7.14.2011

Food and perfectionism

College of Charleston is great for providing food to folks who are in big life circumstances--surgeries, recoveries, and of course births.  One of my colleagues recently had a baby, and I signed up to bring her tonight's dinner.  I ran home today between meetings to make a meal:  tomato zucchini pie and chocolate chip cookies.

The pie is my friend Leanne's recipe.  She fed it to me one day, and as I was saying how delicious it was, she said, "It's really easy to make!"  I nodded politely, thinking, "Yeah, right," but then she said, "Get one of those pre-made pie crusts.  Spread a package of Boursin cheese in the bottom.  Then slice tomatoes and zucchini on top, and bake it at 350 until the crust is browned."  Well, now, that is an easy recipe!  And I've made it two or three times for us this summer, and it's delicious.

So I made that for my colleague and her partner and new baby, and whipped up some chocolate chip cookies to go along with it.  As I assembled, Biffle watched.  "Are you sure you're doing it right?" he asked.  "What if they eat it and say, 'Wow, everybody's food was good except Alison's'?"

First of all, let me note that I was doing it right.  But as I pondered his question, I sort of shrugged.  I don't think I'd care if my food wasn't that good.  Not that I want to poison the new family, of course, but if they end the meal thinking, "Yowza, AP isn't such a good cook," I wouldn't be devastated.

It may be that I've found one area of my life in which I'm not a perfectionist!  That's worth celebrating!

And I did send along the cookies, which are reliably delicious.

9 comments:

mary said...

that pie sounds good! i want to add eggs and basil to it and eat it for breakfast.

Erica said...

I like that recipe! Will have to pick up some boursin and pie crusts! Here's a peanut butter cookie recipe for you: mix once cup sugar, one cup peanut butter, one egg together. Drop by spoonfuls on pan and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. DONE.

Alison Piepmeier said...

Whoa, I'll try that cookie recipe!

Another Chance to Get It Right said...

I can vouch for that cookie recipe!

krlr said...

Biffle & Matt will get along famously - Matt & I have had that EXACT same conversation. Next time he asks if I followed the recipe *before* he tastes something I'm sending him off to Charleston. He might need a cookie if he shows up there.

Alison Piepmeier said...

Perhaps I'll cook up some of the peanut butter cookies for him.

Rairy said...

Mmm... sounds yummy.

Rairy said...

Thank you for the peanut butter cookie recipe. I found 10min made them a little dark but they were wonderful made with crunchy smuckers.

Anonymous said...

My the surprising things you find in blogs!sound good all!