in other people's homes

Aside from the times I thought I wanted to run away from home, I never imagined myself homeless, but much to the dismay of one Wells Fargo lady, homeless I was for two months. And at a time when a new home was not quite in sight.

Casa de Amy. Holding down the fort while she was busy getting a terrible illness that affects ears in Spain. With vegetables from Audrey's mama's garden.

Things to note: one key opens her apartment. One key opens all the other doors... except other peoples' apartments. And the showers are absurdly loud. Her couch is super comfortable. And her parking spot is not behind the building.

cucumber mint salad - de-seeded cucumber with lemon-y mint, red onion, a heaping spoonful of sugar, half a heaping spoonful of salt, and a moderate spoonful of vinegar.

garlic fried Swiss chard with spicy roasted chickpeas over rice

basil and walnut pesto - two cloves of garlic, lots of basil, lots of roasted walnuts, handfuls of Parmesan, and enough olive oil to bring it all together - over roasted spaghetti squash

From stadium side undergrad apartment to Epic level high rise with Rach. I found myself in a love-hate-love relationship with Nori and with 13 ears of corn for $6 from the farmer's market.

roasted eggplant with sweet corn pesto

corn on the cob with miso butter - one part miso, one part butter

sweet corn water with tamarindo powder and lime because Rach loosely mentioned her mom drinks the boiling water after making corn

After being homeless on the road for two weeks, I was finally homeless for ten days in the East Bay. Moraga to be specific. I know; I didn't know what it was either. And how better to repay hospitality than by gathering some peaches and Asian greens at the local farmer's market to make dinner one sunny Sunday.

And mini baked black sesame buns as a bonus.

Always be perfecting the go-to eggplant dish - still shaoxing cooking wine, still soy sauce, still garlic and ginger, instead rice wine vinegar, plus fish sauce, lots of Thai basil, sesame oil to tie it all together off the heat

green beans with oyster sauce

Chinese water spinach with garlic and lao gan ma chili sauce

And what are you supposed to do with all that leftover basil? Fried rice, scrambled eggs, tomato and mozz sandwiches. Yes all good, but what about peach cobbler with basil biscuit topping?

follow recipe pretty closely + basil shreds worked into dough

Personally preferred cold for breakfast the next day.