Biked to Angela's where Linda had invited me to view eleven visiting grand children hunting for Easter Eggs. Most of the moms had been in baby play groups together 30-40 years ago. It was indeed a testament to long and lasting friendships, a triumph over time and geography.
Took a detour on my way home to complete my chicken soup purchases. Bought chicken feet, necks and backs at Whole Foods, as well as proper dill," dill in a great big bunch as opposed to one of those little plastic packages.
Can I go to Whole Foods without popping into the
99¢ store? Fat Chance. Both stores were buzzing, mid-day Easter Sunday. On my bike, I had some constraints--couldn't buy massive amounts, but couldn't resist two boxes of organic spring mix greens, a cauliflower, brussels sprouts--the usual--I am a creature of culinary habit with variations.
Having amassed all chicken soup ingredients, feeling quite pleased with myself, I tossed the assorted parts--backs, necks, giblets, and a whole chicken in the pot and the cooking began.
Carol Brenner, called around 5pm. We'd met 35 years ago. When we first moved to Los Angeles, her father Ray lived across the street from us on Paloma. As a college student, she would visit him. In recent years, we've bumped into each other a few times at museums and concerts, and she has called me once or twice when she has a ticket or two that she is trying to sell. In short, we have had only the most minimal of contact over the past thirty years.
But, nothing is ever that surprising. Carol was calling at 5pm on Easter Sunday because she had been thinking of coming to Venice with friends earlier in the day. In the twenty plus years since her father's death, she has often come to Venice to celebrate her birthday (which had been the day before). Somehow the day had slipped by, the friends had opted out, and she'd decided she probably had enough time to come for the sunset, and thought she'd give me a call.
She, of course, knew nothing of my penchant for cooking for unexpected guests, but we made plans for her to come by for a walk and perhaps a snack.
It was close to 7pm when she arrived (she lives deep in the San Fernando Valley). By then, the soup with all vegetables added, had cooked for hours, and I'd strained it into another pot. Plenty of time for us to zip out for a sunset walk.
When we got home, it was easy enough for me to organize a quick meal. I'm slowly getting to prepare and eat most of the components of a seder meal. Weeks ago, when I wasn't exactly sure when Passover began, I bought a jar of gefilte fish (I have to admit, with plenty of horseradish, that bottled gefilte fish works just fine for me). Turns out it's a favorite of Carol's--so there was our appetizer. I'd roasted another pan of cauliflower which Id added to the left-over farfalle--not exactly Passover food, but we are flexible people. The delicious eggplant zucchini stew got to make an appearance, along with roasted peppers, salad, and chocolate matzoh for dessert.
It was close to 10pm when we finished cleaning up the kitchen--just in time for the third episode of Mad Men--by far the best of the year. A most successful, unpremeditated round of What's in Naomi's Refrigerator.
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