Domesticity

Third day and no phone call. All I have to show for three non working days are 2 clean bathrooms, a closet full of clean clothes, washed floors, and an inventory of dry and can goods in our cupboards. My partner came home last night, saw our clean dwelling and said, “Staying at home isn’t that bad.” I can analyze his comment and break it apart. Impose meanings on his words and attack him for mildly suggesting that women’s place is at home, or, I can listen to his words and hear that his language is neutral. I decided to push politics away. So on this rainy Wednesday afternoon, I chose to be creative. Since Jon and I moved together our pantry is cluttered. We have too much food and too little space.

While I was growing up, my foster Mom had a cooking routine. Every two weeks she used to clean all the content of our fridge to make mystery casserole. I was fond of her cooking, but not her casserole. Come to think of it, neither were my siblings. But we showed respect by keeping our mouth full and shut. My bf had a similar tradition. During his bachelor years, he and his friend Andrew used to have Frankenstein dinners. They would pick any can goods in their pantry that is about to expire, wilted vegetables in the crisper, and frost bitten meat. Throw them all together and eat. After all, they're engineers. Food is low on their priority list.

So last night as I sit waiting for the phone that didn’t ring, I told him about Frankensserole meals. I told him that I’m not going to buy groceries till our pantry is clean. He shivered and said, “Well, if it’s bad, we can always go out.”

Red bean and lentil soup.

Bag of lentil
Bag of left over red beans (circa Sharad bought them 4 years ago)
3 fresh tomatoes
3 celery stalks
3 cloves garlic
1 Spanish onion
½ cup red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
Oregano
Bay leaves
olive oil
8 cups of water