I’ve acquired a new habit while writing. I can’t believe I’m only noticing it now. Most nights around ten o’clock, I make myself a cup of loose leaf Earl Grey tea and a microwaveable tamale. We eat dinner around 5:30, so by 10pm, I’m often hungry. And I’m not one of those people who can go to bed on an empty stomach.
After putting the kids down, cleaning up dinner, and finishing some laundry, I realize I’m starving before going back to write for an hour or two. That’s when I start to make my snack, which is always impeccably at 10pm, even though I never look at the clock. I only realized tonight it’s always at the same time!
Now that we’ve addressed that I’m punctual, let’s talk about what the heck is up with my tea and tamale ensemble. I’ve started eating a lot more tamales because they’re a really easy gluten-free snack. Becoming GF basically stole all of my quick, filling snacks, and I can only eat so many apples and bananas with peanut butter before I want to hurt someone. So tamales have become my go-to, and being a freezer item, I never have to worry about them going bad before I can eat them.
Now tea. I don’t know why a steaming cup of Earl Grey compliments the crumbly texture of the corn or the meaty chicken inside, but it does. It just does. My favorite part about tea is that it fills all of the nooks and crannies, leaving me satisfied without feeling too full. If I had the time, I would have a cup of tea with every meal and snack, but with three under three, it simply isn’t feasible yet. During the day, I drink kombucha to satisfy my craving for a refreshing drink, but at night, there is almost always time for tea.
I am indebted to these simple moments of freedom where I can eat hot food and drink hot tea. I have definitely been that mom who heated up her tea so many times that I found my old cup the next morning when trying to reheat my new cup! Hot anything is a privilege as a parent: a shower, a meal, maybe even a steamy marriage moment. Any pocket of the day that provides time for these moments is cherished.
Who knew that a cup of tea and a tamale could mean so much?
Jacqueline Pinchuk 