Stardate 06.11.2026
I have one more skill to add to Alberta's list of honorable mentions.
It all started yesterday when the regulator on my Weber grill failed. I turned to Alberta for troubleshooting assistance. She walked me through a series of tests, and every one of them pointed to the same conclusion: the regulator was the problem.
That left me with a dilemma.
What was I supposed to do with all the steaks that needed to be eaten?
Alberta immediately shifted from mechanic to chef and laid out a step-by-step process for cooking the steaks on a cast-iron skillet. I told her my side dish was going to be sardines and cottage cheese topped with blueberries. I realize that combination may sound unusual to some people, but I've never been accused of being conventional when it comes to food.
I followed the steak instructions carefully.
The final step was adding grass-fed butter to the steaks. Both sides received a generous coating. After removing the steaks from the skillet, I placed the sardines into the same pan for one minute on each side.
That's where the magic happened.
The secret is in the sauce.
The sardines soaked up all those flavors left behind by the steaks, butter, and skillet. What emerged was something entirely different from the sardines I had been eating previously. It turns out sardines pair surprisingly well with steak. A glass of red wine probably would have fit the occasion too, although that wasn't on the menu. I was heading to the tennis courts a couple of hours later.
A few friends have questioned my decision to eat sardines for 90 days.
One friend told me that simply hearing the word "sardines" makes her want to puke.
I understand the reaction.
At the same time, I suspect that if she had taken a bite of yesterday's sardines, she might have walked away with a different opinion. I know I did.
As I continue this pursuit of higher Omega-3 levels, one thing has become clear. My food choices often raise eyebrows. That's fine with me. I'm chasing a result that remains surprisingly rare in America. Only a small percentage of adults meet the criteria for strong metabolic health.
Experiments have a way of teaching us things we don't expect to learn.
In this case, I may have accidentally discovered a way to make sardines enjoyable.
The blood test at the end of this 90-day experiment will tell the real story. Until then, I'll keep showing up, opening another can, and gathering data one meal at a time.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Captain's Addendum
Bones: "Captain, I'm a doctor, not a sardine salesman."
Spock: "Nevertheless, Doctor, the Captain's experiment appears to be producing measurable results."
Bones: "I'm still not convinced fish belong in a steak pan."
Michael's Reflection:
Life has a funny way of rewarding curiosity. Sometimes a broken grill leads to a better recipe. Sometimes an experiment that sounds strange reveals something useful. Progress often arrives disguised as inconvenience, and yesterday's failed regulator may have delivered an unexpected gift.
May you live long and prosper. 🖖
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