Comfort food

You're home, finally home, at the end of a 12-hour day. Midway up the walkway, you've pulled off the black patent heels and adjusted the laptop case's weight so it won't hang so heavy.

Behind you: a sleepless night; an interview; 120 miles; two deadlines met; a 4-hour meeting.

Ahead: short story critique; studying; headache already there. Dinner?

But it's too late to get real food anywhere and you've resigned yourself to two hot dogs and a beer. So you open the fridge and that's when you see The Black Pot.

Inside The Black Pot: your last memory of a perfect meal. Sunday. Tilapia marinated in mummy's secret green seasoning; macaroni and provisions and love, boiled, simmered and stirred to a perfect broth.

You scoop the last of it into a blue bowl. Three minutes in the microwave. It's almost as good as the first time, sans one ingredient. But it's enough to light your insides on fire and make you smile.

At the end of a 12-hour day, it's enough.


Photo from whatocook.com