Roasting a chicken may seem like waste of TV time and lots of effort that could be better used scratching one's bum, but I'd like to make a case for chicken roasting and simple cooking in general.
Exhibit A: It's delicious and I get to eat it. Case closed. I think that's sufficient evidence to convince any jury.
Why does it feel like I need to shout it from a mountain top? "I love my own cooking!" It's a little talked about silver lining every chef gets to take advantage of. If you have to be the one cooking dinner, then damn if it isn't going to taste exactly the way you want it to.
As the media tell me, there are two basic different camps on the idea of cooking:
"How can I get around it?" This demographic wants desperately to have food soon, with little effort and it seems they don't mind if it's a bit icky.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you-- RamennoodlesCannedspaghettiTacobellMcdonalds [deep breath] LeancuisineHungrymanApplebeesandlet'snotforgetLuby's.
Don't get me wrong! There are days when I don't feel like doing any cooking past a pop tart, and I sincerely sympathize with anyone who is burnt-out (cooking pun totally intended) on cooking, especially if there are picky children involved. Or babies. Or if you work a lot. Or if you play a lot. In other words, this is a very shifty group. We're all in this mood now and then to not cook or simply to eat trashy food. I always feel like having to defend myself when I want these foods, especially to the folks who fall in the next group.
"How sloooooowly can I savor it?" This is the demographic that yearns to be the one in the yogurt add relishing every spoonful of delicious bacteria cream. Even more so, they dream of one day owning an Italian villa with goats in the yard so they can make their own bacteria cream. They consider cooking for an entire day a steadfast virtue, brag on their fresh herbs, kvetch over the perfect ingredients. Gadgets upon gadgets are marketed to this lot. Do you really need a lime squeezer? Won't it's bastard cousin squeezer for lemons do just fine? They talk about cooking, dream about cooking, read books, magazines, and, yes, blogs centered around cooking as a universe. It's the act of cooking, in this case, that is more important than both convenience and the outcome of the food. It does frequently yield tasty foods, and it's always good to take time doing anything you love -- I'll give it that.
I'd like to propose a third, more moderate group, that could use some TV time and gadgets, thankyouverymuch.
"I like eating my own food dammit"
We shall be like a new people on the earth, those who cook for the pleasure of eating. We shall appreciate that others want to make boysenberry mint surprise sorbet with bits of certified organic ambrosia carmelized bits, but we will also have the sense to say "to hell with it" when the recipe says to stir by hand for 3 1/2 hours! We can also be hearty enough to resist the temptations slung at us by fast or frozen foods. Instead, we will take the foods we like, prepare them in ways that allow us lives outside the kitchen, and be proud and satiated by what we have wraught!
I'm pumped.
And I have leftovers for tonight.
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