2 Cheese Curried Omelette

Thursday, March 12, 2020

2 Cheese Curried Omelette

A Return To The Zen Of Simplicity

A somewhat pretentious Oscar Wilde once wrote:

“I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.”

Of course he was only partially correct as the truly “complex” will as likely never label themselves as that. Their hard-won humility will balk at such pompousness. Rather, dear Oscar should’ve said:

“I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the uncomplicated.”

But then again, Oscar was Oscar: extravagant to the very last. What Oscar may have lost sight of was that “being complex” is frequently the convoluted evasion of a simple and basic fact: the truth is often quite plain and distressingly un-dramatic.

Being ‘uncomplicated’ is neither simple nor easy. It is simultaneously a life skill and a permanent, voluntarily chosen way of living that require discipline and courage to maintain, constantly agitating against the routinely imperious demands of our own DNA. Sometimes uncomplicatedness is the last, weary refuge from a surfeit of hard lessons.

Each and every one of us is the continuously evolving products of our daily choices, actions and accumulated experiences. As we grow from infants on to adults and then elders, these choices naturally give rise to behavioral patterns that continuously emerge from the daily clutter of our lives – if we care to pay attention that is. Some patterns are beneficial, some more or less neutral and some are downright destructive. With society at large being what it is, the destructive patterns (and their after effects) garner far more attention that the positives. For the curious individual it then becomes a question of will power, emotional maturity and an unflinchingly honest confrontation of our own, naked inner selves to identify the origins of all this personal and often very intimate destruction. What we find is frequently neither pretty nor easy to amend. C’est la vie.

Being raised by emotionally distant and socially reclusive parents invariably presets the playing field for a rocky start into adulthood. Moreover, my parents were themselves both loners, capable of only loving surreptitiously. Dad in particular consciously sought to stand aside from – and independent of – the “herd”. This made him an anachronistic and possibly flawed role model in our rapidly changing society of the 70’s and 80’s. Accordingly, for me, significant romantic as well as life choice failures became a certainty given this foundation of social and emotional unreadiness and ineptness. Possessing of brute academic IQ, little real insight and typical youthful male insecurity made no material difference either eventually. The stage was set and the audience bated their breaths.

On a subliminal level, limited post-adolescent self-awareness perceived that any female involvement will lead to degrees of embarrassment and certain distress – possibly permanently. However, despite resolute procrastination, distraction and timidity, our DNA will not be denied its vainglorious little victories. Eventually all novices must prostrate themselves before the high altar of the heart’s affairs. Earlier presentiment was fully qualified: the overdue learning curves in the affairs of the heart and world were both steep and decidedly unglamorous. Eventually interpersonal, social and professional ability did come about. Pain is, after all, a sage and searingly patient tutor. Increasingly the lofty crags of seclusion became a favored respite to weather the bewildering roar of this world. Belatedly you realize some hurdles can be ignored for too long.

And then, successive and varied failures in hand, convinced existing aside is the predestined way forward, you stumble across the ‘one’. An exquisite soul, a true soul mate, which every blazing fiber in your being eagerly clamors to spend all of eternity with. And daily you toil gladly and willingly to present her the very best your being can muster, to convince her you are indeed worthy despite the multitude of scars. And for a while perfect, mutual happiness seems within certain grasp. Yet, on a Saturday afternoon, she arrives with winter in her eyes and all is lost. And you learn it is possible to approach too close to another heart.

For the over-thinker solitude effortlessly becomes an addictive and saving Light of Grace. A vital engine that gradually focuses and drives inner reform: reshaping the self around stark reality and reevaluating core values, goals and – in due course – the way forward. Eventually, solitude evolves into a sacrosanct haven that maintains inner balance and discipline, mastering both the afterlife of sorrow and the melancholy of defeat, carving the individual into a wiser, wearier – and sometimes – kinder human being.

Yet, the body electric does not so easily forget the quiet elation and soul affirming acceptance found in the unqualified embrace of a soul mate: that one, sole human – the “divine nimbus” – who has the full and profound attention of your burning heart. In unguarded moments the subdued heart rebels against the rhythms and sanctity of solitude, jeopardizing inner quietude of uncomplicatedness. In restoring balance and harmony, I turn as an aid to the preparation of favourite dishes seasoned with personal significance. The physical effort of limbs, hands and fingers attending their routines sets this mind and spirit free to roam eternity and all that was, soothing this heart’s turmoil and accepting another idle dalliance with melancholy. Assembling ingredients and equipment, laying the table and the final execution becomes a ritual of mindfulness that becalms and distracts both heart and spirit. And if you have respect for yourself, and by logical extension your ingredients, your stove top becomes a sacred altar where the transmutation of your simple ingredients of egg, cheese and bread into a consummation that nourishes the body and delights the spirit, also becomes an elevated and pure offering to the Universe as a thankful affirmation of our own inner well being, restoration and self reverence.

After all, the illustrious MFK Fischer once wrote:

When we exist without thought or thanksgiving we are not men, but beasts.

Curried Omelette is therefore not so much a recipe as it is a rite, aiding in the restoration and validation of inner harmony and grace. Dually, it is also a dun, personal monument to surreptitious breakfasts once shared with that special one, aside little occasions that held the promise of future happiness and fulfillment despite the “as we went kneeling through the dark”. A gentle, bittersweet reminder of what could’ve been and an exercise in mindfully living this reality.

Well you know that I love to live with you,

but you make me forget so very much.

I forget to pray for the angels

and then the angels forget to pray for us.

We met when we were almost young

deep in the green lilac park.

You held on to me like I was a crucifix,

For now I need your hidden love.

I'm cold as a new razor blade.

Oh so long, Marianne, ...

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THE RECIPE

Recipe yields:

2 Portions

Preparation time:

10 Minutes

Cooking time:

10 Minutes

Difficulty level:

Easy

Special Equipment Required:

1 x 20cm well seasoned mild steel omelette or crêpe pan, or similar non-stick pan

1 x Domed lid large enough to completely cover the above pan

1 x Electrical hand beater

1 x Medium large fish slice

Ingredients:

Full cream milk	15ml - 20ml
Ground turmeric	± 1ml
Ground coriander	± 1ml
Ground cumin	± ½ml
Fine black pepper	± ½ml
Chopped garlic	2.5ml
Salt	1.2ml

Fresh, extra large eggs	3
Softened butter	15ml

Good quality Cheddar cheese, grated	45ml
Feta cheese, rough chopped	45ml
Fresh coriander, chopped	To taste
Fresh chives, chopped	To taste

Fresh white bread slices, lightly toasted & well buttered	2

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Method:

Combine the milk, spices, garlic and salt in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Heat the pan over medium heat until hot and add the butter. Swirl the pan to thoroughly cover the pan’s entire bottom surface. Tilt and swing the pan to ensure that the sides are well coated too.
Using the hand beater; beat the eggs until frothy. Add the milk, spice and garlic mixture. Beat for another minute and add to the hot pan.
Put the lid on the pan and reduce the heat medium low. Frequently check the omelette. Add the cheeses to one half of the surface when the eggs begin to set in the middle. Cover and continue to ‘bake’ until the cheese appears to be melting and most of the remaining liquid egg has set.
Using the fish slice; quickly fold the omelette over onto itself. Cover, turn off the heat and allow to stand 1 – 2 minutes to for the cheese to fully melt.
Sprinkle the fresh herbs over, halve the omelette in the pan and serve immediately on well buttered toast.

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Comments:

The recipe is more a guide than a fixed method. Adjust the quantities and ratios of ingredients as your heart sees fit.
Covering the pan and liquid egg with a lid or heat proof dome is to be recommended. The dome traps heat above the liquid egg surface, effectively ‘baking’ the egg on top. In the absence of a dome or lid, frequently lift the edges of the omelette and gently tilt the pan to allow liquid egg to run in underneath the forming omelette. This will allow fairly even and rapid cooking and avoid the underside of the omelette from browning too far and charring.
Use any combinations of easily melt-able cheeses. A mixture of sharp cheddar, feta and smoked mozzarella works well. Also try an aged pecorino combined with a good quality mozzarella or raclette to liven things up.

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