Barre Class & Questionable Stir-Fry
After much research, I discovered a nice little studio just down the highway from me that offers adult dance classes (I’m using the term “dance classes” loosely, as only one is technically about dance technique and the others are fitness classes using dance). They unfortunately don’t offer an adult tap class, which is the only other dance class I’ve taken as an adult, and this bummed me out a little as I would have liked to dig my tap shoes out of whatever box they’re currently hiding in. But! I was intrigued by the barre fitness class, which advertised itself as being about flexibility and toning. I figured I could start there doing barre exercises, and if I liked it and eventually felt courageous enough, I might try the ballet class.
After work, I cooked a nice healthy chicken and vegetable stir-fry for dinner so I wouldn’t be stuffed with grease before class. The stir-fry almost ruined my evening before it even began. I had cooked the chicken and removed it to set. I added a touch more oil to the pan and tossed in the chopped carrots and bell peppers. And then I smelled something. Something not quite right. Something… earthy? But not like vegetable-dirt-earthy. Bad earthy. I leaned over the pan (carefully, because hot oil) and sniffed tentatively. Then sniffed deeper to confirm what my brain thought it was smelling.
My stir-fry vegetables smelled of marijuana. I was baffled. I turned to Google.
Luckily, my second search (“why do my bell peppers smell like marijuana when cooked”) gave me the answer. Apparently, bell peppers contain an organic compound called pyrazine. Pyrazine is used in aromatics for wine, among other things. Guess what else has pyrazines? Weed. And some people note that when bell peppers are cooked at high temperatures, they give off a weed-like aroma. And I can say from experience, it is not pleasant.
I don’t like the smell of marijuana. I never have. My supposed-to-be delightful homecooked healthy meal smells of something I don’t want to eat. I soldier on, hoping that continued cooking will diminish the smell, or at least it will be masked once I add the garlic and ginger and sauce. My optimism for a nice dinner before my first attempt at barre class is falling fast. My husband and I plate up the stir-fry with rice (he couldn’t identify the scent of weed if he tried, so is not put off the food at all) and sit down to eat. I am hopeful. I take a bite of chicken with rice. Tastes normal. Next, a bite of carrot with chicken and rice. Normal as well. Now the final test. A bite of bell pepper with rice.
It tastes like weed. I am now miserable.
I eat maybe half my plate, picking around the bell peppers and only eating the chicken and carrots. I am a mopey bitch at this point. I put away the leftovers for husband to eat tomorrow, since he had no issue finishing his plate. I was so jazzed to have a good fueling dinner and then jaunt off to class, but at that point, I was worried I wouldn’t be on time since cooking had taken longer than planned, due to the rabbit hole of pyrazine research that interrupted the vegetable frying portion.
BUT! I am determined. I am making a fresh start. At least I wasn’t crammed full of too much food. I was resolute to not let my stupid reefer stir-fry spoil my night any further. I grabbed my yoga mat which I had been instructed to bring, filled my water bottle, and off I went to complete my drop-in session of barre fitness.
It was a small group, only the instructor and one other attendee, but I understood there to be other regulars who hadn’t been able to attend. This was okay by me, because the two of us got more specialized attention from the instructor, and it was easier for the instructor to give explanations. The class was a mix of stretches and strengthening exercises, some on the mats and some on the barre, like a mix of ballet and yoga. It was really fun; I especially enjoyed the barre portion since I could really feel my legs working. I’ll definitely be trying it again (and wearing cooler clothing next time). It was a workout, yes, but it felt like an activity for fun, the “joyful movement” I’m trying to find more of. Tonight was a success, and has added to my motivation to keep going.
