cook down (or a sorry account of my attempts at feeding myself while sick)

i dragged myself out of bed and went to the farmers' market to get my groceries for the week. when i got there, they had run out of chicken, which i was hoping to use to make grandpa's porridge. loathing the thought of having to make a stop at trader joe's, i decided to make vegetarian grandpa's porridge.

attempt #1:
i chopped up some onions and put them in the oven to roast. then i got into bed for a little lie down, just a little rest, and maybe a bit of slumber... i woke up to the smell of charred food. the onions were completely burnt. okay, i tell myself, i guess i can just eat some brown rice.

attempt #2:
i put on a pot of rice to cook, went back into bed for a lie down, just a little rest, and maybe a bit of slumber... i woke up to the now familiar smell of charred food. the pot of rice was completely burnt. desperate now, i looked around the apartment for any prepared food.

attempt #3:
i had a store-bought banh chung that i was intending to give to my grandpa for new year's day. as i wouldn't be able to see him until next week, and the cake wouldn't keep that long, i cut out a piece of the banh chung and took one bite, grateful for something edible and not requiring cooking. but i was premature in my gratitude because the cake had gone bad, and i had to spit out the bite i had taken.

surrender:
like a drowning person too fatigued to go on, i grabbed a couple of tangerines i had bought from the market and sank back to bed, feeling pretty famished and forlorn.

rescue:
later my friend judy comes by and makes me thai coconut soup, ginger-garlic kale, and korean multi-bean rice. not only was nothing burnt or expired, everything was deliciously prepared and wholesome. they were the best things i'd ever eaten. and just what i needed.