This Could Be the Last Time

Home Alone

When I'm all alone and can make any snack or meal just for me, I usually won't take the time to make it look appealing.  More often, I eat over the stove or even from the pot, like a drunken bachelor.  I'll eat bad food from back in the 60's when I was a latch key kid.  Ravioli from a can for example.  This behavior screams of all kinds of psychological trauma, so I ignore it. But occasionally I do make something just for me and just the way I like it.  Like these simple cheese and jalapeno nachos with homemade hot sauce.

and this fresh tomato skinny pasta below 

I think both things are good for a person.  Here and there we should eat as though we are the least important person on earth but once in a while, treat ourselves to something nice when alone because it could always be the last meal we enjoy.  We are made in God's image so we must be worth at least that little bit of effort. 

IF That's All There is My Friends, Then Let's Keep Dancing

P asked me today what would be my last supper choice.  That's a super hard question for a foodie.  What is your preferred last meal choice to end all meals forever.  It's like asking what your favorite album is of all time.  I'm sure I've never given the same answer because it depends on the season, what you've recently eaten, what you've been craving and what lingers as a mainstay for such lists.  I said nachos supreme and fried calamari as an appetizer, which right away i regretted.  The nacho preparation has to be very specific in order for them to be just right. Too much and they become soggy.  I like the cheese to be on the chip, not on the extras and the pickled jalapenos must be on the cheese directly. Matter of fact, put the extras on the side for me to dip into.  That's best. Seconds more to think I might say steamed mussels in garlic wine sauce with crusty bread and a side of hot artichoke dip teaming with cheese.  Or the best queso fundido with chorizo and warm chips, pico and guacamole. A trio platter.  Homemade lasagna with garlic bread prepared by my sister R would be the main course.  I feel firm in that choice even today.  I never allow myself lasagna but I love it so much.  I'd trust R to get it right.  For dessert, a hand made apple, rhubarb, cranberry pie ala mode with real vanilla bean ice cream.  I imagine the most flaky buttery crust.  I have a hundred variations on this meal and it's fun considering options.

I turned around and asked P.  He said my cheese enchiladas with my mom's sauce.  My steak bites with bloody Mary dipping sauce.  A Rachel Ray recipe actually.  And my pecan pie.  Dang.  Freakin' honor man.  I gulped hard, tried not to start bawling.  Truly touched.  And he meant it because that boy don't throw compliments out willy nilly.  

Sometimes I make my mom's enchilada sauce, just to taste it and then worry about what it will go over afterwards.  This day I made a turkey burger seasoned with chili and cumino.  I let it char a bit on the outside so I could smother it with this rich sauce. And like my mom's enchiladas, lots of cool iceberg lettuce sliced thin, tomatoes and onions on top.  And because you can't screw with tradition a bit of cheddar cheese as well.  Smothered Turkey Enchilada burger.

Did You Ever Had to Make Up Your Mind

I'm off sugar for a month so my savory dishes really have to satisfy. Turkey Thighs slathered with herbed butter and packed between the skin with bread stuffing slow baked until the skin was crispy and the inside was juicy tender. Break out in song Jim, THIS IS A WINNER!

Made my cucumber tomato salad which is nothing new although I do have several variations. A little secret of mine is I put a dash of cayenne pepper and that with the dill in the yogurt packs a major flavor punch. Also a huge squeeze of lime on the tomatoes. This time I also added a big palm full of fresh shredded basil. The key to any salad like this is chopping it fresh with veggies at their peak. Duh, right?

The corn was 8 for $2 at Pathmark and I was so surprised how sweet and deeeelicious it was already. I did an herbed butter on that!


I was having a hard time deciding what to make for this so called 'Last Supper' and if by some freak chance this old Charlatan was actually on to something I figured Thanksgiving turkey would be a fitting meal. But since I don't like to waste food, I just made two thighs since there would be no leftovers eaten.