Actually, I already have one of those. It’s just that I share it with Mr. Twistie and my brother the Medieval Historian and Jake the Fraidy Cat, and it’s not that big a house. Don’t get me wrong. I love them all. It’s just that every once in a while I find myself climbing the walls desperate for some alone time.
Next weekend I will have just that. Mr. Twistie is going to a big music convention in Los Angeles, and my brother is off to spend some time with friends in Santa Barbara. Three glorious days stretch out empty before me to fill as I please. I can sing at the top of my lungs, write fiction, watch any damn thing I want on the television, have a Jane Austen movie marathon that would have the men in my life run screaming with their hair ablaze in horror, take a three hour bubble bath, and dance naked in every room of the house. Jake would even enjoy the tv time cuddled up in my arms.
But while I will probably do several of those things and delight in doing them, they aren’t what I’m most looking forward to. I’m looking forward to cooking all the things I want to eat that one or both of my menfolk won’t touch.
You see, in the past week I’ve acquired a new cookbook and my first ever Le Creuset pot. I’ve also got all those other pots and pans and cookbooks to play with. I’ve already invited a guest to come try out a new recipe with me while the guys are away. I could hear her drooling in a most unladylike manner over the phone when I described it to her.
What is the decadent treat that we’re so eager to try? Roast bass with roasted root vegetables. A lovely piece of fish surrounded by butternut squash, parsnips and carrots. I’m thinking of doing a light soup of some sort as a starter and finishing with some homemade madelines. I may change out the soup for a salad. We’ll see.
I just can’t cook this stuff for the men in my life. Mr. Twistie won’t eat anything that lived in water and while the Medieval Historian will eat it…fish is usually sort of wasted on him. He’ll swallow it. He won’t complain. He just won’t care about it. Most of the foods I love best are ones that these two men either detest or barely tolerate. That gets frustrating. And so I’m going to spend one night cooking for someone who wants to eat the things I want to cook. It’s going to feel good.
While my guys are away, I’ll be trying out some other exotic treats, too. We’ll see what I find at the farmers’ market and my friendly neighborhood real butcher’s counter. All I know right now is that I’ll be feeding myself well, body and soul.
And I’ll be trying out my lovely new soup pot.
Congratulations on the Le Creuset soup pot!
While I know you’ll miss Mister Twistie, sometimes we all just need alone time.
Comment by Fabrisse — January 11, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Thanks so very much! We also splurged on a tea kettle, which we’ve been needing for some time now.
If you didn’t keep insisting on living on the opposite coast, I’d invite you to join me for dinner while the guys are away.
Comment by Twistie — January 11, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Boy, do I know what you mean! I love my BF, but I do look forward to those time when I get to spend time by myself. Alone time is important!
Comment by Kim — January 11, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
Congratulations on your first Le Creuset! I guarantee it’s going to rock your world. Years ago, I saved and saved (and saved and saved) to buy a complete 16 piece set –in cobalt– and there’s no way I could go back.
Actually, today I’ve used my crepe pan to make breakfast, my grill pan for lunch and my 6 and 9 quart French ovens are currently in use in making baked beans and Tennessee pulled pork. Om nom nom!
Oh, and I suggest a chilled coconut pumpkin bisque before the bass.
Comment by Plumcake — January 11, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
You have articulated all the reasons I refused to move in with Chef Boy and instead mortgaged my future to a crazy little teeny house with Issues. The freedom to have silence when I want it is something that no amount of companionship could ever match.
And you and I have the same sort of brain, when it comes to planning things: For my birthday next month, I’m making poutine (and inviting friends over!). Mmmm nommy french-fried cheese curds brown gravy bacon mushroom goodness!
Comment by Jo — January 11, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
(perks up)
Recipe, Miss Plumcake? Pretty please?
My mother used to tell me that when I was a baby I would stare for hours at her Le Creuset casserole, so clearly I imprinted on top-notch cookware from an early age. Alas! My brother the Alpaca Rancher made off with that beloved casserole behind everyone else’s backs when we cleared out the family home after my father’s death.
More Le Creuset will definitely happen in my life. I’ve been waiting too damn long for this one piece, and even Mr. Twistie admits he doesn’t need a lot more guitars.
Comment by Twistie — January 12, 2009 @ 1:20 am
Oh, Le Creuset is made of awesome!
Honestly, though, cast-iron cookware of any kind makes me excited. When I get my own place, I will own several cast-iron skillets of assorted sizes and at least 2 dutch ovens.
And there will be no Teflon in sight because everything that’s not cast-iron will be stainless steel.
Comment by ChloeMireille — January 12, 2009 @ 11:49 am
Speaking of recipes, where is the one for the roast bass? That sounds golden.
Comment by Violet — January 12, 2009 @ 3:13 pm