It began, like most of my revelations, with mayonnaise and a lemon. I was barefoot in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge, trying to pull dinner together. The house was quiet for a moment. Just the fan and the whir of my thoughts. That day, I was not just making a meal. I was shifting something deep inside me.

I had spent weeks stuck in patterns I created myself. Meal planning on autopilot. Pushing “publish” less and less. Saving blog post drafts instead of sharing them. I kept telling myself I was too tired, too busy, too uninspired. But the truth? I was scared. Scared of putting myself out there. Scared that the words wouldn’t land. Scared that maybe none of it mattered.

But that day, I reached for something different. I didn’t talk myself out of cooking something new. I grabbed what I had: tomatoes, bacon, some green onions, a lemon and made something that felt like possibility.

Creamy Herb BLT Pasta Salad

What You Will Need:

What You Will Need To Do:

Boil water and cook 1 box of bowtie pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. While the pasta cooks, prepare the add-ins:

Slice 5 ounces of grape tomatoes in half.
Chop 6 romaine lettuce leaves into bite-sized pieces.
Finely chop 2 green onions.
Cook & Crumble 2-3 slices of bacon.

In a medium bowl, mix the dressing:
Add 1 cup of mayonnaise.
Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon.
Press 1 garlic clove and stir it in.
Add 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 tablespoon dill, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir until smooth and creamy.

In a large serving bowl, toss the cooked pasta, prepared add-ins and dressing together until everything is well coated.

Serve warm or chilled. This salad keeps for about 3 days in the fridge when stored in a covered container.

There was nothing fancy about that salad. But making it reminded me that I am capable of creating something new. Not just dinner, but joy. Momentum. Change. I didn’t need permission. I just needed a spoon, a bowl, and a little courage. If you’re feeling stuck in a pattern of your own making, try doing one thing differently. One new meal. One blog post shared. One quiet act of intention.

Today I’m asking:
How do you set yourself free when you’ve been stuck in a pattern you created for yourself?

Start there. In the kitchen. With a lemon, a bowl of pasta, and the belief that change can taste like dill and white pepper.

Gracefully yours,

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