THIS Close to DoorDash, a Dining Room Set, and the Magical British Roasties

I was THIS close to DoorDashing McDonald’s on Thursday. THIS CLOSE. Like, the thought had put on its shoes and was waiting by the door. My thumb was hovering. The fries were practically calling my name in the little McDonald’s voice that lives in my brain (why does it sound so persuasive when I’m tired?).

But alas: I’ve been no contact with DoorDash and McDonald’s for about a month now.

A month! Look at me, setting boundaries with a delivery app. Who knew this was part of my personal growth arc?

If you’ve been following along, you know the journey: first I quit the Red Bulls, then I cut way back on DoorDash, and then I started trying to go without McDonald’s. None of this has been some dramatic, overnight transformation where I suddenly wake up excited to eat steamed broccoli and journal about my feelings. I’m still me. I still have chaotic days. But I’ve been making sure the fridge is stocked and cooking almost every night, and that is something I’m genuinely proud of.

These baby steps are starting to feel like the norm instead of a temporary little motivational burst that disappears by Wednesday. I have food at home. I cook it. I eat it at home. Sometimes I even sit down! (More on that in a second.) Honestly, it feels pretty good to make the easier choice easier for once.

And Thursday was a close call, sure. But I got through it, ate food I already had, and did not have to pretend the extra fries were “for tomorrow.” Because they would not have been for tomorrow. We all know how that movie ends.

I GOT A DINING ROOM SET!!!

Okay, now onto the good stuff. Remember how I eat over my stove? Or standing at the counter, or hovering over the sink? That was my dining situation. A fork, a plate, usually eating straight out of the pan. Whatever flat surface was closest.

Not anymore, you guys!

I GOT A DINING ROOM SET! A table! With a leaf! Six chairs?! SIX. I am basically hosting a very small royal banquet now, except the queen is me and the banquet may involve whatever I remembered to defrost.

The best neighbors gave it to me, and I am so grateful. It fits my space perfectly and has exactly the vibe I was hoping for (which is impressive because my interior-design process is mostly “stare at the room, imagine something cozy, then wander off and forget what I was doing”). I promise I’ll take good care of it! I’m eternally grateful, and I keep looking at it like, wait, is this really mine? Also, currently writing my blog at it. LOVE!

I had my first meal at the table Friday night with my mom, and it was such a nice time. Nothing has to be fancy for it to feel special, you know? Just sitting down together, eating a meal, having a place for everything to go besides the stove-adjacent zone. A genuine life upgrade. My new table has entered the chat and my stove is no longer my dining room. We love to see it!

The magical potatoes

Speaking of meals, I made the most amazing potatoes last week. One time someone made me these super crispy British roasties, which are potatoes, yes, but also somehow magical potatoes. Like if a regular potato went to finishing school and came back with a tiny crown and excellent manners.

I’ve been thinking about them ever since. I bet the type of potato matters, but I had an old bag of Yukons in the kitchen, so that’s what I used. Do I know if those were the correct potatoes? No. Did I proceed anyway with the confidence of someone who has watched one cooking video and now considers herself a culinary scholar? Absolutely.

Usually, when I make potatoes, I cut them up, throw them in the oven with tallow, and let the oven handle the rest. Minimal effort. Very much a “we’re all doing our best here” potato. But this recipe was a whole commitment. First I peeled the potatoes, boiled them in chicken bouillon, drained them, and shook them around in the pan to rough up the edges. Then I added seasoning while a pan with oil was heating in the oven. (That pan gets HOT, so careful when it comes out. Nobody needs a potato recipe turning into an emergency-room plot twist.)

Once the potatoes were ready, I carefully got them onto the hot pan, turned them in the oil, and roasted them at the highest temperature my air fryer would go. Then I cooked them for literally about an hour, flipping them a few times as they browned.

Was I checking them a lot? Yes. Was I hovering near them like it was a season finale? Also yes. But you guys. They were SO good. Crispy edges, fluffy middles, golden and delicious, and suddenly all the peeling and boiling and pan-shaking felt worth it. It was not a low-effort Tuesday potato. It was a potato with a backstory.

And I made them THREE TIMES. Three. At a certain point it stops being a side dish and becomes a lifestyle choice. A starch-based personality. I see a lot of potatoes in my future, and honestly, I'm fine with that.

Oh, and this just in: I got a NEW AIR FRYER! And I air fried the potatoes and it was a game changer. Same crispy magic, less babysitting the oven. The roasties have entered their third era.

And George and I are still on our cooking and baking streak, so we made caramelized banana bread together and it was SO good. Proud of my little buddy! Damn, he’s so cute.

We also discovered that English muffin pizzas take basically no time in the air fryer, so that's become an instant hit. We are really enjoying making these memories together, one tiny pizza at a time.

And Tuesday afternoon we even caught a movie, and he absolutely loved it! He got an Icee, I got a crispy Diet Coke, and I snuck in a preloaded snackle box for him to graze on. He then begged for Lifesaver gummies, and how could I say no to that adorable face? Honestly one of the best nights with him. He snuggled up in my lap during the movie and I'm so grateful he still loves that. I also love that, to be fair. Love a good cuddle with my sweet boy!

There’s something comforting about finding a meal you’re excited to cook and then actually making it again. Not because I’ve suddenly become a meal-prep influencer who has matching glass containers and a color-coded fridge (I do not), but because I’m building habits that work for real life. Some nights I make a sensible dinner. Some nights I am one minor inconvenience away from ordering fries. And some nights I peel a bag of Yukons and turn the kitchen into a potato laboratory.

The dining set helps, too. It makes it easier to slow down, sit, and enjoy the meal instead of eating over the sink like I’m hiding from the food. I’m grateful for the neighbors who made that possible, grateful my mom got to share the first dinner at the table, and pretty pleased with myself for making it through a McDonald’s-level temptation on Thursday.

Overall, a decent week! Fewer orders came in, which meant more Georgie time, and honestly? I don't care, I'll take it.

Quick little scheduling PSA before I go: I'm off October 20th-27th for a well-needed break before the Thanksgiving rush starts. And listen, I need it. 2025 and 2026 have absolutely beaten my ass. The last couple of years have been one big effing test from the universe, and I would like to formally request it stop grading me on a curve. The shop will be closed and so will ordering for that week. Meal prep will resume November 2nd, so if you need your fix, plan ahead. And grab yourself an air fryer, because this girl will not be near a kitchen!

One meal at a time. One baby step at a time. Occasionally, one extremely crispy potato at a time.

And because I can’t write about food without giving the little business a mention: if you’re planning a gathering, you can check my website for everything from croissant sandwiches to grazing tables. We can sometimes accept last-minute catering orders with just a few hours’ notice, depending on availability.

Thanks for cheering me on through my streak and my increasingly serious potato era, you guys. I appreciate you more than I can say.

XX,

Abby

Song of the day: Zach Bryan-Sun to Me

Honestly such a brilliant fit for me tonight. Stressing over kitchen schedules, feeling the chaos of business, making memories with my sweet kiddo and sitting down at a new dining set with people I love. Yeah, it’s that exact embodiment of warmth. Soo ready to pack my bags for that acoustic, down-home, Zach Bryan energy on Tuesday. Life is pretty sweet right now. See ya on the 27th, cheesebabes!

Date night with my boy!

My employee made me a bunch of outfit inspo boards for my trip or whatever you call it.

Dinner date with my mama!

Those sexy British roasties!!!