Saturday February 8, 2003
Gourmet Cooking
[Sat 2 A.M.]
Insomnia? Naw, I just ate too much and now
I’m suffering the consequences. I’m still getting used to being without a
gallbladder and I’m doing a bit of experimentation with my diet to see what
I can get away with. After stopping by the grocery store on the way home
from work I got a little carried away with the chocolate chip and Oreo
cookies. They were calling my name and I couldn’t resist. It’s now 2 A.M.
and I’m wide-awake with a chocolate buzz and a gurgling stomach. Who would
have thought that the gallbladder was so important for processing chocolate
chips?
There’s something about being awake at this hour that summons up rueful
memories. Recollections and regrets from long ago circle in my mind and
never get resolved. Ray Bradbury wrote about this phenomenon in his book
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. The hours between midnight and dawn have a
hypnotic effect that puts a spin on memories, giving them a nightmarish
quality. Or was it the Oreos?
At any rate, I’m wide-awake and my brain is processing information at an
alarming rate. I’m not sure if the emotions that accompany this process are
real or distorted though, after the sun comes up, the passion will seem less
intense and I’ll be able to sleep.
[Sat 11 P.M.]
Catherine found a crock pot that we
got for our wedding about 15 years ago. It's never been used and seems to
work fine. I've never been enthusiastic about cooking and my interest
is only to keep things simple and produce as few dirty dishes as possible.
This may just do the trick. Last month I purchased a rice cooker but today I
decided to move on to the advanced features offered by this high tech
devise.
Basically, you cut up food, throw it in
the pot with a little water and return 10 hours later for a gourmet meal.
Tonight I'm experimenting with a chili concoction that should be ready by
tomorrow morning. I did have to soak the pinto beans first but what
the heck, in advanced cooking you have to push the envelope.
The afternoon backyard view
