I lived in the college dorms for two years, then as the college got bigger they rented space off-site so that older students would get off campus and the newbies would be corralled in the dorms.
Junior year I lived with three other girls in a two-bedroom apartment. It went well until one, well, it didn’t work out.
Senior year I was in a six-in a 3-2-1 situation, but had three other gals living with us for some reason. After sending them out for groceries, with a list, they came back with canned potatoes instead of a 50# bag. Six girls were paying $20 per week for food each. I had to stretch every dollar so added leading the shopping sojourn to my tasks.
First night, I cooked and asked to be sat on a corner, any corner, because I’m a leftie. Turns out they were all lefties so in the Spring, we created a softball team, Lefties, Inc. even though we couldn’t play. I think I was pitcher. First team didn’t show so we advanced to semi-finals. Second team didn’t show so we were in the finals. We didn’t win.
Back to cooking. I never set the table, cleaned a dish, loaded or emptied the dishwasher. One gal saw me making brownies and said “you can make those from scratch???” I used pounds of noodles and as little ground beef as I had, and if I didn’t have canned tomatoes I’d use ketchup and they loved it.
Then we took in a gal who lived in town and needed to get away from her mother. So we helped her out for a few weeks. Then I learned she was bulimic, would eat every shred of food from our frig and pantry overnight, then get sick all over the bathroom. It was my job to call her mother. She needed more help than we could give.
Cooking for people has always been something I do well. I lean more to Mediterranean than French which I learned in cooking school. Keep it simple, best ingredients and luckily I know French techniques as well so it works.
Desserts are where I’m more simple than ever. Perhaps a fresh fruit coulis with best quality store-bought vanilla ice cream and a British cookie. And it’s not that my oven is flaky, temp-wise. My mother and sisters were such good bakers. In response to a dinner invitation for next weekend I told our hosts that I’d love to bring something, an hors d’oeuvre or side dish, but not dessert because first my sisters blew me away, now my neighbors do! Pastry chef/author nearly next door.
I love living amongst smart and talented people. One of our state’s sobriquets is “Life Elevated.” I like to think our lives are elevated by everyone who is smart and creative and makes life worth living. Happy Labor Day weekend! Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 