I felt especially proud of this lunch: it was healthful and varied, and even though it was created in the middle of morning chaos, I managed to put together some good flavors—chickpeas with tuna, parsley, Meyer lemon, a pinch of hot smoked paprika, and olive oil. I laid it all out on this baking sheet and carried it into our living room, where I take these photos in a window seat. The light cooperated. I was even somewhat on time.
I lifted the baking sheet with one hand so I could use my free hand to replace the window seat cushion to its place. That's when I heard the terrible sound of glass containers sliding across the metal baking sheet. Sliding, sliding, then onto the floor! The chickpeas scattered like boulders in a landslide. The avocado squashed under their pelting weight. The tuna slumped on the wood floor. The 5-second rule had no chance with this oily mess. My sweet husband came to the rescue, crawling under a settee to gather up the detritus. And our kids went to school with porchetta sandwiches instead. Mondays!
A New Way to Dinner, co-authored by Food52's founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, is an indispensable playbook for stress-free meal-planning (hint: cook foundational dishes on the weekend and mix and match ‘em through the week).
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