30 Minute Meals

Having BuddyBuddy move in was my idea.   My rationale was, his rent would help us out financially,  I wouldn't be alone all the time, and I would have someone around to kill bugs.  Our verbal agreement was he would pay 50 rupees a month, and buy his own groceries.   Deal?  Deal!

I noticed BuddyBuddy being very interested in when I was going to go grocery shopping, what I planned on buying, and suggesting we make a list.  We?  I'm sorry, do you have a mouse in your pocket?  I told him I wasnt sure when I would make it, and he should go buy whatever he needed; after all, the deal was 'buy your own groceries.'  He returned 2 hours later with RedBull, Chips Ahoy, 2 loaves of bread, and SmartFood Popcorn.   

So I go shopping, stocking up with whatever I'm going to need, minus produce, for the next month.  MONTH.  I thought a huge shop would illustrate what one needs to survive, he could take a few notes, and tackle the wild aisles of Shoprite like a champ.     I returned home, and wasn't in the house for 2 minutes before he came down upon my bright yellow shopping bags like a lion onto a gazelle.   Holy.  Shit.   "What should I make for dinner?.  I'll have chicken.  Oh, these vegetables look good.  Hm, how should I cook this?"  And then, he looked at me. I could see it in his eyes.  He not only had no idea how to conquer a grocery store, he had no idea what to do with the goods he would acquire.

During the next 30 minutes he watched, and "assisted" me in the preparation of 3 different meals:  my dinner (salmon, rice & broccoli to be packed for work),  my breakfast (an egg & bacon topped waffle),  and,  his dinner (chicken & mixed veggies in pasta with oil & garlic).    I don't think I've ever seen somebody so excited over basic sauteed chicken.   As an Italian woman, who knows her way around a chicken cutlet, it was beautiful.  Right then,  I knew.  I would groom my cub into a ferocious bachelor cooking machine!  (And as soon as that cooking machine can boil water without assistance, we'll revisit the grocery detail of the rental agreement.)  

Afterwards I decided I was so freaking awesome, I was going to change my windshield wipers! ALL BY MYSELF!   35 minutes later, I returned inside, defeated by my Hyundai.   Dear Korea, is this a trick!?!?!