a fantastic lunch

& thoughts on lunch when you work from home

Hi everyone! I’m so pleased you all seem to be as excited about LUNCH as I am! If you missed my love letter to lunch and why I’m turning this newsletter into a twice-a-week endeavor, head here!

I’m back, as promised, on a Tuesday with an easy lunch recipe. And it happens to be gorgeous. Behold: air fryer fish with kale + tomatoes, plus a very easy nước chấm-inspired sauce. I enjoyed mine on some microwaveable brown rice (no shame in shortcuts) sprinkled with sesame seeds, a sliced cucumber, and a bit of leftover roasted sweet potato. You could add any or all of these extras, or serve just with plain rice, noodles, or just on its own with nothing else.

In the recipe below, for paid subscribers only, I give you notes on what to do if you don’t have an air fryer, don’t like fish, are vegetarian, are not a kale person, etc. I’ll always include these types of notes because (a) I want everyone to feel included and (b) recipes are flexible!!!!

This lunch is also an excuse for me to talk about making lunch for yourself when you work from home, which I have done for nearly twenty years (wow I am just realizing that) except for seven months in 2021 when I worked at Long Season Farm.

Working from home is full of endless distractions.

• Oh, the laundry!

• Well, just one more episode…

• I can’t possibly move to my computer, my cat just sat on my lap…

• There is no better time than the present to organize this closest!

And on and on…

Amongst these distractions, it can be hard to fit lunch in the mix. On top of that, I try hard to eat when my body tells me it needs something and this doesn’t always align with prescribed meal times. Often I eat breakfast, then a little while later what could be considered a second breakfast or first lunch, then usually a second lunch moment a bit after that. Snacks come into play, too (duh). Additionally, lunch at home, for me at least, is often a scavenger hunt. Last-night-me thought it was worth saving a ladleful of leftover soup? Okay, Julia! But that’s not enough food. So let’s add some toast with this avocado that has to be eaten today. Maybe some fruit. A cookie. A little of this, a little of that…

I have no problem at all with meals like this. They sustain me, they allow me to use up everything we have, they offer variety. They don’t take that much time to assemble.

But every so often I step away from my computer and MAKE A NICE MEAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. This doesn’t happen all of the time, but when it does I always feel really good. I’ve taken a proper break. I’ve done the thing I love doing (cooking!) and had a chance to be away from a screen for a bit. It makes me feel taken care of and incredibly grown-up. And when I do this, as wonderful as it is, I try not to make a BIG DEAL about it. I try to make something quick, easy, and that won’t require much cleanup. Because, always, there’s still work to do…

This fish recipe is a perfect example. You cook fish on top of vegetables in the air fryer and if you line the air fryer basket with parchment, you don’t even have to wash the air fryer. The only dish to wash is the plate or bowl you eat on, plus one mixing bowl that does double duty to both mix up some kale with oil and salt before it goes in the air fryer, and then acts as the bowl you make the simple sauce in. The whole thing takes about 5 minutes to prepare and 15 to cook, which is the perfect amount of time to answer one more email or check the actual mail, or just zone out watching YouTube shorts (anyone else?!).

I think you’re really going to like this one.

Any lunch questions or recipes you’d like to see?! Tell me! Want to just let me know what you’re going to have/had for lunch today? Tell me! I seriously love hearing what everyone had for lunch.

Before I jump into the recipe, if you’re interested in more easy fish recipes and just a general demystify-cooking-fish-at-home lesson, JOIN ME THIS SUNDAY!! My final class of October is all about making fish easily and confidently in our home kitchens. »»»» SIGN UP HERE «««« »»»» SIGN UP HERE «««« »»»» SIGN UP HERE «««« »»»» SIGN UP HERE «««« »»»» SIGN UP HERE ««««

Wondering why it’s my final class of October?? Because I’m going on book tour!

Come hang out IRL with me! Many of the events are free and open to all, but some require registration/tickets. Head here for all event info!! Events that require tickets are going fast so please grab yours now!! And if you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, consider doing it today so you get your book when it comes out next week (IT COMES OUT NEXT WEEK….!!!) — all info here!

Okay, without further ado, today’s lunch recipe! And a reminder that there are options if you don’t have an air fryer, don’t like fish, etc.

Makes 2-ish portions (it’s up to you what a portion is), especially if you serve with rice, etc.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 small bunch kale (or any cooking green), roughly chopped