Being married is pretty great. I highly recommend you take the plunge if you haven’t done so already. Be prepared, however, for some compromise. It’s essential. I suppose it’s also character-building if you feel the need to look on the bright side of things.
One such concession I’ve made since
K and I got married concerns airplane travel. As you might have guessed, K is bigger than me. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I’m a little petite bird who wears a size zero. I’m pretty average sized. K probably fits into the average size category as well. That said, he is a boy and his boyish limbs outsize my girlish ones.
It seems only fair that he take the window or aisle seat on the airplane. This leaves me in the middle where I routinely find myself squeezed in like a sardine with my womanly thighs grazing up against a perfect stranger. It’s pretty intimate when you think about it.
I try to acknowledge this intimacy by doing my best to be self-aware. I wear deodorant. I brush my teeth before I board the plane. I pack some gum just in case. And, of course, I bring a book so that no one is forced to engage in inconsequential banter with a stranger. This is just plain normal conscientiousness, right?
Right.
Well, some folks live in their own world and such rules do not apply. This was the sad situation on our return flight from Mexico. Oh, did I say sad? I meant to say FISHY situation.
Actually, my nightmare concerned shrimp. What started out as an uneventful flight with me wedged in between K and a stranger turned stinky quite suddenly. About an hour into the flight, the woman seated to my right pulled a plastic container out from underneath her seat. She opened it up to reveal a truckload of lukewarm shrimp and noodles.
You can not begin to image how smelly shrimp is when you are in a confined space let alone shrimp purchased from a substandard airport vendor and left to fester on the floor of an airplane. It was awful. She ate slowly. I tried to avert my eyes, but it was impossible not to watch in horror as she stuck the shrimp tails on the edges of the container. It seemed like endless tails piled up as she ate. I had to be on guard lest one tail make its way into my tote bag, which was dangerously close to her feet.
It was an ordeal. I won’t lie. The smell is burned into my memory. There were lessons learned, however. I know there will be trials and lessons on the road of marriage, but my sanity is more important than conceding to the middle seat on the plane. Second, and most important, it is very wrong to bring fish on a plane. Please, I urge you to resist the tuna melt you crave or the sushi platter offered near the terminal. Think of your fellow passengers and be kind.
The right time and place to eat fish is tonight. I mean it. This dish is not only easy, but will blow you away with its spicy sort of Indian flavoring. And, roasted broccoli? Who knew it was this fantastic? Try this. You will love it!
Roasted Broccoli and Shrimp
2 pounds broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
4 tablespoons ( 1/4 cup) extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon hot chili powder
1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 1/4 teaspoons lemon zest (from 1 large lemon)
Lemon wedges, for serving.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss broccoli with 2 tablespoons oil, coriander, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and chili powder. In a separate bowl, combine shrimp, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, lemon zest, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Spread broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes. Add shrimp to baking sheet and toss with broccoli. Roast, tossing once halfway through, until shrimp are just opaque and broccoli is tender and golden around edges, about 10 minutes more. Serve with lemon wedges, or squeeze lemon juice all over shrimp and broccoli just before serving.
Adapted from the New York Times
19 Comments
This made me laugh. You poor thing! Shrimp on a plane!? What was she thinking? I agree – making fish for dinner NOW is much better than for a flight next to some more innocent stranger.
Seriously, shrimp on a plane? I'd take snakes over that! Yikes. This does sound good and maybe I should have used my shrimp to make this last night instead of eating it with pasta (which, I might add, was really good).
Oh my god, that is so weird! I was feeling guilty for eating a burrito on a plane recently, but I was just sitting next to my son! I hear you about those plane seats. I always end up in the middle too with Randy. Imagine trying to breastfeed with a (male) total stranger next to you. Good times.
Oh dear, that sounds…unpleasant. That dish, however, looks terrific! I’ve never had shrimp and broccoli together before, but as two of my favorite things, they’d have to be good!
I'm sitting here thinking that I would vary much like to eat this for breakfast. Of course, I'm in a cubicle and feel that people shouldn't eat fish at work either, so I'll refrain.
i've been an avid reader of your blog and i think i may have to try this recipe…
Never crossed my mind to take food on a flight… But I do take chocolate – always! (dark)
I hate that it's allowed to eat at the movies too – horrible when all the smells of different food mix…
Ah, yes – THANK YOU fro the recipe – awesome as all the others! And I really enjoy the great shots – now I'm hungry again
Wow, some people are so unaware, don't you think? Makes me think of those people who clip their fingernails [or worse their toenails] in public. I once had a lady do it next to me on the bus to work. I think yours is worse, though. And your dish is probably far superior to hers!
Cheers,
*Heather*
arrghh, i just lost my appetite after reading this. why can't people understand the small spaces/public transit rules. good thing you posted a yummy looking picture to save the shrimp!
Oh, how ever did I find you? So glad I did.
I'm not a fish-eater (sad, cause it's so darn good for you), and I pretty much have to wear a gas mask when neighbors – below us, above us or right next door – cook fish. I sooo feel your airborne nausea.
Oh, oh my.
The last time I rode on a plane, I almost vomited during the descent from motion sickness.
I'm sure if I had been in your situation–well, I don't think I really need to explain.
this is a really funny story that i can TOTALLY relate to. im always in the middle when i travel with my honey.
I think EVERYONE has a "bad experience on an airplane story."
Once I had a kid throw up all over the seat next to me.
When I was in grad school I took a trip to San Francisco for spring break. I was in the middle of doing some work for a research paper, so I came equipped with reading materials and higlighters for the flight over. I stuck my highlighters in the seatback. The guy next to me took off his shoes, cross his legs, and then proceeded to rub his sweaty feet all over my highlighters! I was so disgusted I just left them in the seatback!
Totally laughing 'cause I always end up in the middle seat (my guy's big, too) and shrimp on a plane?!
Right-o! I've been meaning to make this for about forever. Needed this kick in the pants, looks SOOOO good!
I've been looking for a great shrimp recipe to try for my first time! My hubby and I got married 18 months ago, and he LOVES shrimp. Thank you for sharing this awesome treat!
I know this comment is like, years after this was posted, but my husband and I tried this last night-and it is great! I was skeptical about the shrimp only needing 10 minutes, but lo and behold, in 20 minutes flat, we had dinner- and not just dinner, but a fabulous dinner!
Since we were both super hungry, we served the broccoli and shrimp over a bed of lightly buttered brown rice, and since the shrimp and broccoli were salty and spicy, the rice didn’t really need anything else. It’s the kind of dish that the more we ate, the more we loved it. We polished our bowls totally clean!
How nice to have an option to cook shrimp in the oven!
Connie,
I am so glad you enjoyed this. It’s one of our favorites!
xo
Robin