She’s HOME!

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, risking life, ship, reputation and crew to maybe fall off the edge of the flat world or have them all be devoured by monstrous creatures of the deep, in order to…save the world from bland and boring food. He wanted a new spice route. One man’s career choice, and it changed a few things.

First things first. Ditch the suitcases in the entryway: after frantic packing after the last college final, then an hour’s drive, an hour or two at the airport, an hour’s flight, an hour to collect her bags and get home, the kid was starving.

Which is why the next thing I saw was her hunched over, rear in view through the garage doorway, looking through the big freezer. Something that would cook fast, while I was offering her a banana to start off with, peeled and ready to go.

“MOM!” came the spluttering, befoozled, what-on-earth tone. “Beef Samosas? Do you know what… Samosas are an Indian food, and–*beef*?” She was shaking her head from wanting to ask, and then finally did ask, “You *do* know what animal beef comes from? Right?” In SAMOSAS. Totally nonpsychodegradeable.

Well, hey, they have a nice spiciness to them. Welcome home to Californian multiculturalism, kiddo. Oven at 375.