Deliberately

Harold is someone I’ve written about many times before, but not here. I wrote about Harold for my college entrance essay, for a graduate school speech, and even mentioned him in my book proposal last year. He’s unassuming in appearance, but not in character — you likely wouldn’t look twice as you walked by him on the street. He’s generous with his time and always up for helping when the cards are down. He has good taste in clothes, enjoys a great meal, and is always full of ideas for how to fill out a day just right. Before I boarded a plane for Ghana the summer of my junior year in college, I thought about Harold. When I got the jitters about leaving my friends and family to move to Seattle, I thought about Harold.

The funny thing is, Harold isn’t real (bear with me here. Really). He’s a character from Harold and the Purple Crayon, a children’s book my mom read to me as a little girl. About ten years ago, she gave me a copy for Christmas, and it sits on the bookshelf in my office today. If you’re not familiar with the story, Harold’s a young boy armed with a purple crayon and he thinks through what he’d like to surround himself with — what he’d like his world to look like–and then simply draws it and it comes to be. Want a full moon tonight and a long evening walk? Harold breaks out the crayon. Care for a long slide to slide down on a sunny afternoon? Harold draws it. The idea behind the book and the charming character of Harold is that we can all create the day we wish to have, the month we really need, or the year we hope for if we use our purple crayons carefully and deliberately — if we simply imagine how we’d like for it to look and set out to begin making it happen. So on New Years Day, I thought about Harold again. I thought about how I’d like this year to look for myself, for Sam and I, and for my business.

Truthfully, I started thinking about 2013 the week before as we drove up the Oregon Coast on our way back to Seattle (you’ll see a few photos here, as promised). I got to show Sam around the towering Redwoods and my hometown of Eureka where we stopped for messy burritos and used books. The next day we continued North to drive up the coast together for the first time, accompanied by Bruce Springsteen for a good many miles. There was a delightful breakfast at the Pancake Mill outside of Coos Bay, a stop in to see our friend Eli in Eugene, and a few silly tourist landmarks (that drive through tree! Prefontaine’s statue!) We made it home to a very cold house and an epically large stack of mail. I was glad to be home. I was ready to settle in again.

The next day was New Year’s Eve and we decided to stay in with a bottle of champagne, good cheese and crackers and Heidi’s simple tomato soup that I can’t seem to get enough of on these winter days. It was just what we wanted for the night. Neither of us are big New Years party people. I find that going out is generally an over-priced evening that feels more like an obligation to yourself or the occasion or someone else than a genuinely good time. Instead, we drew out what we wanted our night to look like and made it so. We took a cue from Harold, clutching champagne glasses, purple crayons in tow.

Don’t get me wrong: I realize the idea behind Harold and the Purple Crayon is simplistic at best. It is a children’s story after all. When it comes right down to it in our day-to-day lives, there are so many factors we can’t control that would certainly get in the way of drawing, so to speak, something you’d like for yourself and having it just come to fruition. There’s the very real issue of money, the possibility of sickness or family duress, of work obligations, or stresses outside of your control. When I think of this year and talk about it with Sam, I’m not talking about  moving into a house we can’t afford, taking a big trip to New Zealand, or opening up a large kitchen that would belong only to Marge. Those things simply aren’t in the cards.

But I do think that the spirit of New Years can be a pretty powerful thing. The thought that we can set one foot in front of the other and begin envisioning a different path for ourselves if we so choose. In the imagining of it all comes the promise of possibility. But you’ve got to get to the imagining part first. I found a funny thing to be true this year: it was far easier to set goals for my business than it was for myself. For Marge, I have a few new products we’re going to launch for spring/summer, I have specific plans for media outreach, and am going to work more aggressively on acquiring new vendors — something I simply hadn’t had time to do while writing the book. For myself? I felt stuck. Sure, I wanted to be more regular with my yoga practice and spend more time reading. But I couldn’t actually envision myself outside of my business or my work life.

A few days after New Years, Sam and I went to my new favorite spot in Seattle, The Wandering Goose, and shared plates of fried chicken, biscuits and greens and made lists of our resolutions: we made one column for our businesses, one for ourselves as individuals, and one for us as a couple. This helped. Putting things down on paper made it start to feel more real. Outside of Marge, I want to take my great grandfather’s cameras into the shop to get looked at and begin learning to shoot film. I want to see Palm Springs and New Orleans. I want to train for another marathon. I want to cook more dinners that are out of our comfort zone, and hike and camp the heck out of this summer. Oh, and grow tomatoes. Each one makes me smile to type. My purple crayon is poised for this year. All are doable, I think. And all are deliberate: in setting them down on paper and imagining them, as Harold would do, I’m accountable for them and am ready to start making them happen.

I suppose this gratin is a step in the right direction of one of my hopes for this year — of getting in the kitchen and cooking more religiously and routinely in the evenings. I do a lot of cooking for writing projects and recipe development for others, but I don’t spend as much time pushing myself in our kitchen for no other reason than to have dinner.

The idea for this gratin was born from a “kale sale” at the farmers market — I’m sure your market isn’t much different than ours right now: greens, onions or squash. Perhaps an occasional leek. So this weekend, I brought home a poppy seed roll for Sam, a few apples, and a pile of kale and set off to do something with it that I hadn’t done before. I knew I wanted the gratin to be slightly creamy and we had a big nub or Parmesan I wanted to use up. I love hearty greens and grains together, so I folded in some millet for a little texture and crunch. The result was just as I’d hoped: a hearty side dish (or even main dish) with some of the best of what winter’s got to offer right now. And a promise for more time in the kitchen to come. Happy New Year! I know 2013’s going to be a good one — here and beyond.

Winter Greens and Grains Gratin

Winter Greens and Grains Gratin

  • Prep time: 25 mins
  • Cook time: 20 mins
  • Total time: 45 mins

Use any winter greens you’d like for this recipe. I just happened to have kale (I used two kinds: lacinato and purple kale), but mustard greens or mizuna would be great and would add a little of their characteristic spiciness. Next time I make this gratin, I might scatter some bread crumbs over the top, or thinly slice a sweet potato and layer that in as well. The millet cooks most of the way in the gratin itself, so no need to pre-cook it: It will come out a bit chewy and a touch crunchy, which I really liked here. Lots of flavor; lots of texture.

Ingredients

Butter, for the pan
1 pound kale (about 2 bunches), ribs and stems removed and torn into large pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 shallot, sliced into thin rounds
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ cup raw millet
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to salt the water
Freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon chile powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly butter a 1 ½ or 2-quart baking dish. Soak the millet in a bowl of warm water while you set out to prepare the other ingredients.

Boil a large pot of salted water, and add the kale. Cook until just softened, about 2-3 minutes. I did mine in two batches as all the kale wouldn’t all fit in our large pot. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the kale to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Remove from the cool water and, using your hands, squeeze as much water from the kale as possible and lay it out on good work surface. The kale tends to clump into balls when squeezed, so spend a few moments separating it and “declumping” it.

Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained kale and cooked shallots. Drain the millet completely and add that as well.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, milk, nutmeg, salt, black pepper and chile powder. Pour the liquid over the kale mixture and stir well to combine. Turn out into the prepared baking dish and top with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, then increase the heat to 400 F and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted, the top is browned and the edges are bubbling. Allow to cool and set for 15 minutes before serving. Cover leftovers and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Comments

  1. Ashley

    Happy new year, friend. So excited to see what your 2013 has in store. It's going to be a good one indeed.

  2. Shila

    This looks like exactly the kind of dish I'd like to make and eat on a chilly winter evening. Last night, I ditched all of my other dinner ideas for a pan of custard cornbread because it seemed so very comforting and hearty.

    Food aside, thank you for sharing about Harold! I so often forget about my
    power of agency and the ability to create my own beauty/magic, but you've definitely reminded me. I think this afternoon will involve a cup of tea and scribbling with a purple pen. Thank you megan!

  3. la domestique

    I never read Harold and the Purple Crayon, but it sounds like a great story. I feel the same sense of possibility for 2013 and really enjoyed reading your post. :)

  4. Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe

    I love the purple crayon analogy here. I'm a firm believer in the power of energy and the idea of putting your desires out into the universe. I think I'm going to make my own list for the year too. Thank you for the inspiration Megan. I hope 2013 is an incredible year for you and yours.

  5. Little Kitchie

    That was one of my favorite books growing up! I loved this post and the thoughts behind it. And this dish looks pretty incredible, too.

  6. Sara

    Megan this was such a beautiful and inspiring post!

  7. Alanna Kellogg

    Beautiful, beautiful writing ...

    PS I much remember Harold and his purple crayon as well. The St. Louis Central Library just underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, merging the historic building with new light- and technology-filled side buildings. The new children's area has huge panels filled with images and quotes from children's books, Harold is right there in the middle.

    1. megang

      Hi, Alanna-
      Oh, hooray! Harold is getting some prime real estate at the library: that's so great to hear -- and the children's area sounds pretty dreamy. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop in and say hello. Happy Friday, m

  8. sara

    I've never read of Harold but I love and agree with his crayon. I too, realized last year that you can in fact do what you set your mind to. It's possible to do most anything you want, within reason. That's kind of scary. I hope this next year is full of good moments of marking your goals off the list and more things you weren't expecting.
    Tomato plants sound fabulous. My thumb is black, I wish I could garden. Happy new year to you both. This meal looks so perfect. xo

  9. Anne

    What a beautiful post. Thank you.

  10. Sarah

    What a fantastic sentiment. I think often people forget how much power we have for change in our own lives! Thanks for the reminder.

  11. kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts

    Alanna just shared this on FB, and I agree with her. This is a wonderful read. I always loved Harold and was so happy to share him with my own kids.

    And your recipe sounds good too--I blanched and froze a bunch of greens when the CSA farm share gave us too many to eat in a week, and I'm thinking that one pack will go into this gratin.

    Thank you!

    1. megang

      Thanks so much, Kirsten! So awesome you've heard of Harold -- and I think the frozen grains would be perfect in this gratin. It's a pretty forgiving recipe. Have a great weekend, m

  12. Kelly Turnbull

    Hi Megan,

    I don't comment here often. But, I really enjoyed reading about Harold - what a lovely sentiment. (The gratin looks wonderful also.) Months ago, when you were writing your book, I thought you had a post that talked about the advice Heidi gave you while writing, and you shared a link to a post of Heidi's that showed how she organizes her recipes. For the life of me, I can't find it on your blog. (Maybe I am remembering incorrectly?)

    1. megang

      Hi, Kelly-
      No you have a good memory. I think the post you're referring to is this one: https://asweetspoonful.com/2012/10/not-quite-what-youd-think.html
      which doesn't so much touch on organizing recipes in general, but how Heidi approaches the organization of her cookbooks. She's written about it over on her blog, too, so if you do a quick search there for "cookbook organization" or some such term, you should come across those. So glad you enjoyed the post + thank you for taking the time to comment! Have a great weekend, m

  13. momgordon

    I love Harold, I love you, and I love reading what you have written. And if you want an additional person, I could so do Palm Springs!

  14. tracy

    i'm always rushing to get through that book with cooper (IT IS SOOOOO LONG) but now I'll savor it. the message is loud and clear to me now. I'm so glad I read this today! CHEERS to 2013!!!

  15. Aunt V

    I fondly remember walking to the Canajoharie public library from the West Hill school and borrowing books. Harold and The Purple Crayon was my favorite. I liked the small size of the book and Harold. I wasn't focused on the fact that he was creating his own world perhaps because that is what kids do. I like your reminder that as adults we should be more like Harold and what better time than a new year.
    Thank you Megan.
    Love...Aunt V

  16. Lisa Waldschmidt

    Lovely post Megan. Hope all your aspirations for the New Year are fulfilled. Add Chicago to the list of places to visit!

  17. Needful Things

    This is my first time commenting.
    Thank you for this beautiful reminder. It's something I've thought about so much over previous months : focusing on the essentials, creating my own happiness myself, really *living* the moment .. you put it so eloquently.
    And yes, the gratin is fabulous too.

    Happy 2013!

  18. Freddi

    This post was so inspiring, I love all your goals, they're quite similar to mine. And you can't beat film photography, it's beautiful. Just one last thing, admitting that you don't need to go out on new years is really cool, not alot of people feel they can/should do that.

    Thanks for this!
    The Petit Kitchen

    1. megang

      Thanks, Freddi. Happy New Year to you!

  19. ileana

    I've never heard of this book, but this is a sentiment I appreciate. Cheers to 2013!

  20. Sara @ The Cozy Herbivore

    Gorgeous photographs!

    And I love gratins, especially the kinds that are packed with greens. Makes me feel so much better about eating all of that cheese. :) This looks so delicious-- I love the addition of millet!

    Happy New Year...

    1. megang

      Thanks, Sara. Yes, I agree: I always feel so much better eating cream and cheese if there are greens involved. Add some grains and -- boom -- we've got health food on our hands! Have a great rest of the weekend, m

  21. Anna

    "In the imagining of it all comes the promise of possibility" I love this thought and always hope to hold on to the sense of possibility that comes with the start of the new year.

    1. megang

      I do too, Anna. Thanks for taking the time to leave a sweet comment. Happy New Year to you!

  22. Mary

    Love, love this piece! Happy New Year, Megan + Sam!

  23. Connie

    Beautiful post....first thing on my list is to get a purple crayon to get the visions out of my head and into the open.

    1. megang

      Thanks so much, Connie! Enjoy your weekend, m

  24. kickpleat

    What a lovely post, Megan. It's true how it's easier to set sights & goals on business. I always find that my own personal resos are less defined. It's hard to change. Thanks for the link to the Wandering Goose as that looks like my idea kind of restaurant! Yum also to the kale gratin - I think I'll make that tonight for dinner. I've got everything on hand.

    1. megang

      Thanks so much, J! Hope you enjoyed the recipe (and yes, The Wandering Goose is amazing. Everything there, from the beans to the cakes.)

  25. Kelly Turnbull

    Megan,

    Thank you! Both your post and Heidi's were exactly what I remembered but could not find. Thanks again.

  26. Kasey

    M- I loved your reflections on the upcoming year. I haven't thought much about resolutions, though Matt and I did sit down to write out our goals for TK for 2013. I think, more than anything, I want to live presently and appreciate the things in front of me, rather than things I'd like to acquire (like that house!). Enjoying living a less busy life is tops. Your resolutions sound pretty awesome. A few trips are definitely in order ;) xoxo

  27. Mardi (eat. live. travel. write)

    I jave a feeling 2013 is going to be a stellar year for you my friend. I loved this post. So pensive and, well, deliberate. Quite possibly the best "resolutions" post I have read this start of year. Much love and hugs to you and to Sam. Have a wonderful 2013. xo

  28. Tv Food and Drink

    I think I vaguely remember hearing about that book years ago, but have never read it, nor actually even seen it. Wonderful for you to take inspiration from it, and as always, I love the photos you post. Wishing you a prosperous and satisfying 2013! Gary

  29. James @ Primary Designs Studio

    great post. I'm such a Harold fan - I think Harold helped form my intense interest in all creative. Harold indeed went as he did, and made mistakes but righted the ship (literally) each time. If we are lucky, in our lives, we can do this as well.
    Thanks for the recipe and the reminder that every day we have the ability create a new history.

  30. molly

    harold is one of my top ten children's literary heroes (and most of my top literary heroes hail from children's books, which really do have the best).

    i love and share your sentiments toward a new year.

    and i shall love this greens gratin, just as soon as i take it for a spin. the reading of it alone is enough to make my mouth water.

    happy new year, megan. and thanks for sharing the ride.

    xo,
    molly

  31. Dana

    Megan, reading this I kept thinking, "I am so happy to know her." I love everything you put down here. Harold, what wonderful boy he is, right? We took the boys to see the play at the Seattle Children's Theatre and it was truly amazing what they did with that lovely book. We love reading it even more at bedtime now. So happy you are stretching, reaching. I think it is time for me to write down some goals too, you have motivated me. Things get all swirly up in my head and I think a sheet of paper and a pen would give me some clarity. Rooting for you, always, down here!

  32. Erica

    I know and relate to Harold too. I'm so in awe of his effortless flow and what becomes of his imagination. Beautiful analogy. And I too love winter greens and hardy cheeses. And I'm in the Seattle area as well, so this landscape looks quite familiar. So glad to have found you on Pinterest!

    1. megang

      Oh thanks so much, Erica! I'm glad you stumbled across the blog, too (and you know Harold!). Have a great week, m

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