…And I think you can guess why I hate it.
I’m listening to Cello Suites by Bach and crying. I was quite ok since yesterday, but somehow the deep sound of cello made me cry again. The last couple of weeks have been full of ups and downs and we don’t know when our lives will “normalise” again. And I don’t know how many ups and how many downs I can take.
These days I’m spending most of my time at my 31 cm2 apartment alone. I only go out to buy food from the market or to have a little walk in the park, keeping a big distance from everyone else. I’m worried about all my family and loved ones. I’m worried about myself. So some days, I just want to stay in bed, hidden from the world, hidden even from my apartment. How are you coping?
I’ve been silent here during these few weeks of ups and downs, because I tried to adjust to the current situation in the world. I lost all my income overnight on March 12th when the events started to cancel and offices closed. Among all the uncertainties regarding health, life and death, I also found myself in a suddenly desperate economic situation (though, I knew that this would affect me). I still supported all this sudden “stop” to normal lives though, even though I didn’t know what to do financially, because people’s lives are more important than money.
After the initial shock, I started to think of new ideas to have some kind of income during this time. And right now these projects are coming to life. Some include online projects, and I will write about them here in a separate blog post – whenever I can launch them, as I am mostly too depressed to do anything.
I had prepared this recipe 3 weeks ago but before I could write a blog post about it, all these things happened, the world turned upside down and I couldn’t come back to my blog.So here I am, finally writing this post tonight. How are you coping with all this, wherever you are?
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Ingredients:
Difficulty: Easy
(serves 4-6)
Printable PDF-recipe (no photos)
1 can black beans (400 gr. can), drained and a few tbsp of it put aside to use as topping
2 spring onions
2 red chilies
juice of 2 limes (or 1 small lemon, if you like)
1 dl (or 1/3 cup + 4 tsp) coconut cream
1 tsp brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp dairy-free yogurt (I used Oatly’s Turkish yogurt)
10 cherry tomatoes (I used 2 colours), cut in 2
breadcrumbs to thicken the spread if it is too watery when you are done
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1. In a food processor, put the first 6 ingredients on the list and process to a paste as smooth as possible.
2. Add salt, pepper and dairy-free yogurt and continue to process to a smooth paste. If the final mixture is too watery, add a little breadcrumbs to thicken it up.
3. Transfer the paste to a serving bowl. Put about 6-7 cherry tomato pieces aside and mix the remaining with the paste.
4. Top the paste with black beans and cherry tomato pieces you put aside. Enjoy with chips (corn is the best) or fresh, crusty bread.
My Dear Kitchen in Helsinki 
Take care of yourself and know your virtual friends are here!
Thank you, it means a lot to me to hear this. 🧡 Please take care of yourself and stay safe as well! 🧡🧡🧡
Dear Asli,
Thank you for being willing to share your honest and raw words. The world is indeed turned upside down and you are not alone.
A month ago I wanted to write and thank you for posting your Finnish Archipelago Bread recipe. I live in the States and my Finnish neighbor had made it for me once with ingredients she had brought back from a visit to Finland. Through the years, I have wanted to make it and recently did a serious search to find someone that would ship the Kaljamallas crushed rye, as I felt this was a key ingredient in the flavor of the bread. I did find a company in Finland that would ship it, so I bought $18 in product and paid $35 to ship it, but some things are worth it! I promptly made the bread when the package arrived and was so SO happy, as it was everything I remembered. I took a loaf over to my ailing neighbor and she was thrilled! So know the recent joy you made happen because of your talents. Sharing makes a difference!
I hope that your new ideas will turn into successful ventures! A quote I like says, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it”. It might be a little bit longer, but know that there is a light around the corner. Hang in there and know that you make a difference to others. Sending warm and positive thoughts. -Sheri
Thank you for sharing your story, it made me so happy! Big hugs from Finland!
Hi Again Asli,
Would you mind sharing your email address with me? You can just email me personally, if so.
Thanks!
Sheri
Hi Sheri, here is my contact info page: https://mydearkitcheninhelsinki.com/category/contact/
Sending you all good wishes
Thank you! Sending virtual hugs!
Hmm, I knew it. Your absence was palpable, Asli – and had me worried. When the Finnish government closed the road to Nyland last weekend, my heart kinda sank a little. I feel very bad for you. I live across the water in Skåne, Sweden. Here I don’t believe the Swedish government and many of its citizens are taking this seriously enough, or being proactive enough. I had to beg my wife to close her shop this weekend, which she finally did. This is Påsk (Easter) season in the South, and ordinarily a significant revenue boost to her business.
Your blog is a vivid yet minimalist work of graphic culinary art. I love it because it is absolutely unique, and so outside my own French bourgeois culinary education, it really helps me break free – think free. Your sincerity makes your followers feel like they know you and that you value their interest and friendship.
I know I am speaking for them all. I just know it. So please try to take it easy. The world’s situation can only get better if we all do the right things, and don’t give up or give in.
Researching Arctic Char (fjällröding) brought me here many months ago. What a magical happenstance! I felt like a kind neighbor came to my rescue, lol!
många kramar!
/francis
Hei Francis. Thank you for your kind and sincere comment. We’re all going through strange times. I’m following dear neighbour Sweden and I’m quite confused about their handling the situation. Let’s hope that people know what they are doing. I personally criticised many things that Finnish government did “not” do, their inaction or slow action. But at the moment there seems to be a serious action going on here, I can only hope it wasn’t too late. In the meantime, stay home, stay safe! Big hugs from Helsinki to both you and your wife!
Take care! Beautiful music during this time also makes me lose it! I miss singing because I’m happy, singing with my choir, hearing music that doesn’t remind me of what’s at stake if we as a world are not up to managing the current crisis…and the next. I have, however, taken refuge in my blog. We are lucky that we have an extended group of friends we can still connect with. Thank you for your beautiful words and, as always, your yummy recipes, and be well!
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, even if I can’t touch them, be physically close to them, friendships still continue virtually and i don’t feel too alone. Stay safe, stay healthy! ✌️