Cooking

I've been cooking, something I tend to do when I'm really busy but not interested in the things that occupy my time. Before law school reading would have been in the same category--something worthwhile that feels like a valid excuse to put off something I don't want to do. Now, though I still read for fun occasionally, cooking is a little more relaxing. After all, I don't have to cook for Administrative Law!

And so on Saturday night, after an exhausting day, I began chopping onions, peppers, garlic, and parsley. I soaked beans for dinner Thursday but ended up having to go to a law review party at a local bar (The first time I've been to a bar since New York, and it was kind of nice. I like bars because the objective is to sit and talk, so you don't feel rushed to leave--as long as some of the people you're with are drinking.). I made Refritos and, because I bought a six-pack of multi-colored bell peppers in the Costco run last week, I decided to try Mexican Pepper Casserole. Both recipes were from The Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen.

The refritos (aka refried beans) were super simple--I cooked the pinto beans and then added them to sauteed onions and garlic with some salt and cumin. I left them a little lumpy and the texture was a definite plus. Zach said that they were the first refried beans he ate because he actually liked instead of because they accompanied his chile verde burrito.

The casserole involved sauteing peppers, onions, and garlic with cumin, dried mustard, and cayenne pepper. On Sunday I spread them in an 8 x 11.5 baking dish and covered with an egg-yogurt mixture and baked for 45 minutes.

Partway through the Saturday night cooking extravaganza, I realized that there was no way Zach and I would eat that much food for dinner. So I decided that we would eat my dishes for Sunday dinner. A few minutes later it occurred to me that Jeffery is our only addition for Sunday dinner, and he's 9 and doesn't eat much, so I decided to invite my parents, who now go to church just 4 blocks from my house, and my sister. On Sunday Zach made some (delicious) Mexican rice (without a recipe), and I whipped up a salad and some dressing, for a complete Sunday meal.

Jeffery didn't like the casserole because it was too spicy and my mom would only eat a small dollop of beans, but other than that, the meal was a hit! Especially the tortillas from Costco. But also the casserole, beans, and rice, all of which were both relatively easy to make and will now be part of my regular cooking routine. Until I quit cooking and go back to reading.