Enjoy the Delicious

I'm not even going to try to pretend. I, very, very rarely, cook on Fridays. On the alternate weekends that I have my boy, he is in heaven because we undoubtedly ingest the gastronomical delight that is only enjoyed by a 9 year old boy; and his 37 year old mother. I have a rule in my house - McDonald's twice a month. Fridays are all about Mickey D's. On these days I play all huff and puff with the boy, scolding him and schooling him on the virtues of good nutrition. All that nonsense before taking a walk through those beloved Golden Arches. Secretly though, I know that I love McDonald's Fridays more than he does. I yearn for these days when I can treat myself to the ultimate culinary sin, a crispy chicken sandwich with bacon and ranch dressing, the ultimate in perfectly golden fries and a soda of some sort. Sometimes, when persuaded, I will spring for milkshakes. Chocolate. Divine heaven.

The boy is with his dad this weekend so I am free to eat as I please. Don't tell but I treated myself to a 3rd day AND the milkshake. The utter satisfaction of this meal is fleeting though. I know at some point tonight I will have to sate myself with real nutrition.

It's Labor Day weekend and the social calendar is full. A farewell party for my friend Mariel who is leaving to teach in Spain for a year and a cookout and cocktails on my friend Ali's deck where we'll spend all our time petting her new kitten. This is my last hurrah. The last weekend of summer that allows any abandon. After this it's all down to business. All the moms are making contact with each other, the kids are bitching, complaining that school is no good because they won't be able to get in enough pool time but desperate to see all their friends again, the Parent's Board is in full swing again planning our first meetings of the school year. There's just something about September rolling around that yields to structure, a taming of your wild side.

My only culinary instruction today is to enjoy what you want, indulge your culinary whims and have fun. Enjoy the Delicious, caniculares dies, these last dog days of summer.