Piki-touille

I took my time getting out of bed today. It's like: hmmm i could get up, or i could lay here FORever. Anyway i eventually made my way downstairs (it's like 10:30), and my dad's pacing the halls then he stops when he sees me and is like, "Good! You're up. I need you to take me to pick up the truck, i didn't want to wake your mother." Which is fine, i mean maybe i wouldn't be stomping up and down the corridor outside her room, but what do i know? nothin'.

This is what my mom wakes up to at least 4 days a week. Dad set's out breakfast, tea, and the mail for her... and TWO spoons! What a sweetheart (I am not privileged to this treatment, but he still makes me pancakes in the shape of mickey sometimes).

So i'm like, "Ok, let me just get dressed." And he's like, "NO TIME!" but assures me i don't have to get out of the car. So we're driving there and this pothole encrusted road by my house is going to be under construction next week, and of course it's like the main road out of our 'valley' so i was like, "how do i get around this?" and he's like, "Oh i'll show you, just turn right here." And i was like, isn't this out of our way? I thought you were in a hurry," and he was like, "Are you kidding? I have all day to pick up the truck." Which: why couldn't i get dressed then? Really? it takes me like two seconds. I only have two outfits, one of them for work. Anyway he's like, "Well forget it, i'll show you later."

So we get there, and it looks closed, and (harvey just totally put her butt in my face. Thanks buddy) it actually isn't, but my dad's nervous, so i'm like, "Oh, i'll wait, and you wave to me if everything's okay." So he goes inside, the guy greets him, they walk into the back area, and i'm like, 'ok, do i need to stay?' But now i'm nervous so like 10min later they come out and start inspecting my car, and it's like, 'what is going on?' And the guy has me turning the wheels and shit. Anyway suddenly my dad taps on the window, and is like, "You won't need new tires until fall." Which, Ok dad. Thanks for the random information. "Okay, i'm going to the store," i reply, and he's like, "OK." but obvs doesn't hear me because he follows me to the light, into the turn lane, and i roll down my window and shout, "I'm going to the store, the opposite way you're supposed to go." But he's totally jamming out to frank sinatra (and by Frank Sinatra i mean the St Patricks Day CD he made two days ago, and will not stop playing still) or something, because his elbows are flying around, and he doesn't even notice me. So i turn with the light, and it like dawns on him because he totally turns last minute and cuts of two lanes of traffic (fortunately there was no one there).

So i'm off to the store, and first i go to this new bakery in town for some fresh bread, but apparently they're a cupcake only joint, and i felt like a looser not knowing that/buying anything/shopping in my pajamas, so i got three which better be fucking delicious for what i paid (they were).

My dad saw this box, put the cupcakes in a different container, and was like, "I'm keeping this, it's cute."

Anyway then i went to the health food store cause i like to drink Kambucha once in a while, but they were out, and really health food store? You only sell two things that you can't buy in any other store, and you're out of one of them? Anyway eventually i made it home and couldn't decide whether to make Ratatouille or Pikilia (Greek dish with veggies sauted in olive oil and garlic) so i sort of combined them.

Sautee garlic and onions in skillet, and add your veggies. I used zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant (which i mostly hate), and parsnips because what the fuck is a parsnip? It's like an intense carrot is the answer, and i'm sort of in love with them now. My dad saw half of the eggplant on the counter and was like, "What's wrong with you?" Anyway it smelled really good, but then my mom started making beef stew for the church which smelled like raw meat (gross) and dad was like, "are you going to make some for us too?" and mom was like, "I wasn't." And my dad's face totally fell, so my mom was like, "But now i am," and he was like, "I'm going to get a big chunk of bread, and wipe the whole bowl." That conversation is accurate. Also come on mom, you know beef stew is his fav. The man sets up breakfast for you every morning, for christ's sake!

Season with salta, peppery, and oregano. Add tomato sauce, and re-season.

mix, put in casserole dish, and here is the Eric Ripert genus move:

crack some eggs on the top, season (again and for the rest of your life) and bake at 450f until cooked to your liking. This makes everything SO much better. Oh man, I love eggs! From my head down to my legs.


B E A Utiful. Dad started eating and was like, "what's this yellow stuff, peach?" and i was like, "No, it's an egg." and he was like, "I'm so confused." Which pretty much has been his mood all day, but hey, it turned out great for me. Except the whole pajama thing.