Fall Fare: Soup's On

A little warming bowl of lentils, sweet potato, and collard greens for those chilly nights

Of the many hats I’ve worn since leaving my Regularly Scheduled Federal Job in April, the one that sometimes fits most awkwardly atop my head is Country Dive Bar Cook. It was kind of an accident: during that first week of self-directed work, an acquaintance at a party asked what I’d be doing to fill my time. “I don’t know”, I replied, “maybe I’ll pick up a couple shifts at your bar!” In the moment, it felt like a fun, casual assignment. Of course - I neglected to remember that the hours and environment that feel fine at 22 can feel a little less enjoyable at 44. Do I love to throw down in the kitchen? Heck yeah. Do I enjoy handing Busch Lite across a dimly-lit counter and swapping conspiracy theories? Well…no, not particularly - in my heart, I’m a back-of-house girl. Ok then, how does my middle-aged self feel about arriving home at 10 pm smelling like fryer grease? Well…let’s just say I have to be in a certain kind of mood, and it’s not one that strikes me often.

I do occasionally get…