Food in a fancy kitchen

Yesterday we hung out with Josh's parents all day and when Laurie started talking about dinner I offered to make it. Then Josh and his dad offered to help and we wound up making this amazing meal that I am shocked I've never made at home before.

They have a lot of fancy foods in their house, like expensive cheeses, organic tomatoes, corn and fancy breads. So I made this corn chowder with bacon and then used the rest of the bacon in grilled cheese sandwiches with tomatoes. For dessert I'd seen these pastry shells in the freezer so I made vanilla and chocolate pudding-based cream pies* because it's outrageously quick and easy. Josh asked me to make them at our house and I told him we can make homemade whipped cream to go on top too.

I wouldn't like being a cook because restaurant kitchens don't seem like nice places, but to hang out in a fancy well-stocked kitchen where you can find enough food to make so many different things blows my mind. Laurie has every single cooking utensil you could ever need or want. Their cabinets and freezer are completely packed. The possibilities are endless! I had so much fun.

*You take phyllo shells, instant vanilla or chocolate pudding (Trader Joe's sells ones that have no artificial flavors or colors, plus the packaging looks like it's from the 60's, so cool), and whipped cream. Just make up the pudding, and instead of spooning it into bowls, spoon it into the shells. Then you can put a little whipped cream on top and let it set in the fridge while you cook and eat dinner. By the time you finish dinner, dessert will be ready. I put the whipped cream on right before serving it because otherwise it can melt and mix in and not look so great.