Day 26: We are both sick. We are both tired. We are both sad and angry and overwhelmed. So tonight’s dinner took less than 10 minutes. Raviolini. Arugula. Olive tapenade. Spiced sardines. Pistachios. Grated cured yolk. It was quick but it felt comforting.
January 27, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Day 26: We are both sick. We are both tired. We are both sad and angry and overwhelmed. So tonight’s dinner took less than 10 minutes. Raviolini. Arugula. Olive tapenade. Spiced sardines. Pistachios. Grated cured yolk. It was quick but it felt comforting.
Day 25: hunkered down for the cold and impending snow. Brunch of Scotch Woodcock, i.e. toast with anchovy butter, scrambled eggs, and some anchovy filets on top. I’d skip the parsley next time. Maybe a bit of cilantro instead.
January 25, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Day 25: hunkered down for the cold and impending snow. Brunch of Scotch Woodcock, i.e. toast with anchovy butter, scrambled eggs, and some anchovy filets on top. I’d skip the parsley next time. Maybe a bit of cilantro instead.
We did also open a can of Riga sprats because, why not.
January 25, 2026 at 5:06 AM
We did also open a can of Riga sprats because, why not.
Day 24: welp, the state of my mental health can usually be inversely correlated to the amount of bulk cooking I’m doing. As in, the worse I feel, the bigger the bulk. Must be some epigenetic traits from my ancestors. Today I pulled out the 20 quart stock pot for some bulk clam chowder. Tinned fish ✅
January 25, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Day 24: welp, the state of my mental health can usually be inversely correlated to the amount of bulk cooking I’m doing. As in, the worse I feel, the bigger the bulk. Must be some epigenetic traits from my ancestors. Today I pulled out the 20 quart stock pot for some bulk clam chowder. Tinned fish ✅
Octavia got to finish the tin liquid. She appears to be a big fan. (Sound on if you don’t have cat sound misophonia).
January 24, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Octavia got to finish the tin liquid. She appears to be a big fan. (Sound on if you don’t have cat sound misophonia).
Day 23: two different tins today. I cracked into the first tin of Pacific sardines as a little treat, and then served some pâté with crisp bread and chips. Big fan of the pacific sardines and not such a big fan of the pâté.
January 24, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Day 23: two different tins today. I cracked into the first tin of Pacific sardines as a little treat, and then served some pâté with crisp bread and chips. Big fan of the pacific sardines and not such a big fan of the pâté.
Day 22: how is it only 22 days into this year. Yikes. Rice bowl with a very fancy tin of tuna belly. Tuna was tasty but not sure it warrants the price. Steamed sticky rice, Japanese sweet potato stew, remainder of our dandelion greens, egg from our chickens and various other toppings.
January 22, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Day 22: how is it only 22 days into this year. Yikes. Rice bowl with a very fancy tin of tuna belly. Tuna was tasty but not sure it warrants the price. Steamed sticky rice, Japanese sweet potato stew, remainder of our dandelion greens, egg from our chickens and various other toppings.
Day 21 of Tinned Fish January. A riff on white bean and escarole soup for lunch. Base of Rancho Gordo Cassoulet beans. Sautéed dandelion greens w/garlic, anchovy, and some olive brine. Topped w/tinned sardines with lemon and olive oil. Drizzled with sherry vinegar and dusted with Romano cheese.
January 21, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Day 21 of Tinned Fish January. A riff on white bean and escarole soup for lunch. Base of Rancho Gordo Cassoulet beans. Sautéed dandelion greens w/garlic, anchovy, and some olive brine. Topped w/tinned sardines with lemon and olive oil. Drizzled with sherry vinegar and dusted with Romano cheese.
Day 20: Fishwife brand albacore tuna with Spanish lemon. Served alongside some cilantro lime shrimp, atop some rosemary toast with arugula and olive tapenade.
January 21, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Day 20: Fishwife brand albacore tuna with Spanish lemon. Served alongside some cilantro lime shrimp, atop some rosemary toast with arugula and olive tapenade.
Day 19: mushroom and wild rice stew garnished with some smoked oysters.
January 21, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Day 19: mushroom and wild rice stew garnished with some smoked oysters.
Day 18 we kept it simple. Finally tried these Polar brand kippers snacks that I’d been meaning to try. Served it on some rye crisps with some sour cream and olive tapenade. We ended up opening a can of Louisiana hot sauce fish steaks as a follow up. Both very tasty.
January 19, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Day 18 we kept it simple. Finally tried these Polar brand kippers snacks that I’d been meaning to try. Served it on some rye crisps with some sour cream and olive tapenade. We ended up opening a can of Louisiana hot sauce fish steaks as a follow up. Both very tasty.
Day 17: Biriyani kit with Moroccan sardines. Quick, easy, tasty. Skipped the lentils and just doubled the biriyani. It’s blizzarding outside and we are staying cozy. Our orange whistles arrive soon from Chewy and we’re registered for verifier training. Hunkered down for the ice storm ahead.
January 17, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Day 17: Biriyani kit with Moroccan sardines. Quick, easy, tasty. Skipped the lentils and just doubled the biriyani. It’s blizzarding outside and we are staying cozy. Our orange whistles arrive soon from Chewy and we’re registered for verifier training. Hunkered down for the ice storm ahead.
Day 16: this was phenomenal. TJs squiggly pasta, some frozen spinach, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and Fishwife mackerel with chili. So good.
January 17, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Day 16: this was phenomenal. TJs squiggly pasta, some frozen spinach, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and Fishwife mackerel with chili. So good.
Day 15: radiatore pasta with puréed winter veggies, smoked oysters,pistachios, and Calabrian chili.
January 17, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Day 15: radiatore pasta with puréed winter veggies, smoked oysters,pistachios, and Calabrian chili.
Day 14: two weeks down and halfway through Tinned Fish January! Today I reached for a pretty neutral tin for some fried rice. Used up remaining spinach, leftover rice, and some of our hens’ eggs with a tin of sardines in spring water. Octavia, our calico Manx got the “spring water” part.
January 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Day 14: two weeks down and halfway through Tinned Fish January! Today I reached for a pretty neutral tin for some fried rice. Used up remaining spinach, leftover rice, and some of our hens’ eggs with a tin of sardines in spring water. Octavia, our calico Manx got the “spring water” part.
Day 13: kept it simple and broke out another one of the “fancy” tins. Second tin by this brand and equally delicious.
January 14, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Day 13: kept it simple and broke out another one of the “fancy” tins. Second tin by this brand and equally delicious.
Whew. Day 12 was a winner. Smoked octopus. Japanese sweet potato bisque 🍠. A bunch of accoutrements. Freaking delicious.
January 13, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Whew. Day 12 was a winner. Smoked octopus. Japanese sweet potato bisque 🍠. A bunch of accoutrements. Freaking delicious.
Day 11: we are iterating on a theme here, mostly because it works. A smear of sour cream and mayo, some smoked wild kippers, capers, and a grating of cured egg yolk. Admittedly, the TJs smoked herring we had on Day 1 was tastier, and I liked that it was in oil. I’m guessing a lot cheaper too.
January 11, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Day 11: we are iterating on a theme here, mostly because it works. A smear of sour cream and mayo, some smoked wild kippers, capers, and a grating of cured egg yolk. Admittedly, the TJs smoked herring we had on Day 1 was tastier, and I liked that it was in oil. I’m guessing a lot cheaper too.
Day 10: we were out in the cold making our voices heard today. So treated ourselves with some fresh tagliatelle from Solo Pane, the rest of the anchovies dissolved in hot olive oil, toasted pecans, wilted arugula, and lemon sardines, with some Romano cheese and salsa macha.
January 11, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Day 10: we were out in the cold making our voices heard today. So treated ourselves with some fresh tagliatelle from Solo Pane, the rest of the anchovies dissolved in hot olive oil, toasted pecans, wilted arugula, and lemon sardines, with some Romano cheese and salsa macha.
Day 9, a Friday after a long first week back at work, was anchovies, used in martinis.
January 11, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Day 9, a Friday after a long first week back at work, was anchovies, used in martinis.
Day 8 was exhausting, so we kept it nice and simple… The Canned Sardine subreddit has *thoughts* about Fishwife brand, but I am loving trying these tins that we got in our gift pack.
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Day 8 was exhausting, so we kept it nice and simple… The Canned Sardine subreddit has *thoughts* about Fishwife brand, but I am loving trying these tins that we got in our gift pack.
Today is brutal. Day 7 of January: threw a can of razor clams into a batch of pasta, added butter, cream, cheese, and just self-soothed with carbs and tinned fish. Done in less than 15 minutes. Now time for bed.
January 8, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Today is brutal. Day 7 of January: threw a can of razor clams into a batch of pasta, added butter, cream, cheese, and just self-soothed with carbs and tinned fish. Done in less than 15 minutes. Now time for bed.
It went on some winter veggie bisque with roasted/pureed honeynut squash, black futsu, rutabaga, and a package of Spanish Matiz brand roasted chestnuts from the pantry. I’m kicking myself for forgetting to add the rye crisps that I bought just for this soup…
January 7, 2026 at 1:10 PM
It went on some winter veggie bisque with roasted/pureed honeynut squash, black futsu, rutabaga, and a package of Spanish Matiz brand roasted chestnuts from the pantry. I’m kicking myself for forgetting to add the rye crisps that I bought just for this soup…
Day 6: much more successful. Grabbed the first of the Fishwife tins from the very generous gift we received from a friend that visited recently. The smoked salmon was delicious. Dare I say buttery. Not overly smokey.
January 7, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Day 6: much more successful. Grabbed the first of the Fishwife tins from the very generous gift we received from a friend that visited recently. The smoked salmon was delicious. Dare I say buttery. Not overly smokey.
Day 5: so far the most disappointing, despite me saving this one for a while. Rillettes de langoustine with tiger nuts. I served it on some toasted focaccia. It was meh. Husband said it tasted like cat food. We’ve never actually eaten our cats’ food but it definitely smelled like it. 🤷🏻♀️
January 6, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Day 5: so far the most disappointing, despite me saving this one for a while. Rillettes de langoustine with tiger nuts. I served it on some toasted focaccia. It was meh. Husband said it tasted like cat food. We’ve never actually eaten our cats’ food but it definitely smelled like it. 🤷🏻♀️