This Reminds Me

Archive for June 30th, 2007

What do two people eat?

The girls all left yesterday to spend time with family and friends in Houston, leaving Keith and I home alone for the entire upcoming week.  This has never happened before, and I’m lost in the food department.  Virtually all my good recipes begin, “Brown 2 lbs. of lean ground beef.”

Last night, we used a Saltgrass gift card we were given two years ago.  Our meals were delicious, but of course, I always think that about food i don’t have to cook or clean up.

We went to Sam’s and Costco and walked right by the four-pound pork roasts, and the mutli-packs of chickens.  Those generally leap in my cart, often crying out for their chilled friends to join them.  A gallon of milk, or two loaves of bread?  I don’t think so.

This morning I ran to HEB, where I should have a payroll deduction made.  I walked in – alone – not admonishing anyone to watch for cars – and felt completely….disconnected.  I felt more at ease as a 30-something on the streets of Bangkok and Caracas.  No bananas for Rachel, or pineapple for Julia, or watermelon for Lois and Hannah.  Nobody to help me weigh the produce, or check the dates on the yogurt (of which I bought only five.)  Nobody begged  for the sugary cereal advertised on TV, or was embarassed by my coupon box.  My cart barely had the bottom layer covered, and nothing was hanging out the bottiom.

So tonight it’s fresh tuna steaks, shrimp fried rice, asparagus and a (little) blueberry/cherry cobbler for Keith.  But tomorrow?  I have no idea.

I saw our good friends John and Linda at HEB.  They’re used to buying and cooking for two.  I asked them, “So what do two people eat?”  Linda’s answer was:  “Anything they want to.”

Hmmmm.  Maybe I could learn to like that answer.