FOOD

 

          Don’t you just love to eat? Isn’t there a huge list of foods that you are always delighted to have on your plate? Don’t you sometimes wish you could have a magic plate that just refilled itself with something new and delicious every single meal? Maybe you don’t, but I sure do.

          Since I don’t have a magic plate, if I want something on it that means I have to prepare whatever I’m going to eat. That’s not a problem because I’m a fairly decent cook, but find that all too often whatever I’ve decided to make, the results could feed not only me, but a couple of the neighbors. It’s very difficult to cook for just one person.

          If I’m not cooking, then I’m either eating out or bringing a meal home. Again, depending on what it is I’m having, there are times when it would be good to share all that food with someone. There isn’t anyone, however, so there are times when I eat the leftovers for lunch and/or dinner the next day. There’s nothing wrong with that unless I make the mistake of eating more of it the same day.

          Briley’s makes the best ribs, mac n’ cheese and collard greens. Typing that out didn’t make my mouth water because the last time I brought this home, I ate it for a very late lunch and then finished off the remainder for a late dinner. My tummy wasn’t happy that night and it’s going to be a while before I order again.

          I think I ‘ve mentioned I read a lot and there are times when I read about a dish or food that sounds pretty good. Recently I’ve been reading books set in the south. Today for lunch I had a tomato sandwich, something that is apparently a southern thing. That’s two pieces of soft white bread spread with mayo, topped with sliced tomatoes sprinkled with salt and pepper. It was so yummy. I had it with a helping of coleslaw.

I’ve never made coleslaw in my life until this week. I found a recipe online that was supposedly the same coleslaw that you’d get at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I haven’t been to KFC in forever, so I crossed my fingers it would be good. It is so yummy, and I had it for dinner last night too. Initially, I thought I might have to share with a neighbor, but I think I just may finish it off at dinner today with the spicy grilled chicken breast I’m preparing.

          That’s something else I don’t do very often, grill. It seems a waste to turn the grill on for just a single burger or hotdog. About the only time I do use it is when I make teriyaki flank steak and teriyaki chicken breast. It will get used today because the spicy chicken breast kabobs wouldn’t be as good made in the oven.

          This morning I also made myself pancakes. I had buttermilk left over from the coleslaw and decided I’d use it to make thin pancakes. I used the cast iron skillet instead of the electric grill. They were okay, but I think if I’d used the grill, they would have been much better. A little butter and huckleberry jam…they were absolutely delicious.

          All too often, though, I find myself not wanting to bother with cooking or going out. I want something that’s easy and quick. That’s when grilled cheese sandwiches on brown bread come into play. Those with tomato soup for dipping makes a meal. I try to eat salad at least several times a week and wish there were a way to make more than one salad at a time. I suppose I could try making a big salad with all the veggies I include, i.e., radishes, green onions, celery, cucumber, carrots, avocado, feta cheese all mixed with a blend of greens. Sometimes, I’ll cook a small piece of sirloin or chicken breast, chop it up and add it to the salad…a full meal in a bowl. Yesterday, I took my own advice and made a big salad. I ate half with some salmon and will have the other half tonight with steak. I guess I can make more than one helping at a time. Wonder why it took me so long to think of that.

          There are also lots of choices in the frozen section at the grocery store. I like Marie Callander’s chicken pot pies and Stouffer’s lasagna, but haven’t tried many of the other meal choices. I also buy plain cheese pizzas to which I add my own veggies and extra cheese. One of those is good for dinner with leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day.

          Lately I’ve had a hankering for spaghetti and have been thinking how I can go about making that dish without having to put several meals into the freezer. I suppose I could ask Angie and AJ if they’d like to share. There have been times when I’ve made too much and take the surplus to Angie’s work. That way she pretty much has dinner ready when she gets home.

          Over my lifetime, I’ve pulled recipes out of magazines, printed them from online or copied one made by a friend or family member. Every time I get my folder out of the cupboard and begin looking for a particular recipe I’ve made before, I eliminate a few more recipes. There are ones in there that I’ll never ever make, so why am I hanging on to them? It’s not like some event is going to come up where I’ll go, “Oh, yes. I can make that recipe I’ve had for decades that serves 12.”

          Finally, I guess the reason I’m blogging about food is because it’s really the only physical gratification left to me at this stage of life. The tastes, textures, even sound can make me sigh with pleasure and contemplate second or even third helpings. It makes me wish I had my own personal chef to grocery shop and prepare me the best food ever. Were I to win the lottery (not much chance since I don’t buy tickets), the first thing I would do is hire a chef. Then, I’d sit on a fine cushion and gain enough weight to be the fat lady in the circus.

Anyway, I don’t know how many of you that read my blog have to cook for just one person. If you are one of those folks, I’d love to hear about your efforts and successes.