Eating by candle light... alone?

Once again driving home I thought about what's for dinner. Pour Chloe gets so tired of hearing about what I want to eat, cook or try. This conversation was with me, myself and I.
I stopped at the farmer's market this morning and picked up some green onions, small, tender green beans, a blushed head of bibb lettuce, rose finn potatoes, shitake mushrooms and blueberries. This is when the conversation actually began and continued through the day when I had a moment to myself. After work, I picked up a couple of bone in pork ribs, garlic sourdough bread and a jar of oysters. In the car I was thinking about the plums on the property finally ripening and how easy galettes really are to make.

I walked in the door thinking about the order of my evening meal. As I was starved I thought I better start with a very small bowl of potato chips. Here's where it went from there......

I cut up a few oysters and dowsed them with lemon juice, some salt and green tabasco. I nibbled on these while I made a crust. Here's the never fail recipe again:
250g unbleached white flour
125g cold butter (I've been using frozen even)
pinch of salt (or up to 1/4 or 1/2 if you like it)
1T sugar
1 egg yolk
50ml cold water

Sift the dry ingredients and put in a cuisinart
Add cut up butter and blend till butter is crumbly and mixed well throughout butter. It's really a pate sablé
Place in bowl and make a well. Add the egg and water.
Start mixing with a fork and finish with your hands. Bring it to a just mixed ball and place on your counter and give it 3 good palm rubs and then put it into a little flattened circle ready to roll out. Place in fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Before going out I prepped a couple carrots from my garden (traditional orange and a yellow- I love all the new colors of carrots), some green beans, shitakes and green onions.

Made my simple salad: blushed bibb lettuce, apple, blue cheese bits and quick vinaigrette- lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup. (Usually a little mustard but embarrassed to say I was out).

Basically prepped up and while the dough was still resting, I went outside for my evening survey of the fruit trees to see what the raccoons graciously left for the humans. I shook some plums from a still covered tree and closed up the greenhouse and chicken coop.

Back in the kitchen now, I got cooking. Almost. First I sliced up the plums and added a dash of flour, some sugar and a little cinnamon and nutmeg (a little plum liquor and tiny dash of lemon next time).
I let the plums sit for a bit to juice up.

Now I seared my 2 ribs on hot cast iron, seasoned them with alder smoked salt, pepper and put them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes. They came out of the oven and rested at least another 8-10 min.
Threw a chunk of bread in to warm up.

I put a little water in a frying pan to cook the carrots a little; allowed the water to evaporate and added a nob of butter; then added the shitakes, then a little more water to get the juices going; then my baby green beans and green onions and I put a lid over it. It's like a cross between steaming and stir fry and you keep some nice moisture but it's not oily.

I made the galette, buttered the edges and sprinkled sugar crystals over the whole thing (you can also use cream) and put it in a 400 degree preheated oven for about 40 min.

My candle was lit, the music on and my dinner was beautifully arranged at the head of the table. I was very pleased. I just popped up to get my Spanish olive oil when my friend Christa walked in the door Startled, I jumped two feet and felt self conscious of my set up. [Why did I feel like a "miserable old woman"(quote from Chloe H.).....] Why did I feel like I was standing there completely naked or like I had just been caught in the act of committing a crime? Why is it so strange to do nice things for ourselves that involve food. We might take 2 hours to hike or work out alone. We go shopping or read books etc etc. But food is something different.
Food is social and I appreciate how it brings people together. Cooking and eating with friends and family is obviously a well known pastime.
But cooking and eating by yourself can be enjoyable too.

Did I forget to mention Chloe came home about 3/4 of the way through my meal. She walked in and looked at me and my set up and smiled. " Are you ok? What are you doing?. I told her I had a great time cooking and taking pictures of dinner and sitting down to eat it. And alone is ok. She sat down with me and ate the other rib.

P.S. Galette photos by Chloe Hamilton (except ones with her in them!)

Comments

[Sandi Damron]

As a frequent solo diner myself, I say hats off to you and your beautiful set up...a little self-care goes a long way! This all looks and sounds absolutely delicious! If I wasn't hungry before, I sure am now!

[Wendy]

Thanks Sandi- great to see you checked out the site. Light those candles baby!

[willie thomas]

Absolutely charming ..... all you do and ARE ..... I love you ..... your not so secret admirer ....Dad!

[sissy]

I WISH I could be alone for a dinner by candlelight.
I will pick up some oysters in February!