Tomato and Ricotta Tart

“I have a core belief.  Life is always happening for us, not to us, and it's our job to find out where the benefit is.

If we do, life is magnificent”     ~ Tony Robbins

Photo Credit: Instagram – @deanthebasset

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It's Labor Day and

I'm laying on the sofa with pillows propping me up, the puppies napping across my lap, and soft sunlight coming through the patio door.  It's been such a beautiful weekend, with picture-perfect weather and college football on the radio.

Around here, we've been laying low — a simple lunch with friends and a birthday party for our grandson at the park.  I'm thankful for the chance to finally be still, time to close my eyes and simply breathe.

I've been ready for the weekend since the sun went down last Sunday.  Little did I know the black swan week that lay ahead.

A week when your husband is traveling, and you're on your own with the two new puppies.

“Are you sure you'll be ok if I go?  Nothing bad will happen if I postpone.”

“Of course Sweetie.  Everything is under control.”

and there's a large upgrade at work that seems to have taken a left turn at Albuquerque.

“Did you get much sleep last night?

“Not so much, but I'll catch up tonight.”

and a paper due for your latest class

“How's your paper coming along?”

“About the same, but tomorrow I'll have time to make progress.”

and a child that's melting down

“Do you need me to come home?”

“Nope, I've got this.  Really, I'm good.”  (I think?)

“We live in a world where most of us are looking for what's wrong.  What's wrong is always available.  So is what's right.  And if you don't take control of your focus, everything in your life will disappear”     ~ Tony Robbins

It's weeks like this one that remind me just how easy it is to slip into a cycle of negativity.  How easy it is to become overwhelmed with the question marks, to glance at our to-do lists and see nothing but what's required of us, what's expected of us and for us,  and think perhaps

this is all there is

But sometimes a sleepy kitty ambles into your office early in the afternoon, and you can tell she's been missing you.  Her eyes ask

“Can I come sit on your lap?”

This, my fluffy one, is a question I can answer, and at that moment it's a gentle reminder that it's time to reverse course.  That no matter how bleak it seems, or overwhelmed we feel, there are far more things filling our days that are right

then those that are wrong

“The reason we're suffering is we're focused on ourself, and the antidote to this is appreciation.  Trade your expectations to appreciation and your life will change”     ~ Tony Robbins

That it's time to re-find your center, and this too shall pass.  The husband whom you love will soon return home, a child will find their way, deadlines will be met, and all of the in-betweens will somehow work themselves out

That it's time to step away from the screen, from the projects that really aren't so urgent, and simply breathe.  To go for a walk and notice all that's beautiful along your path

To find the place of quiet deep within your spirit, succumb to the urge to sleep in, stay put, soak in a long afternoon at home,  watching the sunlight arrive in tiny patches along your (badly in need of dusting) desk, hot tea mug nearby, cooking magazines at the ready.

Just you and the day

Not long ago, Tim Ferriss interviewed Tony Robbins.  It's one of the best podcasts I've listened to in a very long time.

While it's a treasure trove of information on many different topics, last week I had this section on repeat every time I felt myself complaining, feeling sorry for myself, or wishing my husband were around to tell me a joke and lighten the mood

(Food for thought)

“Can you imagine if you were the creator and you came to one of your creations, and you say to this person ‘Joe, how do you like what I created for you?'

And Joe says ‘Geez God, I mean there's a lot of sh<>t here.

Couldn't you just have kept it at 70 degrees?  Why do you have to change all these temperatures and make to tough.  And man, you've got all these stupid people I've got to deal with all the time.  They're always getting in my way.  And you know, I don't want to work for a living, and plus you've got these little red ants that bite me and they hurt.  Why would you create these annoying ants?'

If you're God, do you want to hang out with this person?

If you're a human, do you want to hang out with this person?

If you're God and you go to somebody else and say ‘How's it going with the creation I gave to you?

 The guy says ‘Hey, this is so incredible.  It's the most beautiful place I can ever imagine: the sky, the air, the water.  There are so many different people who challenge me, help me to grow and learn, and people I can love.  And oh my .. God, you even created these red ants.  These red ants are so tiny.  I'm a thousand times their size, and they're so courageous, they even bite me.  Isn't it cool what you created here'”     ~ Tony Robbins

This long weekend included a quiet lunch with friends, along with this tart.  It's seriously delicious.

A great way to use fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes.  Serve the tart as an appetizer, side dish, or even a light lunch.

Savory ricotta on flaky puff pastry that is studded with tomato slices that have been roasted with a hint of garlic, thyme and olive oil.

Enjoy!

xoxo

~ Adapted from Plenty More by Ottolenghi