Sometimes when I cook for myself I like to make something elaborate and time-consuming, something really special that I love to prepare and eat. And sometimes I like to make something like this sesame cucumber and avocado salad, an incredibly easy dinner and delicious dinner for one paired with some crusty bread and a cold beer. This recipe was taken from this amazing article from The New York Times that I was sent a few years ago – Mark Bittman’s 101 Simple Salads for the Season – I use this article all the time, each of the recipes are perfect as they are or as a jumping off point (and Bittman provides lots of suggestions.) This cucumber and avocado salad becomes an easy all-in-one meal if served over room temperature white rice dressed lightly with rice vinegar. The salad I made tonight contains untoasted sesame seeds based entirely on the fact that I didn’t feel like turning on my stove but feel free to toast some up if you are feeling ambitious. Finally, make sure that you use an avocado that is perfectly ripe and by that I mean firm yet still soft, the clay green colour uniform and unblemished by dark brown spots.

sesame cucumber and avocado salad:

1 avocado, cut into a medium-sized dice

2 Tbsp. of low-sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp. of rice vinegar

1 tsp. honey or white sugar

About a tablespoon of sesame seeds (scale back or go crazy, this is only a general guide)

1.Very carefully toss the cucumber and avocado. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar or honey. Drizzle over the cucumber and avocado and top with the sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Do you have music that feels really sacred to you? Music that transforms into something totally different if it’s just you listening, music that is so profoundly attached to you that it always feels like home when you put it on? Cat Power is like that for me (and Smog, but I’ll get into that another time.) As much as I appreciated and loved the women behind the Riot Grrrl movement I remember how ecstatic I was to find Cat Power, the best depressing music in the whole world. When I have the apartment to myself I will listen to Chan Marshall’s entire discography on repeat until someone comes home and snaps me out of the dreamy maudlin state I have fallen into (at this point you can usually find me lying on the floor while looking at the ceiling, attempting to gracefully drink red wine out of a coffee mug without pouring it all over myself.) This song has thunderstorm songs in it which makes it my all-time favourite song to listen to while partaking in the aforementioned lonely lady activities.

Cat Power – Say