What's New, Probably I'm Boring You

When I shop for food while my husband is gone, I tend to try odd bread, like this rectangular flax stuff that I didn't get to until his arrival back.  Fun food should happen with this, I thought.  Like most of my food ideas, they come on the spot, starving, standing at the stove trying to come up with something that sounds better than take out.  I waited to eat way past hunger so this BLT & egg roll up appeased breakfast and lunch, as well as the satisfaction of a hot meal but also that of a crisp salad.  It was light like a snack, so I made two, one with egg, one without.  Turns out, this is Lavash bread and it's actually meant to be rolled.  I guess we're not the Einsteins we hope to be. 

I was thrilled to hear that Ina Garten was self taught and never attended culinary school.  Don't get me wrong, I am no Ina Garten and have no illusions.  She made a career, had goals and is very successful.  I'm more the Tommy Chong of cooking. But knowing her story, I more easily accept my cooking expedition and it even makes sense to me.  After I stopped drinking years ago, I desperately needed something that I could immerse myself in, intimately.  It would need to be ongoing, daily and involve creativity and freedom.  It had to be satisfying, like my relationship with alcohol.  So preparing food, inventing dishes, taking pictures and writing about it all became a form of therapy I suppose.  I could die tomorrow knowing it was time well spent that didn't hurt anyone or cause my liver to fail.  At the very least, I can say I am able to fill one basic human need.