An Extra Share

Upon returning from my vacation, I received an e-mail from my close friend and cooking partner Debbie, who was about to go away with her family. She was suggesting that I pick up her CSA share while getting mine. You see, among other reasons, Debbie and I planned to participate in the Starbright Farm coop as a means to get more creative with our cooking dates. So, I wasn’t surprised to receive her e-mail. Having been away for several weeks myself, I was thrilled to fill my empty refrigerator with a double share of Swiss Chard, kale, zucchini, snap peas, turnips and lettuce.

It wasn’t until later that day, as I stood over my kitchen sink washing two of everything, that I began to really miss my friend. As the sand and dirt trickled off the vegetables and muddied my water, I began to think of what I would have to cook by myself with all this food. But then I began to wonder what Debbie and I would have created together. I pictured myself in my kitchen with her while we washed and chopped together — all while bouncing ideas off of one another. My mind was flooded with thoughts of all the possible foods I could create in the company of my friend.

I came to the quick conclusion that it’s the collective thought process that really emboldens us to try new things and enhances our cooking repertoires.

Although the actual fun of creating new foods together would have to wait until next week when she returned, I took pleasure in having a few imaginary moments with my far away friend.