt safe enough to shed tears in front of me yet still not to feel a loss of their masculinity. I have never betrayed neither their words, nor their tears. Did I ever get the same treatment back? That’s an entirely different story.

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This “smoke and mirrors” self-protection technique usually doesn’t work with me, I will feel and see right through it. Unless I literally don’t care to see as in “not my circus, not my monkeys”. That doesn’t mean I’ll immediately contradict the”I’m just tired” smoke,  I’ll always go with “where you are at” for the time, I’ll respect your walls of self-preservation / pride / fear / false sense of losing control or whatever else you’re using in your subconscious (and often conscious) mind to blow that “I’m fine” steam up my face. But, if you’re important to me, I’ll eventually take you out of your denial coping zone. That’s when “sugar and spice” converts into “don’t f*** with me, and yourself, nice”. And I’ve had all kinds of reactions, from a complete silent treatment to a full-blown explosion, I even said once “you can slap me for saying it, but only after I’m done talking” (he didn’t by the way), yet, months or years later, those were the same people who came to tell me “I’m a better person because of you”.

So, I’m polishing my red horns and adjusting that sunny glow halo… I’m both – your eternal bliss and your worst nightmare!

I should start a scrapbook of all those who perished in the depth of my “angelic facade”!

What’s Cooking This Week

Warm weather recipes are definitely full of that summer glow. They are lighter, in both taste and calories, but still very nourishing and delicious. Today’s recipe is good for either busy weeknight supper or weekend entertainment. It pairs well with either grilled fish, chicken or presents a nice balance to a juicy burger. Hope you like it and serve it before the summer is over.

Papaya Pecans Slaw with Apple Cider Dressing

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2 1/2 – 3 cups of shredded cabbage 

1 cup of shredded carrots

1 cup of cut papaya

1/4 cup of toasted pecans

2 Tbsps of cut fresh herbs, I used cilantro

4 Tbsps of oil, I used hemp oil

2 Tbsps of apple cider

2 tsps of apple cider vinegar

1 tsp of honey

salt, pepper to taste

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In separate bowls, combine together vegetables and all the dressing ingredients. Add salt into dressing, then pour over the slaw, add pepper and mix well. Top with toasted pecans and serve in individuals bowls or cups. The salad is best when eaten right away.

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You can keep salad and dressing in the fridge for 1 – 2 days and mix them together before serving.

It’s healthy, tasty, light and refreshing.

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