Buck Naked Truths About Me In The Kitchen

Those three little words—“Trust the process”—are SO much easier to say to others than to have others say to you. Who even came up with this phrase? Sometimes I want to give them a gold star for their wisdom; other times, I want to throat-punch them (yes, a tad aggressive). But let’s be real: it’s true. Trusting the process is hard.

Last night, I made what might be the best stew of my cooking career. Seriously, I physically gave myself a high-five and said out loud, “HOT DAMN, WELL DONE!” Then, as if narrating my own motivational video, I whispered, “Trust the process.” And boom—that moment spiraled me right down memory lane… but not in the best way.

When was the last time someone said that to me? The question brought on slight frustration, because let’s be honest: people usually say “Trust the process” when you’re being impatient. It’s like saying, “Pump the brakes, homeslice,” or “WHOA, easy girl.” Basically, it’s a gentler version of “Slow your roll!”

But here’s the thing: Why does “Trust the process” feel like such a leash-y phrase? Does it make us feel like someone’s holding us back? Like our own process isn’t good enough? Maybe it’s because some of us thrive on action, on momentum, on getting things done. Why wait when we can just do it ourselves, right?

Take me, for example. I was raised an Armentrout. And if there’s one thing you should know about an Armentrout, it’s that we GET. SHIT. DONE. I’ve been told this my whole life. Whenever I’ve been asked to join a board, a committee, or take on a project and asked, “Why me?” the answer is almost always, “Because you just get shit done.”

So when I remembered when a dear friend—who knows me like the back of her hand—told me to “Trust the process,” I also remembered it felt… annoying. She KNOWS I can be impatient at times. She KNOWS I like results. But she also knows I need to hear it sometimes. And here’s the kicker: she was right.  She’s smart like that.  As of late, a number of things have come up where she’s had to trust the process.  She’s much better at taking her own medicine than I am.   

This got me thinking about the process and I am sure there are many times when that’s the only way to go.  Right off the top of my head I can think of a couple examples of when, it for sure, feels necessary:

1.      Cooking Stew (as I just validated last night): If you’ve ever tried to rush a stew, you know it’s a mistake. Good stew takes time for the flavors to meld and develop. You can’t skip steps—browning the meat, slow-cooking the vegetables, letting it simmer. Trusting the process here literally leads to delicious results – which is what this blog stemmed from.  Don’t worry, I’ll share the recipe at the end.

2.      Growing a Garden: You can’t force a plant to grow faster. You prepare the soil, you water it, you give it sunlight, you might pray over it, and then you wait. Sometimes you say grownup words when nothing sprouts and other times you are rewarded with twice or maybe three times the success – this is how I came to grow almost 60lbs of strawberries in one season from one bed.  (Said bed recently got destroyed by the septic guys when they had to dig up our system.  Yes, it was VERY painful to watch)

3.      Fitness Goals: No, I’m not talking about “Fitness this whole cupcake in your mouth”.  We all know that no one gets a six-pack after one workout. You have to show up consistently, follow the plan, and let your body take its time adapting.  You aren’t the only one who wishes for Seven Minute Abs, trust THAT! 

4.      Baking Bread: Yeast needs time to rise. Period. You can’t rush it, or you’ll end up with a dense, sad loaf, I would know.  (And so would you if you’ve read my other blogs.) The wait is worth it, says my good friend Amy, the professional bread baker. 

So, maybe “Trust the process” isn’t a leash; maybe it’s a gentle nudge to slow down and appreciate the journey. For us doers and go-getters, it’s not about giving up control. It’s about recognizing that some things—the best things—take time.

The next time someone says “Trust the process,” try not to roll your eyes. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to pause, breathe, and let the magic happen. Even for us Armentrouts who just get shit done, trusting the process can be the secret ingredient to success, it sure was with the stew!

AS PROMISED - RECIPE TIME!!!

So, about this recipe.  The recipe comes from a book called “Buck Naked Kitchen” by Kirsten Buck, which my husband bought me for Christmas. Rest assured, Eggie Lope’s customers, I do NOT prepare your delicious goodies naked. Though, let me tell you, when you’re canning over boiling water all day, you wish you could!

If you’re gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, vegetarian, or doing Whole30, many of these recipes will be right up your alley. We, however, are none of these things. The book was purchased solely because of the title, and honestly, I’m so glad it caught my husband’s attention.

Now, let me also tell you about my favorite kitchen gadget: the Instant Pot. I use it at least four nights a week because it’s quick and dirty. In and out. Fast and furious. A crockpot on crack. IT GETS IT DONE. So naturally, when I saw this recipe—which requires simmering on low for 1 hour and 45 minutes—my first thought was, “How can I Instant Pot this?” But alas, I didn’t feel like Googling how to avoid burning it, so I pulled out my trusty cast iron stew pot and got to choppin’.

Not only did I trust the process of cooking time, but I also trusted every single ingredient. These are not hard-to-find ingredients; no special trip to Fresh Market needed. Use them all. Don’t skip. TRUST THE PROCESS.

I hope you’ll find yourself saying, “HOT DAMN!” and giving yourself a high-five when you try the finished product!

MOROCCAN LAMB STEW – Kristen notes that Lamb itself has a very distinct taste and that you love it or hate it.  She also reports happily, that she tested the recipe with chicken thighs and stewing beef and they both turned out just as delicious. 

SERVES 4-6

1 ½ tsp ground cumin

1 ½ tsp smoked paprika

1 ½ tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

2 TBSP Ghee (if you buy the book she’ll teach you how to save $ and make your own!) or clarified butter

1 ½ pounds cubed stewing lamb

1 medium yellow onion, diced

3 carrots, peeled & chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups beef broth

3 medium red potatoes, cubed

1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained

8 Medjool dates, pitted & chopped

½ cup green olives, pitted & halved

1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving

¼ cup pine nuts, toasted

Fresh mint leaves for serving

·         In a small bow, mix together the cumin, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper.  Sprinkle seasoning blend on the lamb, making sure all the pieces are well coated.

·         Heat the ghee in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  In batches, add the lamb and sear well on all sides, creating a dark crust.  This step takes time but makes the stew extra flavorful.  Once browned, transfer to a plat and set aside.

·         Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion to the pot, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the carrots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

·          Return the lamb to the pot and add the beef broth, potatoes, tomatoes, dates, and olives. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer over low heat until the lamb and potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

·         Serve the stew with a squeeze of lemon, roasted pine nuts, and fresh mint.

NOTE: To toast the pine nuts, add the pine nuts to a dry skillet and toast over medium-low heat, stirring often, until fragrant and golden brown.  Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. 

A couple of side notes: I used beef stew meat (no lamb available at our grocery) that I seasoned and allowed to come to room temperature when I started searing, and I left the olives whole because I know my husband treats them like a four-year-old. Easier to pick out that way.

This pairs REAL nice with a Merlot (Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery).

I’d love to hear your feedback. Was it one of your best nights on the stove too? Did your house smell A-MAZ-ING? Did you use EVERY ingredient? And, did you in fact, Trust The Process????

Cheers, my friends, and happy cooking!