What’s Worth Rushing Home For — Dinner Out of a Box/Bag — Or Made With Your Hands?

Writer Kerry Trueman recently caught up with me to talk about mostly meatless matters (including the upcoming Tempeh & Tofu Challenge). Part of our interview saw the sharp edge of the editing knife. Here’s our exchange in full on a topic close to my heart — getting back into the kitchen:

What do you say to all the folks who rely on processed convenience foods because they feel they can’t take the time to make a wholesome meal from scratch?

With so many instant-presto meal options to choose from, we’ve concluded that cooking with our own hands is a menial chore to be avoided rather than a life-affirming activity to be celebrated. In our quest to maximize time and efficiency, has anyone noticed that we’ve also stopped paying attention? We’ve fallen into a collective coma, rushing from one meeting to the next, eating en route out of a box or a bag.

Cooking, even for 30 minutes, forces us to slow down and focus — on the present moment, on our physical senses, on the connection between food, body and soul and on the undeniable pleasure of sitting at the table with someone you love.

Isn’t all that worth rushing home for?