Mindful Dining on the Roof Balcony That Brings Me Back to the 'Here and Now'

Since I worked at the start of the long weekend, we are off until today.
There is something about having a holiday that arrives a little late that makes me feel like I've gained something extra.

I have no plans today, so I'll spend it relaxing at home.
Once I finish the cleaning and laundry, the rest is my reward time.
A free time where I can do whatever I want.
I like going out, but lately, I've also come to love spending time slowly at home like this, listening to music.

The sky is a bit cloudy.
The light isn't too strong, which is just right, so for the first time in a while, I decided to have lunch at my limited-time special seat—the roof balcony.

Soft light.
A breeze brushing against my cheeks.
The chirping of birds.
The sound of an airplane flying in the distance.
The blue sky and slowly drifting white clouds.
The trees and houses visible below.

I enjoy delicious food while feeling all of these things comfortably.

There is a term called 'eating meditation,' and this is exactly that kind of time.


I don't eat in a hurry.
I don't think about my next plans either.
It is a precious time to return to the here and now.
I simply savor my meal along with the breeze.

◯ 'Arumonde' (using what's on hand) Chickpea Flour Pancake and Homemade Pie

Lunch is a chickpea flour pancake and a homemade pie.

I dissolve chickpea flour in water, pour it into a frying pan,
and top it with the hijiki seaweed simmered dish and chopped chives I had in the fridge.

I add some pork that I had seasoned with salt koji and grilled, cut into small pieces, and just fry it until golden brown.

No eggs, no wheat flour.
Even though it's gluten-free, it's very satisfying.

No seasoning needed either.
The umami of the simmered hijiki and the saltiness of the salt koji pork are delicious enough on their own.

The power of fermentation combined with leftovers.
I've come to love this kind of 'unpretentious meal' more and more lately.

◯ Reading time with tea after lunch

After lunch,
I read a book in that special seat on the roof balcony with my favorite tea.

The time spent turning pages while being blown by the breeze is a little different from reading inside a room.

When I read while pleasantly feeling the sounds of birds, distant daily noises,
and the drifting clouds, even my mind begins to loosen up.

While staying in the same house,
I feel like I've gone on a little trip.

Looking at the scenery spreading out far below,
listening to the chirping of birds,
having a meal, tea, and reading,
is one of my favorite ways
to spend time at home.

Even without going to some special place,
just being able to feel the nature of the wind, light, and sky makes my heart feel so fulfilled.

◯ A small treat of jam and herbs for a snack

And for a snack, crackers.

Orange jam, pepper cheese,
salsa sauce, and a basil leaf from the balcony.
The scent of tomato and basil spreads
gently in my mouth.
Sweetness, saltiness, and a refreshing aroma.

The balance is just right.
It's not a special treat, but

I really love this kind of 'time enjoying what's in the house' now.
While drinking tea,

feeling the breeze and listening to the birds chirping, I've come to feel that holidays are very rich even without going anywhere.

◯ Breakfast like a small coffee shop

I soak bread slowly in eggs and milk, fry it thoroughly in coconut oil,
and finish it by sprinkling cinnamon and cardamom.

Even though I didn't use sugar,
the gentle sweet scent of coconut oil and the flavor of the spices make it fully satisfying.

I served it with salad, a fried egg, and low-temperature cooked chicken ham.

Even though it's an ordinary morning,
it feels just like breakfast at a small coffee shop.

◯ Dinner, a table that quietly satisfies

For dinner, I had lasagna, layered vegetables, grilled salted herring, and nukazuke pickles.

It's a mix that isn't quite Western or Japanese, but
a table filled with what I 'wanted to eat' that day feels somehow free and comfortable.

The piping hot sauce of the lasagna.
The gentle sweetness drawn out from the vegetables in the layered stew.
The savory aroma of the perfectly grilled herring.

Even though they are all different flavors,
they harmonize surprisingly well.

Until now, I used to worry about the consistency of the menu and nutritional balance, but
now,
'Does it make me feel at ease when I eat it?'
'Does my body rejoice?'
have become more important.

As I continue with fermentation and layered cooking,
rather than extravagant dishes,
my body and mind have come to find comfort in
this kind of quietly balanced meal.

◯ The kitchen is a place to reclaim myself

Until a little while ago,
cooking was something I 'had to do' for some reason.

For my family.
For nutrition.
To make it in time.

But now, it's a little different.

To savor it well.
To feel the aroma.
To feel the season.

It is also a time to reclaim those small sensations.

The meal I eat on the roof balcony,
while not extravagant,
is a rich time
that brings me back to the 'here and now'.

Being at home, with nothing special happening, looking back, it was a very fulfilling and rich holiday.
I love days like this too.

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