Artichokes with Low Fat, Low Calorie Asian Dressing

Times are crazy right now.  If you’re anything like me, it would be so easy to go down a rabbit hole of depression and think about all of the crazy things in life that are different and often stressful or sad.

THD started when I realized I was using (and could help others use) food to negotiate through the crazy and frustrating world of dating.  As I’ve tried hard to keep up on posts in the last weeks in spite of the world’s crazy, it occurred to me today (as I was sitting here staring at a computer screen wondering what to write) that I should be doing exactly the same thing I used to do now!  Only these days we’re not negotiating a dating world.  These days we’re simply negotiating a NEW world.  One none of us have ever seen the likes of.

Back when I was trying to find “my person,” I realized I had started using food to negotiate the dating scene.  Not in terms of eating comfort food and using it as a numbing tool (though, make no mistake, I’ve done that too); but rather in terms of trying to pick favorite restaurants, try healthy recipes, and learn everything I could about whole living in order to make the dates more fun.  Because, of course, dates usually revolve around food.

When I finally met my person, THD changed.  I no longer had to keep myself interested in dates, they were fun anyway.  I also discovered that my journey in finding my person could help others do the same.  Thus, the new THD was born.  Here we focused more on whole, healthy living.  We started learning that outlook and mental attitude was just as important as eating habits, movement, and food choice, to live a wondrous life.

These days, I think we’re going through another change.  Now, more than ever, living a whole, healthy life is important to everyone and everything in our worlds.  Nowadays we’re talking masks, hand washing, social distancing, and disease prevention.  But I still think food, movement, and mental work plays a bigger role even in all of that than we understand.

So here’s what I think my new mission is:  Just as I did when I was picking my favorite restaurants for dates (so at least I had THAT to look forward to), I’m going to start looking again to the simple wonderful things in my life to find happiness and fulfillment.  For me, that often means food.  And I assume, since you’re here, you feel the same.  This makes our new mission statement even more important.  “Helping you thrive in this modern world–one bite at a time.”

With that in mind, I realized something funny…  One of the things I have noticed in this crazy time is–spring is still coming.  The temperatures are rising, the air smells fresh and welcoming, and the food…  Our produce is producing more and more on a daily basis.  And I suddenly understand that in tough times, if you can still find joy and interest and wonder in the small things, you’re probably going to be okay.

Spring brings some of my favorite produce, and artichokes are no different.  Who knew that a thistle would taste so yummy.  No, seriously…  I really want to know what person saw that thorny flower and thought, “I bet I could cook that and it would be great for dinner.”  I rode a horse one time that LIVED to eat the thistles at the top of these thorn stalks.  But hey, he was a horse.  They eat hay.  And honestly, I’m pretty sure it’s because they were the only plant so tall that I couldn’t keep him away from them.

Whoever thought to boil that thistle-y flower–I’m so glad they did.  We’ve started getting them in our CSA boxes the last two weeks or so, and they always make me happy.  Mind you, some of that happiness COULD be due to the mayonnaise that usually gets slathered on them.  But one way or another, I love them.  And when the change in the seasons and availability of good food can make me realize the world is still going to be okay….  That’s something to celebrate.

Sometimes I want artichokes and I DON’T want to ruin their nutritional value with a dollop of fat.  Lol.  (Seriously, it DOES happen sometimes).  When that’s the case, the dressing below is my go-to.  Asian flavors combined with the puckery goodness of the artichoke bring it all together in one amazing appetizer or dish.  The dressing itself is also a “low cal” thing.  So if any of your guests are averse to fat or calories, it’s a great choice for that too.

So I guess my thesis today is this:  Keep your chins up.  Keep your faces covered.  Stay focused on what makes you happy.  Stay in tuned with the world’s changes and what parts of them are great.  Wash your hands.  Find things that give you joy and do them.  A lot.  Smile at people.  Focus on all the good–even when the bad seems to be taking over.  Continue striving for your BEST life.  It’s within your reach–you just need to remember that.

In the meantime, we’ll do our part to help you thrive through these tough times by keeping you fed with great recipes and good tips to keep your brain and body healthy.  So stay safe, stay healthy, and Happy Cooking!