Das Deutschdiner

I have finally come to terms with this apartment. I still hate it, but I have accepted that I will not get to live elsewhere for some time. Much like buying a pair of jeans in the hopes of fitting into them later, I must stop being delusional and stupid. I have to embrace what I have, harsh consequences be damned.

I am going to start inviting friends over.

My first dinner guests will be the famed Father Augustine and Jennifer Gubbe, who will both forgive Ben and my modest circumstances. Jen and I were in RCIA class together, but didn't really converse until the church gala almost two weeks ago. Like a triple bonded carbon atom it took a lot to bring us together, but now we're stuck and happy with it. She also lives in the dorms at UO, and is in need of a home-cooked meal (even a cave-cooked meal, in my case). Jen was thrilled with the invitation and suggested that we schedule dinner for tonight.

Unfortunately, Father Augustine is not available for dinner until May. Even more unfortunately, he didn't tell this to Jen. I received a text from her today asking what I was going to make for dinner, since she took his silence as tacit compliance. As Ben says when he is short on answers, that is an excellent question. I was unprepared, but it is not the way of my people to turn away the hungry.

In the midst of trying to find common ground for my shy boyfriend and equally shy new friend to bond over, the Idea Fairy sounded a little chime in my head. I would make them German food so they could meditate on the glory of their people and pity the poor Irish cook (who speaks better German than both of them, so ha.) I quickly threw together chicken schnitzel with roasted potatoes and sautéed Brussels sprouts, which was the best I could do on short notice. I personally love schnitzel, especially when there are leftovers that can be diced and put into the next morning's omelet (but Ben never, ever leaves a schnitzel behind). It was enjoyed by all, even if it lacked that certain "Ich weise nicht was."