Christmas came and went. And so did my neighbors. I never saw them. He was never out smoking in the hall, even though the Christmas stuff was still up on the porch. The shades where drawn, and there were no lights on at all. As it got later into January, I began to get concerned. Did they leave? Were they on vacation? Wouldn't you take your tree down if you went on vacation? Were they shut-ins? Were they really that lazy?
Or.....were they dead?? Still in the apartment, yet slipped from the mortal coil.
It has stressed me for days. I felt like Mrs. Kravitz! Last night, I was painting my toenails (Pat on the Black, thank you) when I heard voices in the hall. I almost tripped myself trying to get to the peephole to see if it was them. Nope. This morning, I almost put a Chinese restaurant menu in their door, just to see if it was gone when I got home from work. But someone started coming down the stairs.
I finally broke down and called the leasing office and asked if they still lived there, or where they on vacation, as I had not seen them in a month, and all that Christmas crap is still up. The manager said, funny you should say that, we are just drafting letters to tell people to get their Christmas stuff down. (Seriously people, it's January! Christmas was a month ago! How lazy are you???)
When I came home from work, I almost cried. All the blinds were open. The windows were open. Lights were on. And a very grumpy looking man was removing the Christmas stuff from the porch. It was as if in the letter to tell them to take their stuff the fuck down, they also said, by the way open up a window and turn on a light, everyone thinks you're dead!!!
I was so stressed and relieved, I had to cook. So I whipped up some Sausage, Mozzarella and Broccoli Rabe with Shells. Of course, Publix being Publix, they had no broccoli rabe, so I used regular broccoli. And an onion. Chopped.
OH, and the drink mentioned in the title... A nice Malbec. Not a great one, but it's OK. I like a red wine I can chew, and a white that bites back.
Oooo spicy Italian sausage. I had to take the casings off. Yeah, it's gross. Here is the "before."
I had to multitask, sauteing the onions while boiling the shells (but not cooking them all the way). Don't you love my new red pan!?!? Sooo pretty!! Merry Christmas to me!
I tossed the broccoli into the pasta for 15 seconds and then drained it quick and set it aside, then tossed the sausage in with the onions, along with some garlic and dried thyme. The recipe calls for three thyme sprigs that you end up taking out. Fuck that (sorry, Dickie), but I'm not spending a ton of money for fresh thyme just to use three sprigs. I say three good pinches of dried thyme and the flavor remains. That's how I roll.
Then comes a can of whole peeled tomatoes. Now, like when I make my Manhattan clam chowder, I used my kitchen sheers to cut the tomatoes into pieces, so you don't end up with a giant chunk of tomato. One tablespoon of flour gets stirred in to the sausage and onions for a few seconds, then pour in the tomatoes and cook until the sauce is thickened.
Then, and this was tricky, and involved a ladle so as not to make a bigger mess than I usually make, you pour the sausage mix into the pan with the shells and broccoli, mix it up and then pour all that into a 3-quart casserole pan. And then comes the best part of any meal—CHEESE!!!! Both grated Parmesan AND mozzarella.
Isn't it beautiful!?!?! It looks even better here:
Yep. Cheese is a beautiful thing, and goes with every meal. Except Chinese food. Which, like my sister, I just think is weird. I mean, cheese doesn't go with Chinese. Or Thai. Or Japanese. Thank God, it goes with everything else!!!
The GEAUX SAINTS! BEAT THOSE DOLTS Playlist
Norwegian Wood The Beatles (I want to cry, the remastered discs sound SO GOOD)
Come Back Down Toad the Wet Sprocket ("I've quit this a million times, can't quite stay away.")
Magic Olivia Newton-John (It took everything in me not to geek out and tell her I own Xanadu on DVD, and the soundtrack is on my iPod.)
Imaginary Friends Ron Sexsmith ("Do you comprehend now to imaginary friends you don't exist.")
Told You So Barenaked Ladies ("I had myself fooled into needing you. Did I fool you to?")
How to Be a Millionaire ABC ("I've seen the future, I can't afford it!")
A Man Alanis Morissette
There Must Be an Angel Eurythmics ("No one on Earth could feel like this. I'm thrown and overblown with bliss.")
Julia Chocolate Genius (eh)
Beat the Time Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Movin' Out Billy Joel ("Savin' all his money for a Cadillac-ac-ac-ac-ac")
Sugar Tonic "Come on baby get your shoes on. You're lookin' like you need a rescue.")
Purple Rain Prince & the Revolution (the BEST Prince song EVER!!!)
Suspended in Time Olivia Newton-John (again, from Xanadu. Love it!!)
Because The Beatles
Stay a Little Longer Willie Nelson ("Pull off your coat and throw it in the corner, don't see why you don't stay a little longer.")
Rainy Days and Mondays The Carpenters ("Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you.")
You May Be Right Billy Joel
Alcohol Barenaked Ladies ("For while I cannot love myself, I'll use something else.")
She's Too Much Duran Duran (I wish someone wrote this for me. Love this song!)
Girl The Beatles
Zoom In Duran Duran (I LOVE YOU JOHN!!!)
11:59 Blondie
The Power of Goodbye Madonna ("You were my lesson I had to learn.")
Fumbling Toward Ecstasy Sarah McLaclan
Possession Sarah McLaclan ("And I will be the one to hold you down, kiss you so hard, I'll take your breath away.")
Shattered O.A.R. ("How many times can I break till I shatter?")
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss PM Dawn ("The camera pans, a cocktail glass...")
Don't Let it go to your Head Fefe Dobson ("So what if I want to kiss from your toes up to your lips....")
