For reasons that at first appeared unclear to me, we did not get many offers for food this year. I figured it was due to the recession or lack of parental involvement. Then the fifth grade teachers solicited help in making the sides for the turkey dinner because they all said they can't cook. I volunteered because I'm not working and I have nothing better to do, so I was assigned to make stuffing and was given three big bags of Uncle Ben's traditional white bread stuffing.
Let's not confuse making Uncle Ben's stuffing from a bag with COOKING, but let's pretend it's cooking just for this post.
"Are you sure this isn't too much for you?", the fifth grade teacher asked me.
Let's see. You put water in a pot, add butter, boil it, throw in the MSG and the "all natural"l flavoring, and then add the breadcrumbs. I think I can handle it.
Then another teacher said, "I had no idea what to do with that. I can't cook."
Which made me ponder. WHAT DO PEOPLE EAT? Like what do they eat every night? Does anyone know???? I think the lack of participation in bringing food is because nobody knows how to make food. I have to scramble 10 dozen eggs for Grandparent's Day because I don't think anyone knows how to scramble eggs.
I was driving down Spring Mountain today and ran across this store.
I wanted to go in but thought better of tangling with a bunch of doomsday preppers. I'm oddly curious about survival food. Do you guys realize if you can't make stuffing from a bag, you're GOING TO DIE, RIGHT?
When the end of the world comes, I'm going to marry Bob and his friend who raises ostriches, because they can kill and gut stuff, and we'll take our poultry and go live underground. Greg and the kids will have to fend for themselves.
Greg is getting ready. This was the last box of Hostess Twinkies at Sam's Club, Greg said. He's in mourning over the loss of his beloved childhood treat. I sure hope this can sustain them all in the end times. I'm certain the shelf life is long enough.
All that measuring and stirring! I think I'm feeling faint. I don't understand people who can't cook; you just follow the directions on the recipe! Even my nine year old daughter can do it.
ReplyDeleteTo be completely honest, my husband and I don't really cook during the week - we eat salad or get take out...The weekends is when we cook but this is also because we both work full time jobs and I go to school, its just easier.
ReplyDeleteMy mother (who was a librarian) always said, "if you can read, you can cook."
ReplyDeleteI think Hostess may be able to go back in business now that everyone has raided the shelves for the last Twinkie/Hostess cupcake!
The funny thing, when I taught in my autistic support program, we had zero parental involvement. Then we asked for food donations for a dance and it was amazing. Sure there were some prepared foods but then there were elaborate baked goods, clearly home made. Some were gluten free. I was amazed because these were the same parents that fed their kids hot pockets, ellios, nuggets, or hot dogs nightly. If they could bake like that, I wondered why not test it out with other food??
ReplyDeleteI am hope you give yourself plenty of rest time after cooking, ha ha! I am on a mission to start cooking more from scratch to cut down on my rising grocery bill. Now that we have my youngest's reflux under control she is eating like crazy. I never thought a 2 year old would make a dent ithe food budget!
Those kids look like they are saying, "Yum, REAL food at last!" Poor babies, at least they can tell their grandchildren they had a Twinkie, back in the day.
ReplyDeleteI've got to know "Artificial *what?*" that store next door is selling!
As for school (and many places I've worked) I have never seen the logic in providing a full turkey dinner the day before everybody has it at home!!! Sort of takes the edge off, you know?
I agree with the idea that if you can read, you can cook.
ReplyDeleteDid you "manage" to make all that stuffing? I bet it took all day!
ReplyDeleteI worked as a summer girl when I was 20 and the mother was astounded that I could make mashed potatoes. She said she didn't learn how to do anything until she was married. She was also setting her two kids up for the same "success" by cutting their meat at every meal and having me make their beds and cut the son's bagel every morning. The kids were 11 and 14 at the time.
"My mother (who was a librarian) always said, "if you can read, you can cook."
ReplyDelete--------------------
...Except meat. I can't cook meat no matter what I do, because it doesn't come with explicit directions the way baking does. No matter what, I either burn it or undercook it *every time*. I've kinda of given up on meat.
Wow, you were able to make three whole bags of that stuffing, you are a trooper and so amazing. LOL
ReplyDeleteI have friends who feed their kids nothing but prepared food. If it doesn't come in a box or frozen they don't eat it. Even their toddler eats those crappy Gerber meals - yuck!
Seems like people are total foodies and won't eat anything unless it is braised goat noses with apricot truffle sauce or it comes from a package. Simply old fashioned cooking is what is missing.
Elana, have you ever tried to cook meat in the crockpot? It's pretty fail safe.
ReplyDeleteIt is so unbelievable to me that people can't just follow a recipe, even a simple one. I guess I grew up in two large cooking families, so it is second nature to me. But even my hubby can manage to follow a recipe, if forced to!
I recently went to get my nails done (YAY!) and had just finished peeling potatoes so my hands stunk like potatoes. I apologized to the girl for my smelly hands and she was shocked that I actually peeled my own potatoes (and didn't use powdered, creamed, canned or frozen potatoes).
ReplyDeleteRenee L.
I don't think people need to know how to cook unless they need to eat on a regular basis. Oh wait....that would be the entire human species, men included.
ReplyDeleteAnd re shelf lives, I have a friend at work who has a McDonald's apple pie that she's been keeping...for two years. It still looks and smells the same--no mold, nothing. And those cardboard containers aren't even sealed...
Reminds me of the SomeECards meme I've seen floating around Pinterest: "Why do we can, Mommy?"
ReplyDelete"So we'll be ready for the zombie apocalypse, dear."
I'm getting a food dehydrator and a pressure canner for Christmas. Bring it on, zombies! I'm ready! You definitely need to visit that store; think of the bloggable content!
Until very recently, I had NO IDEA people made stuffing from anything BUT a stove-top box!!!!! haha!!
ReplyDeleteThat Zombie Apocalypse store........no words!!!!!