Time, Tools, and the Food Itself

This is why I have always resisted the call of thirty-minute meals and those recipes claiming to be “quick and easy”—not that there’s anything wrong with either, per se. But the emphasis on “quick and easy” obscures the fact that nothing in all of cooking is particularly difficult. Sometimes there are simply more steps to a dish, so a recipe can be more involved. But “quick” and “easy” both mean the same thing: fewer steps. And sometimes that’s just what I need. I also believe that “I’d love to cook, if only I had the time” is just an excuse. You don’t need an excuse not to cook. There is nothing wrong with choosing to do other things instead of cooking, so just acknowledge it. Our culture, happily, has recognized that cooking is important, but that also comes with a judgment—that you’re somehow a bad person if you don’t cook for your family. This is a horrible judgment to put on anyone. Our lives are complicated and busy; no one should be judged for not cooking. Just be honest with yourself about your capabilities, your time, and your obligations. One of the most stressful things we can do is try to prepare a meal when we don’t have enough time.