Tuesday has been spent shopping for an all organic and very tasty meal for Z. I found eggplant, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, shaved parmigiana, and organic olive oil. I'm growing basil and oregano and it's organic, so I have the ingredients for eggplant parmigiana. The marinara sauce took longer than anything. I cooked for most of the day. Thank god I have a swamp cooler. It was hot today. I had two burners on for an hour, then the oven for 45 minutes. I wore nice clothes while I shopped and cooked. I say that because I wanted to respect the errands I was on. I wore my favorite white linen sleeveless blouse and a nice cotton skirt. I wore a bit of jewelry. I never do that. I even wore my favorite summer hat.
I made a salad of torn fresh organic leaves of romaine lettuce with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and a bit of soy sauce. I fixed garlic bread using a coarse Italian bread, unsalted butter and fresh garlic, wrapped it in foil and baked it.
I found a very nice small watermelon and cut it into bite-sized pieces of cool juicy sweet fresh from the heart of the melon and then chilled it while the marinara sauce and eggplant were cooking.
I bought organic raisins and bananas. I bought raisin, nut, cinnamon bread for tomorrow's breakfast toast. I took organic cream of tomato soup, a small container of sour cream for the requisite dollop for a start on tomorrows lunch. I bought ten containers for serving sized portions. And then I bought a rum cake.
As soon as the eggplant parmigiana was out of the oven, still bubbling around the browned cheese, I packed two servings and loaded all of this nice healthy clean tasty food into my good shopping bags. I included two shallow bowls, a fork, and two napkins. When I got to Z's it was almost 5:00 PM. I just walked in, went down the stairs and into her bedroom. I told her what I had with me, and she chose to start with the watermelon. We reminisced about all the times I cooked eggplant parmigiana for her: the most recent time was when Tom and I were together, the first time was in LA when she and V owned a chic little Indian clothing store. I was the cook for all the vegetarians who worked there. It took all day to shop and cook and plan for the next days meal. I was also a private cook for a wealthy widow in Santa Barbara in my spare time. Occasionally I forget what a good cook I am.
Z ate with relish. She ate everything I served her. I sat and talked while she ate. She didn't have room for the slice of rum cake but promised me she'd eat it later tonight. When she was finished eating she said she felt like a nap. I packed up the dirty dishes, kissed her on her cheek and let myself out.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, I pick her up after her first radiation treatment.
Have Yourself…
3 hours ago
11 comments:
You are an awesome, amazing woman. I freaking adore you.
Peace, my friend.
You are such a special friend, so loving and compassionate.
The eggplant parmesan sounds so delicious. Makes me want to whip myself up a batch.
I'm in awe at this very moment. You are truly a wonderful friend to Z. Making sure she gets nutrition is vital - which you know, and what a wonderful repast you have prepared. Stay strong my friend.
Hi utah-
My mouth is watering at the thought of the delicious foods you prepared. My heart is all warm and gooey at the thought of your amazing friendship with Z :-)
Peace to you both
Gail
I go away a while to deal with the lumberjack match of real life and this turns into a foodie blog.
Oh, the humanity.
;>)
Do you find cooking a release? I certainly do.
Yes, Kevin I do. That is probably why I'm about to start calling myself officially "FAT!"
This line is so beautiful: "I wore nice clothes while I shopped and cooked. I say that because I wanted to respect the errands I was on." The love you are putting in this food makes me think of "Like water for chocolate."
that is wonderful. i think it not only helped her but you as well. healing flows in circles.
What a wonderful way to help your friend. And I'm sure her great meal will help her fortify herself for what is ahead.
theres food
there is excellent food
there is excellent food served with love, by a dear friend who intuitively knows what to do.
those are the finest meals ever!
How sweet each step of the way was done w care & love. You just can't find that on any spice rack, you know...
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