Kory, Kate and I used to dress up as "the Heathers" from the movie Heathers, and roam the halls of our dorm with fake croquet mallets. This was freshman year. The three of us had been placed in an all-upperclassmen dorm out of error or some administrator's joke.
Isolate three 18-year-olds with too much energy and no way to meet other campus newcomers, and some real creativity rises to the surface. Kate was the trickster. She guided us into black sweatpants, painted dark stripes under our eyes and led the charge to a frat house with shaving cream and plastic wrap to prank their cars.
Kory was lovelorn. She demonstrated her adoration for a neighbor by filling the alcove outside his room with balloons. When he opened the door, they all fell inside. My specialty was kitchen creations. I microwaved peanut butter and soy sauce, added a can of coconut milk and tossed it with pasta for instant Thai food.
This weekend (14 years later) Kate and Kory came to Chicago to run a marathon. I helped them prepare by serving up a big old pasta feast the night before the race. Just like old times. But without the peanut butter.
The Perfect Side Dish: Broccoli Puree
2 pounds broccoli, separated into florets. Stems sliced.
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup milk
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and pepper
Place broccoli in a steamer. Set over boiling water and boil for 10 minutes until still green but easily pierced with a fork. Place broccoli in food processor with butter and process. Add milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper, Process until smooth. Serves 4
