Ahh...Sweet Release.

So I'm home from college now. *sigh* It's astonishing how much time I don't spend doing things. Most days I wake up at noon, roll out of bed, eat a "sangwich" or something, watch a little food network and then crawl back into bed for a mid afternoon nap. Seriously... it's a life that's almost not worth living.

However
(I love how drastically 'however' can change a course of events)~~foreshadowing!!!!!!

This week I've really been working on doing something for me everyday. Before you get all bujiggity on me, callin' me a selfish boob or whatnot, other's benefit from me actions too! It all started with a box of betty crocker blueberry muffins. I made them per the instructions, then get creative with a little streusel topping made by cutting cold butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and flour together. well...it didn't work out so well but this foray inspired me to try a little harder the next day. I made Apple Crisp. Shut up, it's not easy, it's really really hard...apparently...since I screwed it up too. Whatever. Chut up (yeah, chut). Stop looking at me like that. Anyway, On Wednesday I made banana bread from scratch and without a hand mixer. It was a complete and total success, just ask my waistline. Desserts make me feel good. Not just the eating part, but the making part too. There's so much to be said for a hard hour's work beating air into 1 and a 1/2 cups of sugar and two eggs (imagine wisking wet sand) and creating something that your loved ones (or one...>:( )feel completely comfortable finishing in one sitting. FAT. So today, after a really difficultly long day at my thankless, stupid, meaningless job, I went to Whole Foods, picked up a salmon filet and a baguette, ate the entire baguette on the three minute drive home (FAT) and sat down and watched a movie while I waited for hunger to come knocking once again.

I took a less conventional approach and broiled the salmon after dressing it in a light lemon, olive oil, garlic and rosemary vinaigrette. I also boiled about 8 medium sized potatoes, fried up some bacon, roasted some garlic, dumped in some sour cream, butter, cheese and milk and made myself a hefty side of loaded mashed potatoes AKA: carb heaven. This one was for me. After baking all these things for my family taking only the gratitude of cooking from them, I decided today was my day to splurge and spend 17 dollars on a single portion of fish. Yes. I'm worth it. It was more than that, though, my parents were out of town and therefore dinner was my responsibility. Seeing as my brother will be working until 2am, I couldn't let him go hungry, so I made him some too. This brings me to my entire point...regardless of the occasion, motivation or recipe, cooking is my release. Even though I hate my job and I hate sitting around my house, if I can come out of it all, throw together an amazing meal or even a shitty apple crisp, the process of culinary exploration helps me wake up in the morning and not want to dive head first off of my bunk bed.