Brine & soda

So, I disappeared for a while there. This month, I’ve had the lowest energy level imaginable and a questionable appetite. This turned into not being very motivated in the kitchen which turned into not wanting to write about food. I was waiting for cooking inspiration to strike so I could come back from my hiatus with something worthy of sharing. Unfortunately, it’s been over a month since my last post and the thing I want to share most is divisive and only a 2-ingredient beverage. It’s called a brine & soda and, unsurprisingly, is pickle juice mixed with sparkling water. It is briny and bright and delightfully pickly. However, I will not be sharing a picture because unfortunately, a brine & soda has a yellowish pallor that is not conducive to being photographed.

[I think everything I’ve said in the prior paragraph probably underscores another big reason I haven’t been posting very much in the past month, but just in case it’s not obvious: I’m pregnant. It’s hard to think about food when you’re busy doing important things like googling “post-nasal drip while pregnant” or “do I really need a baby bathtub?” But I’ve emerged (hopefully permanently) from that dark place and back to the world of light. For a couple hours at least.]

But anyway, back to the brine & soda. I feel obligated to tell you that I didn’t come up with this heavenly beverage on my own. It was actually included in the book Good Drinks by Julia Bainbridge (a gift I received, along with a portable camping chair because I’m 30 now.) The book also includes a bloody-mary esque drink I made (pictured below) that was phenomenal, as well as a litany of other drinks, if I’m really grossing you out with the savory drinks thing. I highly recommend this book!

In terms of actual food, I think the only callouts from March were homemade nut butter (just do it), avocado+cucumber+asparagus sushi rolls, and a chickpea pasta salad with an olive & chard pesto.

And I think I’ll end it there. Here’s to hoping for a little more energy + appetite in April.