I've just finished reading a collection of essays about what we feed ourselves when there's no one around, Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant. I admit I devoured it once I got my hands on it; it's almost voyeuristic to read about these private dining moments (in front of the TV? At the kitchen or dining room table? With some reading material or the computer?) It's so stripped-down; I feel like you could extrapolate a lot about a person by how he or she eats when alone. For instance, Todd orders takeout or forgets to eat altogether if I'm not around to feed him. It's just not that important to him; he is far too passionate about other things to bother much with food.

I, on the other hand, relish the free reign I have when the only one I have to please is myself. Every once and a while August is so exhausted, or so full from a big snack, that he takes his nap before we have a chance to eat lunch (we usually eat together). Then I make mushrooms or greens, combine Cheddar and apple butter, goat cheese and fig jam. A pumpkin muffin loaded with sunflower seeds, raisins and cream cheese. A baked egg sprinkled with fresh herbs. It's usually very easy to prepare, because that's one gift I give myself, rarely includes meat or fish, almost always has cheese and some kind of bread. Todd would never consider it a meal; I guess it's girly food. This picture is a perfect example. Sauteed beet greens on toast with thin slices of cheese broiled over the top. I usually do have a magazine, book or the computer to read. Lately I watch old episodes of The Office or Grey's Anatomy on iTunes.

I'm curious. What do you do when you have no one to feed but yourself?