Rusty's Armory

Everything tastes better when made from scratch

Posted on May 25, 2017

I was still sitting in my PJ’s sipping coffee when FedEx dropped off the box with three unprepared dinners inside it. Boldly emblazoned on the side was “Everything tastes better when it is made from scratch”.  Yeah, I got sucked in by great marketing once again. But the idea that I could prepare a fresh, nutritious meal and not have to devote a lot of time meal planning was an inviting one.

I waited at the door until the traffic cleared, then dashed out to retrieve the box, and dashed back in. Only one speeding car going by caught me in flagrante delecto, so that is a plus. Usually when I try that something goes wrong, like tripping over a dog as I try to scramble back in. But I am sure the neighbors already think I am crazy, so it hardly surprises them.

I carried my prize in triumphantly and sat it down on the table and invited Snooks to have a look.  She was a bit underwhelmed, saying “you are going to get three meals out of that?”.

Yeah, there wasn’t much there for three meals. We eat pretty good sized portions at dinner.

“Well, the rice will swell up a little when it’s cooked.” I lamely offered.

“Does this mean you are cooking the next three dinners?” She asked, brightening.

“You don’t want to try one of these? Look at the pretty recipe cards!” I asked. She didn’t say anything, but I think the answer was no.

Anyway, I unpacked everything. There were little packages of cilantro, scallions, Asian mushrooms. A potato and a cucumber sat side by side. Two little pulp cartons each held an organic ranch egg. Each recipe had a ‘knick-knack’ package that I didn’t open. I think they contain salt, pepper and such.

Three frozen packages contained ground beef, chicken breasts, and cod fillets. Our main courses ..

I think I will do dinner tonight. It will be meatballs and tomato sauce with asparagus and creamy rice.

I can see it now. A romantic candle lit dinner with an Italian tenor singing in the background. Think Disney’s The Lady and the Tramp. Sans spaghetti.

I’ll let you know how it went.