Reframing the Power of “I Love You” (A Philosopher's Take) with Marianne Apostolides

+ Highlighting the Evangeline Residence

With author Marianne Apostolides we talk about her newest book I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind. This episode of Reframeables is the book launch she never got (thanks a lot, Covid!). The story is about Ariadne, a writer who is navigating a divorce, an affair with the arrogant Adam and two angry teenage children. As a way to make some extra money she enters into an academic study that involves bringing an AI machine named Dirk into her home. The book asks how we enter big questions and confront ourselves in the answering. We talk about philosophy, desire, a love of language, and what "I love you" really means. Dear Reframeables, it's a big one!

Marianne Apostolides is the author of seven books, four of which have been translated. She's a two-time recipient of the Chalmers Arts Fellowship, and winner of the K.M. Hunter Award for Literature. Her latest book, I Can't Get You Out of My Mind, was a finalist for the Foreword INDIES award, Science Fiction Category.

Link:
Marianne's website

Chicken and Mushroom Delight

Not a veg dish (sorry veg and vegan friends) but if you’re a chicken lover this one is a keeper! All done in one cast iron pot, this a super easy dinner that tastes complex and delicious!

Ingredients (for a family of 3)

1 packet of boneless, skinless chicken thighs seasoned with garlic powder, salt, pepper and a sprinkling of paprika

1 onion cut in half and finely sliced

2 large cloves of garlic, minced

A package of mushroom, diced

1/2 tsp of dried thyme

1 cup of brown rice

2 cups of chicken stock

How to:

Preheat the oven to 350.

Season chicken and then sear on medium high till browned but not cooked through. Remove chicken from hot cast iron pan and set aside.

Toss onions, garlic, mushroom and thyme into the same pan you just removed the chicken from and cook till softened. Add the chicken thighs back into the pan, placed atop the veg, and then pour your rice (rinsed) evenly on top of the chicken. You now have three layers: veg, chicken and rice. Pour the 2 cups of chicken broth into the pan and then cover with a heat proof lid. Put the pan into the oven, lid on, for an hour and a half.

When you remove the cast iron pan from the oven and carefully lift the lid you’ll see what I have pictured above. Heavenly! I made a green salad to go with this baby and it was perfect!

We want to spend the rest of this month using this spot in our newsletter to highlight important reframing work being done in our community and beyond. Between our two homes in the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto is the Evangeline Residence.

Evangeline Residence’s 90-bed shelter program assists homeless women experiencing various personal issues that have made them temporarily without a permanent home. During their stay, residents are provided with a supportive environment which affords them opportunity to examine their life challenges while focusing on basic needs, from a position of strength and hope. This program offers counselling, advocacy, support of personal goals, daily personal needs (nutritious meals, laundry facilities, bed and bath, transportation assistance, clothing), library services, arts group, weekly life skills sessions and pastoral care.

Sales of our cookbook this month will be donated to Evangeline house in support of their ongoing work in the community. Reframing what a book of recipes is for - in this case, it’s not just about making delicious food but about home making, from our homes to theirs.

We love hearing from our listeners! Leave us a voice message, write to the show email, or send us a DM on any of our socials.

If our conversations support you in your own reframing practice, please consider buying our cookbook over on Kofi or joining as a regular supporter over on Patreon, where you get access to bonus episodes! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube too.

Follow our minds a little further: subscribe to Rebecca at Observables and Natalie at Good Enough.