Spicy Mayo Kale Eggs

& it's hard not to compare

Hi! Welcome to “good mood food” from Kale Me Maybe’s Carina Wolff. If you’ve made it here and aren’t yet a subscriber, come join! You can expect recipes, musings, and faves in your inbox every Wednesday! Paid subscribers get even more on Fridays — right now I’m doing a 30-minute budget meal series! Learn more about the paid tier of my newsletter here. You can also try a week for free!

CATCH UP!

I’m almost two months postpartum now, and I remember after giving birth thinking that a two-month old baby felt really old. Now, I’m like what the heck, time is flying.

As a content creator myself, I really shouldn’t compare myself to how other people portray their lives online, especially because I know how much work goes into creating a curated image. Despite this knowledge, I’ve recently found myself looking at other new moms on social media and falling into the comparison trap.

What triggers me most is seeing other moms with their hair and makeup done, cooking in their clean, beautiful kitchens. I think part of this stems from the fact that I’ve had both a chalazion and a stye on one eye for weeks now, so I can’t wear glasses, and I can’t wear makeup, so I don’t feel like I look the most presentable, and I don’t feel fully like myself (I know, I know, no one feels like themselves postpartum). One of my other pain points has been not being able to cook as much as I would like to, and my kitchen is certainly not very glam.

On the flipside of that, I’m also very proud of how I’m handling my postpartum experience so far. I’ve been able to still run this newsletter, go out to breakfasts, see friends and family. My experience so far has been positive, even with the inconsistent sleep, lack of my everyday routine, etc. So comparing is stupid, because I feel happy. It only happens when I log online.

In the end, it just helps me to reflect on how I show up on the internet. As much as I love sharing the beautiful moments (and I get why people do, it’s fun to spread positivity), I also need to make sure I’m being honest at the same time. Sometimes, finding that balance isn’t so natural. It’s easy to want to shrink away during the hard parts, where you feel tired or sad or ugly or not enough. And you know what, some people really do have easy, breezy experiences. There probably are moms out there who aren’t even hiding the bad stuff — it feels all good to them, and it’s their right to showcase their experience. I’m sure I gave off that same energy during parts of my pregnancy. I had a beautiful and energetic third trimester, but I know that’s not how a lot of people feel, and maybe that too made others feel bad.

The biggest lesson for me during these past two months is that no one has it all, despite what it may look like. There is always a sacrifice, and what people choose to keep and let go of looks different for everyone. Social media will never capture the full picture.

THINGS I’M LOVING!

I keep buying fall clothing even though it’s relentlessly hot here in Los Angeles, but alas, my time to wear them will come soon. This Denim Chore Jacket is another fabulous Gap Factory find! The denim is the perfect feel (not too thick, not too thin), which means you can wear it when it’s a little warmer or layer it with thicker sweaters. I know chore jackets are very trendy right now, but I just love a corduroy collar.

Before we had Sagan, I wanted to get a good digital camera so we could capture high-quality photos of him and us as a family — not to mention take cool pictures for my work! I hunted down the ever-so-popular Fuji x100vi, and I have to say, I am absolutely loving it. It’s definitely pricey and difficult to find in stock, but I love how easy it is to bring around. The photo quality is great, playing with the recipe simulations is fun, and it’s motivating me to get back into photography beyond just food.

Christopher Anderson / Magnum

I stumbled upon this Atlantic article this week, and I found it really interesting, especially as a new parent in the earliest stages. The piece titled “Why We Long For The Most Difficult Days Of Parenthood?” explains the psychology behind parents’ nostalgia despite the hardships. If you’ve ever wondered why experienced parents tell new parents to “cherish every moment,” this article will help you understand why the past feels so sweet.

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RECIPE!

Back in the early days of Instagram, before TikTok, before Reels, before the word “influencer,” I used to just snap a photo of my breakfast, lunch, and dinner, post it on the fly, and do it all over again the next day. I would post multiple times a day, and it never felt exhausting or time-intensive — I was teeming with ideas.

Obviously, the space is different now. Not only is it infiltrated with content and everyone competing for space on the algorithm, creating videos is also a whole other beast. It requires a lot more attention, time, and planning, and although the introduction of TikTok and Reels has helped me reach new audiences, I would be lying if I didn’t say it changed how I cook.

Sometimes, when I’m feeling dry on ideas, I’ll scroll back down my feed and take a look at what I was cooking when I was fresher on the scene. These Spicy Mayo Eggs came from years back, but they are so simple and used to be such a staple for me, I decided it was time to bring them back.

It’s the type of breakfast you can whip up very quickly, but it gives you that feeling of eating something special. This is definitely for spice-lovers, as I used both spicy mayo and chili crisp, but if you want it tamer, skip the extra chili crisp sauce!

Spicy Mayo Kale Eggs

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 1 bunch lacinato kale, stems removed and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)

• 4 large eggs

• 1 medium avocado, sliced

• 2 tbsp mayo (I like to use avocado oil mayo)

• 1 tbsp sriracha (I like Yellowbird)

• Optional: chili crisp sauce

• Cilantro, for garnish

• Olive oil

• Salt & pepper

1. Add your kale to a medium bowl along with a drizzle of olive oil and pinch of salt. Massage with your hands to break down the fibers and soften the kale. Transfer to two bowls.

2. Heat up a drizzle of olive oil in medium skillet on medium heat. Once oil is hot, crack your eggs directly into the pan, and cook eggs until whites are firm but yolk is still runny, about 3-5 minutes.

3. While eggs are cooking, prepare your spicy mayo. Add mayo and sriracha to a small bowl, and whisk together with a fork until smooth.

4. When eggs are ready, transfer to the bowls with the kale, and top with avocado, spicy mayo, chili crunch, and fresh cilantro. Season with pepper, and serve!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Last week, paid subscribers received a recipe for a Ham & Apple Grilled Cheese with Hot Honey! It’s a simple one, but great for fall! Can’t believe there are already 77 recipes as part of my 30-minute budget meal series! And still going strong.

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