Eating For OneTonight's "What's For Dinner" could easily be renamed "Eating For One" or "The 5-Ingredient Gourmet." You see, I am eating dinner tonight sans my beloved because he is out running errands for the cafe (Think: Cash & Carry, New Seasons Market, caramelizing onions, roasting tomatoes,... etc.) Poor guy. After the week we've had we're starting to feel like we can't catch a break. And the week's not over yet. Far from it. *Sigh.* But these are the moments where we know we have to dig our heels into the muck and have faith that we'll get through it. Always have...Always will (fingers crossed).
So...I am left at home to my own devices and as usual that creeping feeling came the minute I removed my jacket and took off my shoes: "I"M STARVING!!!" Oh, that's right. I haven't eaten a thing all day. Not because I'm on a diet (ha!), not because I'm fasting, but because Evan's alarm went off at 5:15 this morning and we haven't had a moment to stop since then.
Today was crazy. Fridays always are. But today was extremely busy given that Kealani called in sick (Poor Girl, we hope you don't have the flu!) and we ran the entire morning one short. Deep breath taken here... My mom came to the rescue (as she always does) around noon, hightailing it back from McMinnville, OR, where she works (yes, that's a one hour trip, each way, that she makes daily. God bless her) to come fry up some eggs, wash dishes, and garnish plates. (Did I already say God bless her?!?!) Mom came just in time as we experienced a pretty fantastic rush that lasted from noon until 2:02 pm. At the end of the day Evan, AnnMarie, Mom, and I felt pretty darn good about ourselves, like warriors who were able to prove themselves out on the battlefield. Seriously, when 3:00 rolled around I literally felt like a battle cry was in order. We totally rocked it. No one got too stressed, no one yelled too loud, or felt too overwhelmed. Food went out in a timely fashion, looked great, and people left happy with promises of a return. It was just a solid day both in the front and back of the house and you've gotta love days like that.
Although one does end a day like that completely exhausted and left wondering, "How the hell am I going to get through the weekend?" Well, the answer to that question in still yet to be determined but one thing I am sure of is that a good dinner the night before sure can't hurt. Which left me foraging through the bare-bones existence that describes the state of our cupboards and fridge at home.
Hummm...what to eat? What to eat?!? The ongoing saga -er- more like battle between me and my kitchen at home. The great irony of my life right now is that my kitchen at work has everything in the world you could possibly think of ( and yet I want none of it) and my kitchen at home is completely stark in comparison yet all I can think of doing or wanting is food. Ever since cooking became my full-time job the idea of making a meal for one (and that one being me) became all the less appealing. Which is sad because I absolutely love our kitchen at home. Our house was built in the 40's and our kitchen came with a small hood and the greatest original tile (in butter yellow with black detailing) in the world. I immediately felt at home with it. I loved it so much that I ignored the fact that the range was/is electric (arrgh) and that the floor was/is an "off-white" ie. dirty-colored linoleum (double arrgh).
I hate cooking for one. Aside from the fact that I find it horribly depressing I never seem to get the proportions right. I always end up with leftovers which would be fine if I actually ate them but instead they kind of have a tendency to grow fur in our fridge...a fact Evan knows all too well. Sorry, Love! I'm working on it!!!
So tonight my rummaging granted me: Leftover spaghetti squash, Trader Joe's Organic Sprouted Wheat Pappardelle, and spinach. I reconstituted the squash in the oven with some thyme oil (fresh chopped thyme soaked in olive oil for 20 mins.), sauteed the spinach in olive oil and pressed garlic cloves, and topped the pappardelle with both. I finished the dish off with some pecorino we had in the fridge, and I must say this uninspiring start to the night led to a simple but beautiful dinner...for one. And to be honest, it wasn't all that bad eating alone. However, much love does go out to E tonight as my guess is that he still hasn't eaten today and is all too consumed in cafe-business to do so. Thanks Lovin' for working so hard for us, for the cafe, and for all of them. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. In fact, they make all the difference. XOXO
So...I am left at home to my own devices and as usual that creeping feeling came the minute I removed my jacket and took off my shoes: "I"M STARVING!!!" Oh, that's right. I haven't eaten a thing all day. Not because I'm on a diet (ha!), not because I'm fasting, but because Evan's alarm went off at 5:15 this morning and we haven't had a moment to stop since then.
Today was crazy. Fridays always are. But today was extremely busy given that Kealani called in sick (Poor Girl, we hope you don't have the flu!) and we ran the entire morning one short. Deep breath taken here... My mom came to the rescue (as she always does) around noon, hightailing it back from McMinnville, OR, where she works (yes, that's a one hour trip, each way, that she makes daily. God bless her) to come fry up some eggs, wash dishes, and garnish plates. (Did I already say God bless her?!?!) Mom came just in time as we experienced a pretty fantastic rush that lasted from noon until 2:02 pm. At the end of the day Evan, AnnMarie, Mom, and I felt pretty darn good about ourselves, like warriors who were able to prove themselves out on the battlefield. Seriously, when 3:00 rolled around I literally felt like a battle cry was in order. We totally rocked it. No one got too stressed, no one yelled too loud, or felt too overwhelmed. Food went out in a timely fashion, looked great, and people left happy with promises of a return. It was just a solid day both in the front and back of the house and you've gotta love days like that.
Although one does end a day like that completely exhausted and left wondering, "How the hell am I going to get through the weekend?" Well, the answer to that question in still yet to be determined but one thing I am sure of is that a good dinner the night before sure can't hurt. Which left me foraging through the bare-bones existence that describes the state of our cupboards and fridge at home.
Hummm...what to eat? What to eat?!? The ongoing saga -er- more like battle between me and my kitchen at home. The great irony of my life right now is that my kitchen at work has everything in the world you could possibly think of ( and yet I want none of it) and my kitchen at home is completely stark in comparison yet all I can think of doing or wanting is food. Ever since cooking became my full-time job the idea of making a meal for one (and that one being me) became all the less appealing. Which is sad because I absolutely love our kitchen at home. Our house was built in the 40's and our kitchen came with a small hood and the greatest original tile (in butter yellow with black detailing) in the world. I immediately felt at home with it. I loved it so much that I ignored the fact that the range was/is electric (arrgh) and that the floor was/is an "off-white" ie. dirty-colored linoleum (double arrgh).
I hate cooking for one. Aside from the fact that I find it horribly depressing I never seem to get the proportions right. I always end up with leftovers which would be fine if I actually ate them but instead they kind of have a tendency to grow fur in our fridge...a fact Evan knows all too well. Sorry, Love! I'm working on it!!!
So tonight my rummaging granted me: Leftover spaghetti squash, Trader Joe's Organic Sprouted Wheat Pappardelle, and spinach. I reconstituted the squash in the oven with some thyme oil (fresh chopped thyme soaked in olive oil for 20 mins.), sauteed the spinach in olive oil and pressed garlic cloves, and topped the pappardelle with both. I finished the dish off with some pecorino we had in the fridge, and I must say this uninspiring start to the night led to a simple but beautiful dinner...for one. And to be honest, it wasn't all that bad eating alone. However, much love does go out to E tonight as my guess is that he still hasn't eaten today and is all too consumed in cafe-business to do so. Thanks Lovin' for working so hard for us, for the cafe, and for all of them. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. In fact, they make all the difference. XOXO
4 comments:
I love you. Just got to make some more gorg' spread and then I'm locking up. Thanks for the kind words, it means a lot.
...oh and I have eaten today thanks to Morgan (Dovetail Bakery). Can you say 'savory scone?'
tee heee...did I mention I love you Mr. "Cominghomesoon"? You make me smile. And P.S. You couldn't get here fast enough.
Get a room, you two! Hee hee! :P
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