The Cost of Convenience

"Can you use a microwave for that?" "What about the garlic that's already chopped in a jar?" "What's a good bottled dressing?"

Always looking for the easy way out these folks want nothing to do with homemade stock, pie crusts made from scratch, or breadsticks that don't come out of a can. They're willing to sacrifice freshness, taste, and money for convenience.

People who don't like to cook or don't have the time to cook, eat out more. And I am not referring to fine dinning in upscale restaurants.

I am referring to chain restaurants, fast-food dives, drive-thrus, family restaurants, and other dispensers of quick, easy, and often insipid fare. As stated, even those of us who love cooking are sometimes at the mercy of the assembly line eateries because of the demands of modern life.

Take my introductory scenario for example. I was on a lunch break and certainly didn't have the time to drive home and whip up pancakes from scratch.

And even when there is time, nobody, not even chefs, prepare a meal fit for a king every day. Sometimes I'm just tired and love the smorgasbord at the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.

In any event, be it out of necessity or choice, the preponderance of Americans visit "food-factory" type establishments on at least an occasional basis. But, like everything in life, convenience comes at a cost.

In order to get back to the office on time, or save yourself from the kitchen after a grueling day, you will pay. You'll pay with inattentive service, overdone eggs, greasy fries, lukewarm soup, burnt toast, and unripe tomatoes, to name a few.

Then there's the financial cost. It costs your wallet as much as your palate to consume wilted lettuce. In sum, you relinquish a good deal of satisfaction for the sake of efficiency.

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