operation: fridge and pantry cleanout

i've taken up half of the pantry in our apartment. whenever i open the fridge, something falls off my shelf.

this is getting embarrassing.

yesterday i took a survey of everything in the fridge and pantry and then went to the grocery store--which seems to go against my mission, but seriously, who eats tofu straight from the package? this is my problem. i either buy things that i have no idea what to do with, like quinoa, or things that i don't even like. last night i finally threw a package of spicy cappacolla ham at my aunt because even the thought of eating it gives me heartburn.

the other problem i have is that i hate cooking for myself. i'm so lazy. it never seems worth it. yesterday, though, i finally got tired of my daily menu of shredded wheat for breakfast, oatmeal for lunch, and chocolate-covered coffee beans for dinner. i'm sucking it up and making awesome food out of all the ridiculous things i've been collecting.

this is not to say that guests aren't invited, though. leftovers are fine, but eating with people is best.

the menu for the next 2-3 weeks:
tomato and basil calzone (getting rid of the last bit of ricotta and hopefully making a dent in my surplus of basil)
prosciutto-stuffed chicken breasts (this prosciutto is not good enough to eat on its own)
caramelized tofu with brussels sprouts (i am seriously craving brussels sprouts)
quinoa bowl with asparagus, potatoes, onion, and garlic
veggie lasagne (i have like a pound of mushrooms to get rid of)
meatloaf (there's ground beef in the freezer, and i found a surprise bag of panko bread crumbs with my baking supplies)
pot roast (there's one of these in the freezer too)
chana curry (finally! something to do with all those chickpeas i bought! hopefully the guy at indian palace will let me get mint chutney to-go, too. oh lord what a meal.)

ah. as much as i love chocolate-covered coffee beans, this sounds so much better.

everybody is going through the motions

when i was fourteen i thought it would be really cool to dress like elvis costello. i wish i was kidding. i already had black plastic-framed glasses and an androgynous haircut. all i needed were a few blazers and ties. pulling off an elvis costello (circa 1978) look would not have been a problem.

really, though, i was--and am--just jealous of the guy. who wouldn't want to write something like this year's model? today i listened to that album no less than three times. it didn't make me want to put on a shirt and tie, but it did make me wish i could call "little triggers" my own.