{W}rite of Passage

Maybe you’ve noticed, but I’ve been having an awful time writing lately.  To that end, I decided to jump on a particular bandwagon and take part in a bit of a writing challenge.  Mrs. Flinger set it up and I’m most grateful that she did.  Might be the kick in the ass I need.  This week’s prompt is to write about your most embarrassing moment and I had so many to choose from that it was a difficult decision.  So, I present you with the first one that popped into my mind.

Once upon a time, a million and a half years ago, I shared an apartment with a guy and another girl. It was sort of like “Three’s Company”, but with way more alcohol and stuff. The apartment was really pretty fabulous, or it would have been had we been able to keep it clean, but I digress. When you walked in the front door, you walked into a large foyer – a staircase at the back of the foyer led you up to our apartment. You’ll see why this detail is important in just a moment.

The boy roommate seemed to have this never ending line of other boys that would come around now and again and they would become part of the group and then drift away just as easily. There was one boy who was very good looking and my friend Sandy had a huge crush on him. I don’t remember his name, but let’s call him Rich (with a capital “D” wink wink nudge nudge). Rich led Sandy on quite a bit and she was sure that a relationship would come out of it.  He led her on for weeks and weeks and weeks.  One night we were all out partying and Rich cornered me and told me how much he liked me and tried to kiss me. I was furious and told him in no uncertain terms what a jack ass he was and that I was not interested in even talking to him, much less kissing him. Shortly thereafter, he faded away and I didn’t think much of him at all. We all went on with our lives and even Sandy stopped hanging around with us.

About a year later, I was home watching General Hospital and lying on the couch, due to the fact that I had broken my ankle and was in a cast from my toes to my upper thigh.  I heard the front door open and the boy roommate yelled up the stairs; “Christine, do you remember Rich?”
Remember the layout of the apartment? I yelled back, “Rich?  The guy that Sandy liked?”
“Yeah”
“Yeah I remember him, I don’t like him, but I remember him.”
“Why don’t you like him?”
“Because Sandy was really into him and he knew it and led her on and then tried to kiss me that night when she was right there.”

Of course you know what happened here, right?  Boy roommate came up the stairs with Rich in tow.  I wanted to crawl underneath the couch and beat up boy roommate at the same time.   He went into his room to change out of his work clothes and left me sitting in the living room with Rich.  He didn’t say anything to me and I didn’t say anything back.  For forty. five. minutes.  That might have been the most awkward silence I’ve ever experienced.

Quick Tomato Sauce

Well, Quick Tomato Sauce with Spinach and Mushrooms over Ravioli, but that didn’t fit in the title space.

1 28 oz. can Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
4 cloves of garlic minced
1 large onion chopped
2 T. EVOO
1 pint of sliced portabello mushrooms
1 bunch of baby spinach, washed and dried
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Ravioli (or whatever pasta you’re in the mood for)

Heat a large saute pan on med/high heat.  When it’s hot, add the EVOO and allow to ribbon*.  add the garlic and onion and saute until translucent.  Add the mushroom and allow to cook until the mushrooms start to brown.

When the mushrooms start to get glossy add the spinach

cook until the spinach starts to wilt

At this point, put your water up to boil for the ravioli that you have spent all day cutting and rolling and stuffing.  What?  That bag?  The one that says “Ravioli”? Oh ignore that . . . . Ok, ok, Publix had a sale on their ravioli and that’s what I used.  Use whatever you like…

Add the diced tomatoes and the paste to the spinach/mushroom mixture, stir to combine and allow to cook for a couple of minutes on high to burn off some of the extra liquid.  When you’re happy with the consistency, lower the heat to medium, add the red pepper flake, stir and just leave it alone till the pasta is done.

drain the pasta and plate, spoon the sauce on top and eat.  You could also do this in a large, lipped platter and serve homestyle.  It was delicious and easy!

Enjoy!

*the olive oil “ribbons” when it’s hot enough – it’s looks like the oil separating into waves – when it does that, you’ll know it hot enough for saute.

Halloween, Boo!

NaNoWriMo

Are you in? I’m going to participate for the first time this year.  It’s already November 1st and I have no plot, no characters, no idea really – but I’m doing it anyway.  How about you?