It Aine Gwaz’s but It'll Do

Gwaz’ll tell you what has proven to be my number one rule for survival: Take care of Jay and let everyone else fend for himself (or something similar). Nowhere does this rule apply more aptly than as it pertains to my daily sustenance. I am on record (repeatedly) as bemoaning the reality that living alone means doing absolutely everything alone, which is code for doing everything for myself.

Two-egg omelet with bacon and young gouda cheese

That includes cooking. A few weeks ago, a colleague asked me what I eat, you know, on a regular basis. I had to think. Breakfast is one thing or another. Either I go muesli, crunchy granola, or I make eggs. Ah yes, the eggs. The eggs here are, um, different. Seriously, the shells are harder and the yolks are richer, creamier. To say the least, I like the eggs. For a few weeks I couldn’t get enough. Actually I still can’t. I’ve moved from fried eggs to omelets. Toss in some spek and some yong belegen, fold it over, flip it, zout en peper and some red pepper flakes, and, yeah, Jay’s pretty happy. (I’d be downright ecstatic if I didn’t have to make it myself.)

Easy, right?

During the week, lunch is easy—George’s. That’s what the folks at ISA call the school cafeteria. George’s (yes, there really is a guy named George) is privatized. In essence, George runs a restaurant at our school. It’s good. Actually, it’s great for me.

Fetticini in curry sauce (the peas were undercooked!)

Then there’re dinners. OK, it's never real fancy, but I’m sayin’ Gwaz might be proud of me. Although I haven’t mastered the grocery store, I do well enough to get what I need. My formula is fairly simple; or should I say, my formula is to make it simply. Besides eating in restaurants which is my preference, I've managed a few things a long the way.

Chicken soup!

Heat n Serve pea soup!

North Sea white fish with beans and potatoes!