march on
It is a time of deadlines and decisions – the middle of term. Whether you are frantically searching for a summer internship/work or working on ten essays at a time, it’s certainly a notoriously busy month.
When times are busy, it’s important to remember the basics. The stuff that doesn’t have deadlines, but that if you don’t do will hinder your ability to get anything done for any deadline. I’m talking eat, sleep and movement.
There’s more sun in the day – so go outside. Have a quick lunch al fresco, go for a wander round Kelvingrove to break up the day and organise stuff with your friends outdoors.
In terms of sleep, some days you just need to sleep at 10, and get like 80 winks in. There are only so much naps can do, and working off low sleep all the time will impact your enjoyment when you’re awake. Sleep is an obvious investment.
For eat, if you have no ideas, then look below for the recipes section where we cover quick fix dinners.
For lunch, grab something outside, or have leftovers if you’ve made a bigger dinner.
For breakfast, get fruit, oats, a smoothie, toast with peanut butter or just something – think of the metabolism, honey. A glass of water can even be enough some mornings – but get a snack in afterwards.
I don’t want to sound like a nutritionist or a home economics teacher, but what you eat constitutes yourself, quite literally. It can impact your mental health, physical appearance, hormones!! and how you respond to things in your life. A surprise deadline hitting someone with a full stomach and proper hydration is probably going to be less painful than if you’ve only had coffee for the last 48 hours and zero fruit. That being said, food is not a panacea – it is one of the four pillars of health, which include sleep, movement and relaxation.
Spring rituals
It’s March, and that’s a Hopeful Month, because it’s the start of spring. For some people, it happens to be their favourite season because they were born then. But even if it’s not, it’s a bright start and the time when flowers start appearing so great, nonetheless.
There is only way correct way to welcome the spring. Reading George Orwell’s essay “Some Thoughts on the Common Toad” – preferably outside in the sun, under a cherry blossom and drinking some sort of spring drink.
I have included a link here, if you want to read this literary masterpiece.
Other classic spring traditions include Spring Cleaning – which anyone who read Winnie-The-Pooh when they were younger will be aware of. This is like a special clean, before Easter, when you just do what you normally do, but also move out the stuff that has made a home in random places and been living there all winter for free. It’s mentally refreshing to do a spring clean, and definitely a great way to procrastinate deadlines.
Some rituals from around the world are interesting to hear about and maybe even experience if you can.
Holi – in India, this festival is used to celebrate the arrival of Spring. This is done by throwing coloured powder and water to symbolise the many colours of Spring. It is usually celebrated on the full moon day of February-March.
Teothiucan Spring Equinox – in Mexico, people gather at this pyramid, dressed in white clothing to welcome the upcoming warmth of the sun.
Stonehenge Solstice Ceremony – rather more close to home, in England, this takes place on Midsummer’s day – the longest day of the year. Stonehenge was thought to be built by farmers, and the rays of the sun make certain cool patterns (which have less effect today as the original structure has changed over time). People still gather to witness this though.
Nowruz – Persian New Year is a cross regional celebration, lasting for 13 days in which participants conduct rituals with fire and water, exchange gifts and prepare the Haft Seen table.
Playlist
Heal – Tom Odell
Love will tear us apart – Joy Division
Tequila sunrise – the Eagles
Here comes the sun – the Beatles
Heart of Gold – Neil Young
Recipes
Poke bowl
These can be made up of anything, really. But here is some inspiration from the student canteen at Stockholm University.
- A base of sticky rice
- Quarter of a mango (sliced)
- Tablespoon of kimchi
- Handful of edamame beans
- Half a packet of tofu, sizzled in some oil and seasoned with chilli, peanut butter and other spices you deem necessary. It can really be cooked any way, but that’s my go-to comfort food technique.
Feel free to mix and match. Maybe put in some broccoli instead of the mango, or some chicken strips. A little mashed black-bean concoction could be a nice complement, with some seasoned cherry tomatoes. Throwing in a handful of nuts in any plate usually will not ruin the flavour and add some nutrition.
Pea soup
- 1tbsp oil
- Knob of butter
- ½ bunch of spring onion, sliced, plus a few extra to serve
- 1 potato, diced small
- 1l hot vegetable stock
- 900g frozen petits pois
- ½ small bunch mint, leaves picked, plus a few extra to serve
- 85g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), very finely grated
Heat the olive oil and butter in a heavy base pan. When foaming, add the spring onions and potato. Gently fry without colouring for about 5 mins. Stir in the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 mins or until the potato is tender.
Stir in the peas, bring to the boil again, then cook for about 3 mins until they are just done. Remove the pan from the heat, add the mint leaves and whizz in a blender or food processor until smooth.
To make the parmesan biscuits, heat the grill to high. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and divide the grated parmesan into 6 long strips. Grill for 1 min or until the cheese has melted and is lightly golden. While still warm and a bit flexible, release the biscuits from the baking parchment with a palette or cutlery knife, then cool until firm.
To serve, heat the soup and divide between 6 bowls. Scatter with mint and sliced spring onions, if you like, and serve with the parmesan biscuits on the side.
memes!
thanks for reading this newsletter - if you make any recipes inspired by it, post them on social media and tag us <3 it's nice to not gate-keep food (or anything really).
stay chill,
aysha