Yesterday's conversation about deadlines (I don't have a better term for it as yet, but I'm still thinking!) was on my mind again today as I prepped for a barbecue for six, at six pm this evening.
(Wish you were here. We're having homemade french onion dip with toasted flatbread; salade nicoise; potato salad with a mustard/mayonnaise/greek yoghurt dressing; a rocket, parmesan, walnut and pear salad and bbq-ed fillet steak.
And to finish, a chocolate mousse cake, recipe by #littleloucooks (no affiliation), with melted chocolate, butter and steamed butternut pumpkin! It's fabulous, simple and even a little bit healthy!)
It's not always possible, but allowing oneself plenty of time is key when attempting to minimise stress, isn't it? And I always give myself two little gifts before I start cooking: 1) pick or buy flowers and set them out all over the house and 2) have some beautiful music playing. Heaven.
So instead of feeling stressed about having people here, I usually enjoy the process, the prep. I guess it's eustress, defined by Merriam Webster as "a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being". Yes, there's a deadline (lifeline? finishline?), but I know I'll make it, so I'm not even close to feeling anxious.
Are there deadlines that you enjoy meeting? Or are all projects with a fixed time restrictions anathema to you? Love to hear your thoughts!
PS The cake pictured is NOT the one I've made, but came up in my search for a suitable image. Isn't it glorious? I do believe, though, that I wouldn't remain in a state of eustress for long if I attempted to replicate it!
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