Bittersweetly, my college days are behind me, never to return again.
Gone are the days where I only had sixteen hours of necessary crap to get done each week.
Gone are the days where I had the daytime Food Network schedule memorized to a tee; the days when I could tell you the next ingredient Paula would throw into that chicken salad because I may or may not have seen that episode like seven times.
Gone are the days where I could throw on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and the Lord of all shoes ... the chaco ... and be done dressing for the day. The entire day.
And gone are the days where I had the extra time to frolic throughout the grocery store on the search for a cornucopia of ingredients to concoct a meal that wasn't boxed macaroni or frozen pizza (which are unfortunately meal staples in my life these days due to lack of time and lack of greens #youngprofessionalprobs).
However, I recently found the both the time and money (which might have been after I had a few mimosas on one Sunday Funday afternoon) to tackle the challenge of a made-from-scratch meal. Because who wants to eat Papa John's while geeking out over the glitz of the Oscars? Not me. Not my friends. We needed homemade. We needed an attempt at fancy.
And THIS is what occurred as a result.
I am here today to say that it is very important for your wellbeing, your happiness, your palatte, for the good of all people everywhere for you to find the time and the greens to assemble this dish.
You will thank me. You will thank Miss Ree Drummond. And you will thank those who make up the Cajun culture for bringing this culinary love into your world.
Happy noodling.
