It's a Dark and Daunting Day, Friends

The madre is going out of town for two weeks, enjoying a divine and well-earned vacation in New Orleans and Southern California. Because she has mercy on poor broke college grads who make their living writing for ranch dressing websites, mom and I went grocery shopping for the next two weeks last night. Combined with vegetables picked earlier this week, I am well stocked for two weeks.

But there is one small problem.

I'm not sure if anyone has ever told you this, but food tends to spoil. I know, imagine my shock! Who knew yogurt from 2008 would eventually turn on you?

(And when I say turn, I don't mean it curdled. I mean it developed legs, arms and a nasty snarl, and started stabbing at me with a toothpick it pilfered from a leftover club sandwich. THAT is yogurt that has turned on you.)

In order to prolong the life of my supplies, today is dedicated to cooking loads of make-ahead meals that can be frozen and popped in the oven when the need arises. Our menu today includes but is not limited to...

-Stuffed manicotti

-Tortilla soup

-Quiche fillings

-Chili

-And so forth

While this is not terribly laborious, it does involve cleaning my kitchen, and if you have spent more than five seconds in my house, you will know that I *HATE* cleaning the kitchen. I bought a ninety-six pack of paper plates and plastic silverware just to avoid doing dishes for the next month. Once I was so desperate to get the dishes done at once that I trucked them over to my sister's house and whimpered on the doorstep until she let me use the dishwasher.

I am just now realizing how completely pathetic I am. But here I go, off to attempt domesticity. Maybe if I'm nice, the yogurt will help me once I get the toothpick away from him.