Ready-made heaven

I don’t know what has happened to me.  I used to come home and enjoy un-wrapping the cardboard sleeve from a ready meal, pricking the cellophane cover with a fork and putting it into the microwave for a few minutes.  The satisfying ping when it was done, the steam burning the tips of my fingers as I pealed back the cover and scooping the contents out onto a plate.  No chopping, no peeling, no boiling pans filling the kitchen with condensation, no hours slaving over the cooker and very little washing up.  Just a couple of minutes and Bob was definitely my uncle.

But now I’ve tried them all: pork something; chicken ding; Thai green beef; Jalfrezi vegetables; you name it.  If it came ready made in a box I’ve had it.

There’s nothing left, no new taste sensations to wet my palate, nothing to salivate over.

So I’ve had to take up cooking again, making my own meals by following the recipes of some celebrity chef.  I’ve dusted down my cook books and rinsed out the pots and pans that had been lurking at the back of my cupboards.  My microwave had fallen silent.  It has become just a fancy clock that occupied a corner of the bench in my kitchen. 

But it’s just not the same.  The food tastes good and I’ve tried some interesting dishes from around the world but there is no satisfaction.  It’s not unwrap, flick the dial and ping you’re ready.  It’s hot and sweaty and messy just when I don’t need it.

I’ve hit on a fantastic idea though.  I now spend my weekends in the kitchen cooking and preparing the meals for the week ahead.  I’ve saved the plastic dishes and cardboard sleeves from my former ready meal heaven and now I can put my own creations into the cartons, cover them with cling film, slide on the sleeve and put them in the fridge just as if I’d bought them at Marks and Sparks.

Now when I get in from work I can go from fridge to microwave to tray on my knees in a matter of seconds.  I’ve got back the convenience but with the flavours that I was looking for.  And how are the meals?  They’re as good as shop bought!