11 8 / 2008
food i always have.
- Berries. On those weeknights when I (purposefully) have nothing to do but run in the Panhandle, do a load of laundry, and climb in bed at 9:30, I stop at the Haight Street Market (the best little grocery store in the city by leaps and bounds) on my way home and pick up whatever berries they have on super sale (raspberries, blueberries and/or blackberries depending on the season) and have a berry-fest for dinner. Most of the other things on this list I also get at HSM, on those same nights, which are the only times I really eat at home, except the occasional breakfast, described below.
- Earth Balance. I’ll borrow directly from Maria on this one because I always have it. It’s better than butter for every purpose I’ve ever used butter for. Yes, even that one.
- Judy’s “lovestick” Breadstick. The one with sunflower seeds. It’s the absolute perfect size, composition and density for someone who doesn’t eat at home enough to eat an entire loaf of bread before it goes bad. It is as equally perfect for hummus or other savory spread as for cutting crossways and toasting up with:
- Almond Butter and Apricot Orange Marmalade. When combined on toast, it forms a more perfect union of food. Good for a wholesome breakfast, good for depression, good for calcium, good for your sex drive. Just perfect.
- Whole Wheat Pasta. And a jar or two of my favorite spaghetti sauce (currently, Trader Joe’s Rustico.) Once in a while I’ll cook in some Tofurky italian sausage if I’m feeling it. I like to say I hate cooking, or that I suck at it, but that’s kind of a lie. Or an oversimplification. I come from a long line of cooking women and I actually have some natural talent for it and even enjoy it when I apply myself, but most of the time I’m just not motivated. Laziness aside, cooking for oneself is pretty wack, and even cooking for two requires a disproportionate expenditure of time, energy and money for the return. You don’t really realize an economy of scale from cooking, in my opinion, unless you’re either (like my ancestresses) cooking for a huge family, and/or your ingredients are cheap or boring. And in the city where I live, groceries are ridiculously expensive and cheap ethnic prepared food abounds. So, what’s a girl to do? Spend $150 on ingredients for a weeks’ worth or one nice at-home meal? Fuck that noise. On half that budget I can eat something new and different and exciting every day, and I’m rarely home enough to consume a full grocery-shop before it goes bad. So, that’s how you lose practice and just start to view cooking as a foreign activity; something for co-op housing and parents and novelty monthly potlucks, and that’s how you end up falling back on college staple foods on those rare occasions you actually fix a meal at home. You meaning me, obv. And finally:
- Nutella. I don’t believe I need to explain this.
- eggs. i only like organic eggs from hens who were hugged every day (i know this is a lie) because they taste so much better. egg sandwiches on bagels w/ tomato and one slice of cheese are my fucking favorite thing ever. but i have to be the one to make them. also when you are broke and have eggs, you won’t go hungry.
- earth balance. i am generally a fat is wonderful kind of gal but for my every day needs, i prefer earth balance to butter. and one tub lasts me maybe 6 months.
- fresh bagels. lender’s are gross. those trader joe’s things are also gross. i get 2 at a time. i’m a NYC girl; i must have a bagel a week or i die. or something.
- queso! super sharp white cheddar is the best, MAYBE super charp wisconsin cheddar from trader joes. a nice little bit of goat cheese is nice, sometimes. once in a while i may get fresh mozzarella but that goes quick.
- mushrooms - i like to eat them raw as taught to me by a boy once. also super versatile, you can do lots with them.
- baguettes & hummus - add some tomato slices and avocado and you’ve got a veggie sandwich party!
- frozen delights - rotating cast of characters. living with a boy for 3 years taught me to appreciate super salty frozen pizza (especially after some doctoring) and i like fake vegetarian meats, trader joe’s burritos, and if i am drunk and at a safeway, hot pockets.
what food do you always have??
