The desperate housewife

Living with two meticulous housemates means I have to chip in and do my share of chores, we vacuum, mop and clean once a week. This domestication is tiring, which is interesting because, although I absolutely abhor cleaning, I love cooking very much, but even that has become somewhat of a chore. Maybe it is because I am not very inspired to bake or cook, due to a few key factors:

1) Eating has become functional
2) The kitchen is very uninspiring
3) The oven is old and up till 3 weeks ago, had toxic cleaning residue smoke bellowing out from it whenever we turned it on
4) Time in the kitchen= less time for other things

There is however an occasion that happens every few weeks which allows me to bask in a few moments of culinary inspiration. I think of cakes, tarts, cookies, buns and all manner of pastries achievable with baking ingredients, some effort and heat.

Said occasion is ‘food duty’ during bi-weekly tutorial sessions.

The lengths some of my group mates have gone to when it is their turn for ‘food duty’ is just astounding, and shockingly it is our XY counterparts that are pulling out all the stops in bringing really delicious carefully thought out food (we have two dietary requirements: vegetarian, dairy free) for the group. From 8 layered grilled vegetable sandwhiches (mind you, he grilled all the bell peppers, zucchinis etc himself) to chocolate dipping pots with strawberries.

Embarrassingly, I have on two separate occasions brought:
1) Potato chips
2) Supermarket mixed nuts

In light of the fact that we will be breaking for easter on Thursday and I will be on food duty on that day, I have decided that I will put in a little bit more effort. My theory is, homemade items, no matter how rubbish will receive polite remarks, as people will be appreciative for the effort you put in regardless of how horrid it might be. Much like the ‘oh this is quite nice’ comments that were made when one group member brought homemade dairy free cookies, cookies that were hard enough to be used as doorstoppers.

I am debating between making one of two items

Carrot cake cupcake

Crunchy chocolate chip cookies

Photos and recipes generously shared with me by Sheepgirl, our resident Martha Stewart back when we were working at the agency.

Decisions, decisions.

Or…I could just cop out and bring junk food for the third time

April 4, 2009. Friends, Med School.