it's all about meme

KS has a boys’ night out tonight and while I know it’s the perfect opportunity for me to write up a recipe, I am putting my foot down and saying “No, tonight is MY night to do whatever I please.”

Which is to start reading this book for my next month’s book club meeting. Each month one of the 5 girls in the club hosts a book club at her place and cook a dinner for the other four. I, being a delinquent and a newbie at work, plus in the throes of moving (details on that to come) had to apologize profusely and order my girls takeout – a natural solution for many, but a difficult one for those of us who pride themselves for culinary prowess. Prowess I did not have that night, so Turkish and Thai it was for us. And the irony of all ironies was me selecting Michael Pollan as our next writer. Process this.

So armed with a fresh issue of Real Simple, a still-shrink-wrapped (though not by KS) issue of Domino, and two (2!!!) Michael Pollan books, I will kick back and be grotesquely self-indulgent and not cook, write about cooking, or talk about recipes. My brain needs to rest. Badly.

However, I’ll write about the 5 6 food items I cannot resist / food quirks. No one tagged me with this meme – but I am compelled to do it because, um, I’m being self-indulgent tonight. I’ve been seeing it around, and I cannot recall where.

1. Lime pickle – I’m simply obsessed with it. Eversince my then-roommate, now best friend introduced me to the comforts of basmati rice with buttermilk and lime pickle, it’s one of my go-to comfort foods when I don’t feel like cooking and need a comforting home-made meal. I mean, seriously, how hard can cooking rice be? As for lime pickle, I’ve tried so many brands, I’ve lost count. My best friend’s grandmother who lives in India still makes the best one hands down (and don’t think I haven’t contemplated a trip out there JUST so I can make lime pickle with her). I have been vowing to make it myself, but think that I’m going to do this and leave it out on the terrace so that it doesn’t get too pickly in the apartment.

2. Herring – perhaps because of my Russian roots, perhaps because my body lacks sodium at times, herring and other smoked fishes – dry or not – induce the kind of salivation in me, only suitable for dogs. And if you throw some onions and boiled potatoes into the mix, I will probably sell you state secrets. Well, maybe not, but I’ll make promises of food, cookies, and other delicacies.

3. I will only drink whole milk. Skim and reduced fat make me gag. I’ll also only have it if it’s organic, otherwise, I’ll reach for soy.

4. As much as I’m a foodie, about 90% of food I consume is vegetarian. I am, what I’d call, a reluctant carnivore. I’ll get a craving for meat every now and again, but for the most part, give me some vegetables, nuts, and fruit, and I’m as happy as can be.

5. I will insist on putting hot sauce on almost everything, which works out great for KS, who is the only human I’ve ever met who can eat far spicier food than I. I marvel at his palate stamina and at times wonder if he has any taste buds left.

6.I’m developing a distaste for wine and all things alcoholic. I hope it’s only a phase because I used to REALLY enjoy wine.

That’s all for tonight. I’m off to figure out better ways to simplify my life. Perhaps subscribing to fewer self-improvement magazines is a good way to start?