Potatoes @ MindSay 
potato
Earlier in the day I was drinking bottles of hobo wine, Mad dog 20/20, with my sister. I had gone through two bottles and gave a few calls out. I got ahold of Pat and he was excited to hear from me. He informed me that he was going to some Jam Band concert out in Buffalo. Well I continued drinking so by the time we were well on our way and entering the concert I was pretty... well you could only imagine.
I had fun in the crowd for a little bit until I had to go to the bathroom. I made my way there. On the way out I decided to have a lay down in the grass near a light pole. I was awaken by some guy. He woke me saying "Hey man do you know of anything good going around?" Well I didn't know of anything that was going around I was just drunk and passing out. He must have thought I was high on something. Well I decided to relocate to a bench just a hundred feet or so away. I feel asleep again and was awaken by a similar question. I stayed awake. I got a call and text message from several people. One was my dad who wanted to know what time I graduated. The other was Sean. Good friend. PA. He left me a rather nice message telling me to give him a call back about visiting. I have to get back to him. The other was Samantha. She left text messages and I tried calling back. I returned the calls to Sean and Samantha in one of the Port-o-potti's because it wasn't so loud in there. I guess I had a rough entrance and exit because after I got out one of the lady security guards came up to me and tried to take me away to the Ambulence. I was obliged to go. She told me that I was unable to walk straight and that she was taking me to the Ambulence. I was telling her it was no big deal and that I was trying to answer my phone and all that jazz and it was too much to comprehend at that time but I still didn't mind accompanying her. She then told me I seem to be walking straight then so she was going to let me go. I remember her telling me twice that I seem to be walking perfectly normal. I wish I had money for beer or a hot dog. I can't buy beer. I'd settle for a hot dog. The rest of the night was somewhat loud and forgettable.
After the four of us reunited and made our way out we were walking down the street to the car. I was still drunk apparently. I don't remember looking for it but I found a card board box, it was like those chinese food boxes, from some restaurant. There was three salt potatoes and two or three steamed carrots in there and a piece of chicken with some sort of sauce. I think it was a starch sauce like on a country friend steak. Pat guessed it was chicken. He was right, I was surprised. I wish I had a fork then. I ate pretty much all of it. I hate carrots. I left them in the box and tossed it. I am not going to lie the carrots looked good though, but overall the meal was really good. My main regret was not trying to figure out where the food originated. I wish to go back there someday. Thank you nameless citizen for leaving their food (at a bus stop I think? whci makes sense because you can't bring food on the bus). You will be in my heart always.
So this evening, we still find ourselves on a tight food budget and trying to work with what we have, as opposed to our normal way of cooking: let's just go shopping for whatever we need! Luckily, we are buying great versatile ingredients on our budget, and coming up with some tasty dinners, like the potato dish I made tonight!
The Baked Mashed Potatoes dish is very rich, and not friendly on carbs or calories, I'm sorry to say. But if you're looking for comfort food and you want to get away from ordinary mashed potatoes, this is your answer! The potatoes come out light and fluffy and the Asiago cheese gives it a crispy, golden crust on top! The onion and garlic add tangy deliciousness, the chicken broth gives it a deep, savory flavour, and cream cheese makes it rich and creamy!
Baked Mashed Potatoes
3 pounds potatoes
3/4 medium yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
1/4-1/2 cup chicken broth
1 egg
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
butter-flavored non-stick cooking spray
2/3 cup shredded Asiago cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel and chop potatoes, placing chunks into large pan. Add cold water until about 1" above potatoes. Add 2 tablespoons of salt. Bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender when pierced, about 15 minutes. Drain.
Grate onion (or use food processor to chop fine) and mince the garlic cloves.
Transfer potatoes into a large mixing bowl and add onion, garlic, cream cheese, chicken broth (to desired consistancy - may not need 1/2 cup), and egg. With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until all ingredients are blended. Then continue to beat while adding thyme, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper. Add small handfuls of cheddar cheese and combine.
Spray the inside of a 2-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon mashed potatoes into casserole dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle top with Asiago cheese and bake for one hour at 350 degrees.
We had to cook that earlier this afternoon, and would reheat it in the oven when the party started (it's supposed to have started 3 minutes ago) so we could enjoy it. Meanwhile, other things are being prepared while this thing is waiting to go back in.
Like the soup broth.
So I went to go turn the soup on so that could start cooking while we did other things. So my mom went to go move the casserole dish that held the kugel.
But I had accidently turned the burner the dish had been resting on up instead of the soup one.
KAPOWIE!
Exploded. All over the kitchen.
Goodbye kugel, goodbye beauuuuuuutiful blue tray.
I'm always interested in the lives of people who live with disorders or a handicap. In one hand, I always want to ask each individual about what they do day to day and if they even notice it as a hinderance anymore or has everything become a second nature to them, and then again, in the other hand, I never would have the courage because I think that would be terribly cheesy and unclassy to just walk up to a person out of the blue with the intent to start asking such questions instead of creating small talk.
My curiosity only stems because of my own disorder I've found I had recently (at least I think I have, I'll tell you why in a sec) which is depression. I don't blame many for just looking at people with depression and turning away because they don't want to be that support and or just dismissing it with the fact that they themselves have had things worse off, whatever they're depressed about isn't that bad and their overdramitizing, deal with it I am sort of attitude, etc. God knows I'm just as guilty for doing that most of the time anymore.
But I know a lot of people who have been diagnosed with depression, and quite a few more who probably should have or at least seeked some sort of help, even it was just a stranger's ear to listen. Then I see way too many whom I still believe think the world is ending but it isn't (course, look at my page... I may just be a hypocrite, HA!). It's really interesting though to see how it affects everyone and how they deal with it.
I wonder about this because many wear it like a burden, taking pills and seeing a psychiatrist. Others do a regular excersise or hobby to keep them occupied, and or both.
As I said before, I recently found out that I've been living with severe depression for the last fourteen years of my life. I found out when I was the Navy (which ended up resulting in my discharge. Least it was honorable, I guess) when out of the blue they had found a record from a hospital I had been at. The record was from a while back when I had gone to the hopsital to see a therapist/psychiatrist or whomever after unsuccessfully cutting my wrists. It's kind of funny looking back now because the lady whom I saw seemed to have that same dismissing look as so many have, I could only imagine she was thinking something along the lines of "Great, another one who's three month girlfriend has left, or college is so hard, etc. Whatever...". Only after I told her the reasons did I get a wide eyed look which kind of made me happy on some sort of sick, perverted level where one could be happy that their problems in life actually shock someone else.
Anyway, I had only wanted someone to talk with and instead she had determined it was best for me to go into a state mental institution, against my will. Luckily, she had let me make one phone call and lo and behold, my father came to get me out of there. I had never known there was a record of it though.
So years later, I had to see the ranking Psych Officer of the base out in Japan. After a few sessions and couple of 2nd opnions from some civilian psych's, the Lt. had sat me down and let me know that I have over forty-eight symptoms of severe depression (which I can only assume is bad), and have had for quite some time, since I was about 10, give or take. The solution? A ton of pills while I went out to sea for 6 months, being restricted to the ship and then sent away for testing, again, in a mental institution, after I returned. Not really what I had in mind when it came to adventure on the high seas. I never understood why they always wanted to send me away to a hospital, especially since I'm not a harm to anyone else nor myself since that one, really unsuccessful time, and have proven it for fourteen years! Hell, they didn't even know about while I was in the Navy until they really found that record!
Plus, I don't believe in taking pills which influence our emotions. Too me, nothing sounds more mechanic and robotic as that, but that's my own opinion. I may not be religious, but I believe that there's more to our thoughts and emotions than just chemicals, but that is another debate.
So I've lived with this severe depression my entire life, yet never gave it a second thought. Even to this day, I never think of it as depression, more of I may just be bummed out or have had a bad day, some just worst than others. And no one is the wiser except for a handful of loved ones whom know about it. It's just another day.
Then again, I know of friends who have gotten "bummed" out over an issue or just time and jump at the opportunity for pills. I guess to each their own.
To make a long story short, in the end what I'm really trying to say is... I like potatoes! Seriously though, through all that I've been through and helped friends and strangers alike through the same situation, the best medicine out there is still a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen, no matter whose it is.
And now I am eating mashed potatoes and listening to chopin's Polonaise.
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