When I think of where I was a year ago, my heart breaks just a little bit.
I don't mean where I was physically, hunched over a blistering-hot tray of roasted lemon potatoes, broccoli and bell peppers, golden from a sprinkling of turmeric and fragrant with my last remaining dry summer herbs. I mean my emotional state; ecstatic one moment, then plunged into despair the next, yet constantly riddled with anxiety.
What I thought was love was actually infatuation. What I saw as joy was actually bouts of manic euphoria. What I confused for happiness was no more than the frantic gasps of breath of someone who has been deprived of oxygen for so long, they could no longer tell what was pure H2O - and what was smog.
In November of last year, the winding paths of the electronic dating sphere brought me A. As I am wont to do in autumn, I fell in love quickly, dazzled by his charm and other-worldliness, his promises, his knowledge of things I had heretofore only heard of on Mr. Robot. Or at least, I thought I fell in love.
In the throes of this-thing-called-love, I barely slept. I spent days glued to my phone, waiting for the next satisfying 'ping' of a message. His 'good morning' and 'good night' became my drug, his caresses my needle. Like a junkie, I used his words and promises as the receptacles for getting diacetylmorphine into my body, creating intense euphoria while suppressing all sense of physical pain. I saw our connection as a cosmic gift, building castles in the sky from the breadcrumbs he spread around.
But, like all heroin rushes, the euphoria faded. The cracks appeared in everything, and I started glimpsing that behind the words, there was not much substance. Furthermore, there was little that was real in my feelings - instead, I wanted so desperately to be crazy in love, that I actually made myself crazy.
But amidst all the craziness, I started cooking again. At first it was salads and lunches for one, stuffed baked potatoes and soups. Then it was more elaborate lemony desserts that I have yet to show you, the sprinkling of powdered sugar dust seeming like the haze I was walking through. And then, it was this tray of roasted lemon potatoes, broccoli and bell peppers, coming out of the oven smelling like the citrus orchards of my youth.
Throughout the endorphin-fuelled daze and daydreams, I got my kitchen groove back.
A and I split three months later, on the heels of my life-changing trip to Hawaii. I found my future condo barely three weeks later. I baked brie and fried blintzes. I went to Barcelona and Israel. I organized events. I moved and did renovations. I finally started feeling at home (I baked cinnamon buns to celebrate).
And then, I met real love.
So when I think back to where I was a year ago, my heart breaks just a little bit. Not because it was such a bad place to be, or because there was so much confusion, or even because I let myself get so, so delusional. Or at least, not only because of that. My heart breaks just a little bit because back then, in the cloud of steam produced by my freshly roasted lemon potatoes, broccoli and bell peppers, I let myself think, "This must be IT."
I just couldn't see what was coming.
Roasted lemon potatoes, broccoli and peppers
Ingredients
- 1 lb potatoes
- 2-3 lemons
- 2 crowns of broccoli
- 2 bell peppers
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 TB paprika
- ½ TB dried minced onion
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ Tbsp dried oregano
- ½ tbsp dried thyme
- ⅛ cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop all vegetables coarsely: slice potatoes and lemons, break broccoli into florets, and cut bell peppers into thick strips.
- In a large bowl, combine vegetables with seasonings and olive oil. Mix well until all vegetables are evenly coated.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Arrange vegetables in a single layer.
- Roast at 425F for 30 mins. Serve immediately, making sure to get all the dressing out of the pan. Roasted lemon potatoes, broccoli and peppers will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for five days, their flavours intensifying.
Valya @ Valya's Taste of Home says
Yum!!! That looks delicious! Love seasoned roasted veggies.
kseniaprints says
Thanks so much Valya!
Sabrina says
Fresh and so delicious!
kseniaprints says
It's a great light weeknight deal, or a vegetarian side!
Audrey says
I love the lemon flavor in this recipe.
kseniaprints says
Me too! The turmeric gives it a really nice color without affecting the flavor
Ramona says
Made this last night and it was a great hit with my family. Thank you for sharing this.
kseniaprints says
I am delighted to hear that! If you have any photos, share them on social media and tag me - @immigrantstable on FB and IG 🙂
Sue says
These roasted veggies look so divine!
kseniaprints says
Thank you! They're a big favourite with us.
Chloe says
Fab recipe, I love the combination of flavours!
kseniaprints says
Me too! Thank you 🙂
Elizabeth says
What a delicious recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Sunrita says
Such a fantastic way to get your veges. Really like it!
kseniaprints says
Full of flavor!
Kristina says
Loved it!
kseniaprints says
I'm so glad!
Jessie says
This is such an honest post. I've been stuck in that same loop and it was only when I was brave enough to break it, did I find true love. It takes an inner strength to acknowledge as painful as it can be, that the "it" is just not there.
Fabulous looking recipe! I can't wait to try it!
kseniaprints says
Thank you for reading the post! Breaking with the familiar is the hardest thing in life for me.
Kim Guzman says
Delicious! I decided to eat this as my meal instead on the side and it was just perfect. Just the right amount of lemon and seasoning.
kseniaprints says
That's what I do!!
Linda says
I tried this recipe the other night and it was a hit. So refreshing, light, and delicious!
kseniaprints says
Oh yay Linda!! I am so glad you liked it.
Amanda Marie says
The seasoning mix is fantastic - I love it!
kseniaprints says
Thank you!!
Jill says
I love the roasted lemon with the other veggies, really great combo and flavors!
kseniaprints says
It tastes super flavorful, for a fully veggie dish!
Capri says
This is the perfect, clean meal! So delish!
kseniaprints says
Just what you need in January!
Debra says
LOVE and easy sheet pan recipe. Thanks.
kseniaprints says
That makes two of us 😉