Week One

My first week of unemployed life was not at all what I expected it to be. Considering that there was quite a bit of relief in not having to go back to that place I thought I would do a bit of relaxing, gardening, reading, listening to music, and just plain breathing. On Monday I went to the local Stop & Shop and took my time walking up and down the aisles in a leisurely pace that I normally don't have time for. Not the brightest of ideas, when the bill totaled up I had spent way more than I had anticipated or even thought I had in my cart. I had a couple of calls from ex-colleagues shocked at my sudden departure and a few text messages, I got depressed. The next day I hit the garden for some serious weeding that was very necessary, filled up one bag and I had had it. It will have to be done in spurts. Wednesday I did four loads of laundry. Thursday Frank worked from home and even though he's mainly in his office on the third floor I paced around all day jittery and anxious, why I don't know. Friday I called a friend and rejected her invitation to spend Saturday down the shore because I am a miserable wreck and it's best I stay home this weekend. Then I decided to do what always makes it better...other than looking at this.

Dinner on Friday should always be fun so I pulled out that ripped page out of a magazine with the fun eggplant dip and piquillo peppers. As instructed I roasted the eggplant on the stove just as I always do for roasted peppers. Wow! first time I've ever done that,

and I'm in awe. It took all of 10 minutes, if that. After letting it cool in the strainer I just pulled the skin off and there was this soft smoky perfection. Chopped it into chunks, dropped it in the food processor with about a cup of goat cheese

until smooth, added some pepper...and voila!

Eggplant cheese spread. I then pulled out my last jar of piquillos that I brought from Spain,

blackened them in a cast iron pan and dropped them into a warm vinaigrette,

toast some slices of baguette and our appetizer is ready to go. Main dish should be just as much fun,

Cobb salad, without the hard boiled egg because by the time I thought of it the eggs wouldn't have been cold. Yummy just the same.

Saturday was a soupy muggy day. We did some work in the yard, sat outside sipping Cava to toast my new found freedom. Max lasted a half hour,

no better day to make pulled pork! I pulled out my little jar of green curry paste from my Try the world subscription Thai box and slathered it all over a big hunk of pork shoulder,

cooked it on top of the stove at low for about 3 and a half hours (should of been in the oven but that's a whole other story), let it cool a little then pulled it apart. Served it with some refreshing coleslaw and cucumber salad,

that curry paste is hot and spicy!

Sunday Max got a much needed bath,

which he hated every minute of. Dinner was an old Cuban staple,

Salt cod, Bacalao a la Vizcayna which I don't have a photo of. 

I feel better now. And look at my greeting this Monday morning!

Those are my neighbors' flowers he's feasting on. I told her rotten eggs an hot sauce will keep them away, she didn't listen.....