release your problems, receive Tofu Tikka Bowls

I spent last weekend at Lake George and these were my takeaways:

• Breakfast is an arbitrary term. I packed two lunch sandwiches for emergency situations and ate them both on the car ride up (7:20 am to be exact). I deemed that time an emergency.

• There’s always something cruel about the nicest day on the lake being the one where you have to leave. Laughing and crying.

• If I consume one more Surfside, well I’ll probably love it but I’m sick of spending money on them when I can recreate a much better version. I introduce to you… my lemonade spritz.

It’s not revolutionary but sometimes we all need a reminder that this exists. It’s roughly a 3:2:1 ratio for me (I’m never actually measuring) — 3 seltzer: 2 lemonade: 1 vodka. I want it light, crispy, refreshing and that’s precisely what it is. Now if you’re anti-bubble, I get that but also change that.

Trader Joe’s sells an incredible lemonade (refrigerated section), so that is my suggestion to you. Get yourself a natural spring seltzer so you’re consuming minerals and staying the most hydrated bitch outside.

Okay now that you’ve had a lunch sandwich and a spritz at 7am, it’s time to get inspirational. I listened to a podcast on my walk because I’ve reached my max limit of rotating Olivia’s “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” and Audrey ‘s “Who’s the clown?” albums. Can you tell how my relationship is going? THAT’S A JOKE.

So David Bayer’s podcast it is. I want to call him Dan for some reason. He has some excellent points, so much so that I bought his book. Ya got me good, Dan!

This particular episode was about releasing the grasp you have on any problem that appears in your life so it can transform into the solution.

Problems are just experiences that you decide you don’t like. This is actually a good thing because it creates contrast, which allows you to get clear on what you DO want. For example, the problem might be that you’re single (not saying that’s a problem it’s just an experience!). But then it may create the desire for you to be in a relationship.

Once you know what you want, you can release that problem and make space for the solution to come to you. This is the part we’ve been misguided about. We’ve been taught that if you think about the problem enough, fixate on it, wrestle with it, you’ll eventually solve it. That’s not actually how it works.

You need to let it go in order to make space for the solution. The problem wants to die off. When you hold on to it and try to force a solution, it causes more suffering. When you release it, step back from it, continue to find the joy in your life… the problem transforms. You receive the solution, often in a way that you don’t expect.

This doesn’t mean shove your head in the sand and do nothing (Dan said that, not me), but there’s a difference between forcing versus taking inspired action. Trust that the solution is on its way to you. But how?

Think about the universe and all the billion galaxies out there perfectly coexisting, rotating at incredible speeds, yet never crashing into each other. It’s then easier to recognize that the universe/god is actively setting up synchronicities in your life for the solution to be presented to you.

So back to the dating example — think about that annoying thing people always say ‘it happened when I least expected it or just when I finally gave up’ Annoying but true! Release your grip and receive the solution.

If your problem is that you don’t know what to make for dinner, the solution just found its way to you.

These tofu tikka bowls are so flavorful, bright, and satisfying. The tofu is torn into pieces so it has more surface area to get extra crispy when it bakes. And the marinade is so good I was licking the bowl clean.

We served it with an Indian spiced rice that uses some of the same whole spices from last week’s pho… and that’s on synchronicities. I know you know that no bowl is complete without a killer sauce. The cilantro-mint chutney is simple but incredibly bright, zingy, and herby. The perfect summer condiment. Quick pickled red onions also made it to the bowl, thank god.

This is perfect for meal prep — the tofu, rice, sauce, and pickled onions could all be made in advance. You can customize it to your liking, serve with naan instead of rice, add cucumbers or bell peppers to boost the veg, turn the whole thing into a pita. Go crazy!

(serves 2-3)