I know, there are always pictures of food on here, so where did they all go?

I've barely been posting any food pics because I've barely cooked since moving back to LA.  Embarrassingly, I probably could count on one hand how many times I've cooked in the past 3 months and more embarrassing I've only opened my house once to friends to participate in eating my efforts.  It's been a combination of adjusting to a new home, the setting up of logistics for me to be mobile, getting home late every night from physical therapy, being busy with work and traveling back for both of my brother's weddings. And well, I must admit I'm just a little intimidated by my new kitchen.

I don't know her as well. The layout is something my body needs to adjust to. There's extra steps, wider alley, counters are slightly lower and we need to learn how to work well with each other.  I need to absorb a new routine and a new way to move around her. To cook in mass proportion requires a whole lot of planning and I need to gauge myself in order to accomplish everything I set out to do. Which means adding in extra time than I needed say the year before, taking appropriate breaks (as you can see me sitting in the chair above) and have fun.  If it's not fun then all the struggle isn't worth it.  If you really care or want something then the standards you set can be achieved in spite of struggles.

At the last minute before we headed to Michigan we decided to make a bunch of food and have some friends over.  The great thing about the new space, and one of my hopeful requirements when searching for a home, is enough space to have people over for food. I think 20 people came over and above is all the food I made - from scratch. Jason and I made 8 homemade pizzas, 2 pans of ratatouille lasagna, piles of meatballs, huge salad...etc.  

At the end of these dinner parties I never know how I made it through. It was two days worth of cooking and it was great getting back into it. It was more work than I had estimated, as usual, but it's great exercise and what better way to "exercise" than cooking for others. I barely ate my food, as usual, but I did drink ;).

I always say it, but I love people coming over and I love the remaining messy place after a great big party. It means people had fun. It's a huge project and there is a satisfaction from successfully completing it. I'll try to get back into my cooking and having people over when things settle.  I miss it. 

With that, I know what you are thinking. "How the hell can she cook all that but in the previous post went on about hour-long instant ramen?"