The Picnic Clinic
recipe for some R&R
This summer the days are long and the sun is homicidal. Most of us are spending our time huddled in front of fans and ac units, praying for a light breeze and counting down till nightfall. Instead of appreciating the wonderful things about summer, we spend just as much time cursing it as we spend praying for the seasons to change during the dead of winter. So this summer let’s do things a little different.
A couple weeks ago we encouraged y’all to go camping because humans just aren’t supposed to be indoors this much. We’re animals who evolved with and in the natural world; our divorce from it has caused dire consequences for us both. The longer humans act above and separate from the ecosystem of our world, the sicker we all get. Climate collapse is happening all around us and the existential dread of modern existence has all of us in a heap on the floor most days. We can do better. Let’s start by eating outside.
Call it a picnic, call it a snack, call it whatever the fuck you want, just get the fuck outside and touch some grass. Eating a couple meals outside a week is such a simple, cheap way to begin getting back in touch with your environment. Look around and notice how the plants are growing, what bugs are out, basically what the hell has been going on all season while we’ve all been staring at our phones. Pull out an old blanket and sit in the grass, under a tree, or wherever you can find a spot, and just eat and look around. You’ll feel so much better after.
“There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well being. You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.”- Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, who studies connectedness to nature
To help you on our journey to the great outdoors, here are some of our favorite portable recipes so you can eat in style while you chill the fuck out in the shade of a good tree.
Spicy Sausage and Cheese Kolaches
And if you know you’re gonna struggle to just sit out there, no endless phone scrolling, no music to distract your thoughts, then chew on this poem from the iconic Mary Oliver and practice cultivating some motherfucking astonishment.
Thanks for joining us here in The Broiler Room. This weekend, our supporters-only recipe club is all about stone fruit. Don’t miss our Mixed Plum and Ginger Jam going out this Sunday. Not part of the cool kids club? Fix that here.
See y’all next week, hopefully with a lil’ extra sun on those cheeks.
Michelle and Matt