There are times when I can create masterful meals that take an entire day to prepare. There are other times when I can whip a half-empty kitchen into a surprising culinary feat. But then, there comes a time when I cannot for the life of me think of anything to cook. This particular time came precisely when my friend Gina exclaimed, “Make me something great!”
Earlier in the day, Gina asked me to show her how to cook an artichoke. Okay, easy enough. Knowing that she was eating dinner beforehand, I didn’t plan on anything complicated – maybe just steaming them with a side of caper aioli, and I could throw in some small potatoes to enjoy with the homemade mayo.
As the artichokes were steaming and we chatted over some wine, I began to second-guess my menu. The tiny russets were roasting beautifully, but the artichokes needed something… more. As I contemplated last-minute revisions, Gina must have sensed my hesitation, because it was this moment that she requested something great. This is what happens when you tell people you like to cook.
I wanted to stuff the artichokes and bake them, but I hardly had the right ingredients on hand. I stared blankly into the fridge for what felt like an hour, until my senses gradually returned and I pulled out some stale bread, garlic and Parmigiano cheese.
This was an above-average artichoke. The leaves were soft and tender, the breadcrumbs crunchy, and the cheese baked up to a subtle golden brown. Not the best meal to come from my kitchen, which was too bad because it was the first of mine that Gina was tasting.
Just don’t ask what happened to the aioli…
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