Meals in Minutes is suppose to be filled with menus that can be executed in "minutes." Jamie even has an accompanying television series where he cooks these recipes with what appears to be minimal editing in under 30 minutes. However, he still gets a bit of flack from all over the blogosphere that these are not thirty minute meals. I have yet to complete a menu in under thirty minutes but I like to give the guy a little slack. I know from experience that if I were to practice the recipe a few times I most likely could get it down to thirty minutes. A lot of the extra time is reading and rereading the recipe and fumbling about the kitchen. I would say, for the most part, cooking the entire meal takes me about an hour. Last Wednesday, though, I had more that one clock I was trying to beat. The Kid had her Winter Strings Concert and she needed to be back to school by 5:45. It was now 4 p.m. That sounds doable doesn't it?
Here's our menu:
Cauliflower Macaroni
Belgian Endive Salad with Insane Dressing
Lovely Stewed Fruit
I had it all planned out. I decided to get my grocery shopping done first thing that morning. I feel like there is always one ingredient that throws a kink in my shopping plans and I end up going to several stores to get my ingredients. Usually though its my own fault and its just because I prefer an ingredient from one store to another. However, every now and then there is something that just can't be found. During the Food Revolution Cookbook, it was a Panettone for a cake recipe in August, of course Panettone is usually only found during the holidays and I couldn't find it anywhere. I thought the ingredients in this recipe were super easy and I wouldn't have any trouble but stone fruit, you know plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, could not be found. I called stores, I visited stores in person. Everywhere I went people looked at me like I was a complete idiot and told me that they weren't in season. Well, of course not! But there are a million other things in the produce aisle that aren't technically in season but somehow they are there all year around anyway. When I finally surrendered, I decided to substitute a few pears and a bag of frozen peaches. And what was on display near the check out? A big huge pyramid of Panettone. No joking! I shook my head and hurried home to start cooking. Still, despite the snafu, I was ready to start cooking at 4 p.m. I had all of my gadgets ready: food processor, blender, garlic press, knives, colander, cutting board out, ingredients out. I had one hour and forty-five minutes and I had every confidence that I HAD my thirty minute head on. I wish I could tell you what happened next. I really do try to concentrate when I'm cooking because I know I will need to write about it later. I can confirm a few things. The recipes were easy. The phone rang a couple of times. I loved the trick that I learned watching the TV episode where you put the wooden spoon on top of the pot before the lid so it doesn't boil over. The kitchen smelled great. The Kid wandered in and out and helped a bit. The littlest and pickiest eater asked if he could play outside. Next thing I knew, there was a large pile of dishes in the sink and Husband was asking, "what time do you have to be at school?" As I answered his question, "5:45," I looked up at the clock and it was 5:20! Are you kidding me!?!?!?! How did that happen??? I rushed the last few bits, sacrificed the toasted capers that were suppose to go on top of the salad and quickly served the piping hot Mac and Cheese to a table full of hungry family members before rushing out the door twenty minutes later.
I was beat.
http://www.ivillage.com/cauliflower-macaroni-belgian-endive-salad-insane-dressing-and-lovely-stewed-fruit/3-r-390236
Meals cooked: 14
Meals left: 36
Weeks left: 14
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