10 Comments
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Julia Bedell's avatar

This is the plight of my life! Thanks for the nudge to eventually, finally, embrace cooking... someday

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jess's avatar

don't worry, cooking is not going anywhere!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Beautiful, Jess. And your food always looks so damn good! ❤️

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jess's avatar

thank you kindly, Jolene!!

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Susan's avatar

Beautiful to read! I used to live alone when I was at uni, so was constantly halving recipes and then keeping the leftovers to eat on a day when I was getting home later. These days I am living with my family, and alas both my parents hate tempeh. So on the rare occasions that they are away, I break out the tempeh big time.

I will now also be singing Kelly Clarkson all day long. Jules would be pleased.

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jess's avatar

I can safely say that we would/are both pleased about anything that's tempeh + Kelly Clarkson!! Thank you for reading, Susan <3

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Ali O'Neill's avatar

What a beautiful essay Jess. The 2000s seem like such a long time ago, right? I miss the PPK forums too. Shockingly I haven’t had an occasion to cook just for myself in *years*, but I usually go straight for the grilled cheese. And speaking of food writing, have you read “What We Eat When We Eat Alone” by Deborah Madison? It’s a funny and enjoyable piece of writing.

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jess's avatar

Aw, shucks, to all of this nice comment, Ali : )

It is charming to think of *you* making a grilled chz and how seasonal* greens & herbs & sauce-infused or whatnot it must get - and I mean that as the biggest compliment (and envy). And no so funny enough, I also picked up that book from this "free" book sale! On my to-read list : )

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Paula's avatar

Love this. Cooking for one after being so used to cooking for two is definitely weird! I was recently solo for 5 days for the first time since the pandemic and basically I made a huge loaf of olive bread since my spouse hates olives and just found different ways to incorporate that into my meals. It was amazing and I actually can't remember what else I cooked because the olive bread was so good.

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jess's avatar

Paula, I am smiling picturing you making a beautiful, delicious olive bread and realizing that's all you really need...it IS so weird (and yet, it comes back to you...) to cook for one again! Now I want olive bread. Fierce.

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