Got Time for Lunch? Barely!

It never ceases to amaze me how far the myth that cooking takes enormous amounts of time has permeated our society. It blows my mind.  I've cooked for myself for nearly all of my adult life.  This was looked upon as an impressive feat when I was a bachelor (note to younger single guys - knowing how to cook a couple of decent dishes will buy you a LOT of forgiveness in areas you are lacking), and people have always said things like 'oh I'd do that, but I don't have the time' or 'it's just more convenient to pick up something' - and my favorite 'oh it's cheaper'.

Several years ago when I lived in Vegas I offered a friend a steak dinner - to which he said, "I'm really really hungry right now, I'll just go down to a local McFastFood and be back in a bit". I had all the ingredients out and ready at the time, and a bet was born.  I put up $50 that I'd be eating by the time he came back.  He took off to the local drive through (and this is the Las Vegas suburbs, there were several within a few blocks to choose from) , and I fired up my pan.  By the time he returned with his bag o food I had already started eating. A medium rare steak with onions, steamed brocolli, corn and some mashed baby potatoes.  Once you factor in driving, waiting, ordering, driving back - he'd been gone 20 minutes.  I was $50 richer and he got a double dose of butthurt by missing out on steak.  If I really wanted to make him cry I'd have told him that if I factored in portion cost, I spent less money as well.

Anyways. Today.  Lunchtime to be exact.  I got home from the first day of harvest around 10:30pm last night. I've spent my morning catching up things that have fallen behind while I've been busy (most of last week). I'm sore, I'm tired, and I'm hungry. Ravenously so. The kind that needs to be sated with the greatest of urgency. In this situation many people would fish the 5's and singles from the wallet and get the car keys.  I go to the back yard.

Doing a quick look over what I need to get done once the midday sun passes (mow, compost, weed, fertilize) I do a bit of quick picking. The lettuce looks like it's growing up rather than out - it's probably going to bolt.  Radishes are looking like they're coming close to an end, so 2 of them. A couple of leaves of kale from one of the larger plants, a quick rummage around the beans - I want the larger beans for tomorrows dinner veg, so a few of the smaller tender beans for a salad - or steaming - or both!

Coming back to the kitchen door I grab a few sprigs of parsley, some greens from chives and garlic.  Hmm, a salad would be nice - but would it be filling enough? I could steam, but it's a hot day...  The good thing about cooking your own - you don't need to compromise.  I trim out the lettuce, cut up the radishes, take a half of one Kale leaf, the smaller beans and a little parsley- mix them up and put them in the fridge.
What's the best, fast, easy and filling thing to use as a base for some steamed veg?  Rice.

 The simplest thing in the world to make and yet people look at it like its some enigma of cookery, spending a small fortune in instant, 5 minute, and boil in a bag varieties - pointless.
Straight normal rice - easy as 1,2,3 - get an amount of rice (any amount) add twice it's volume in water to a pot with a well fitting lid. for 2-3 people, 1 cup of rice = 2 cups of water. Add some salt and a tiny bit of oil to seperate the grains.  Put the lid on and bring to the boil then immediately reduce the heat and let it go on a soft boil for 15 minutes.
remove from the heat, add a few slivers of butter, put the lid back on and let the remaining steam finish it off while it rests for 5-10 minutes.   20 - 25 minutes is all it takes. Perfect rice not stuck to the pot just about every time.

Crappy blurry photo for no extra time or effort!

Well and good, but what about the steamed veg? Even if (like me) you put the rice on and prep everything else (and clean up after it) you STILL need to do the veg? - newp.  Not at all - you can have it all with NO additional time and next to zero extra effort.  Instead of letting the steam just finish the rice - let it steam the veg as well.
If like my you like lightly wilted and things like beans to still have a little snap to them, add the veg when you take it off the heat.  If you like them a little more wilted and soft, one or two minutes before you'd take it off - add butter then veg then - let it finish out for a couple of minutes, take it off the heat and let rest for 5.  Like I said, next to no effort and all the flavors from that veg and herbs will go through the rice.

 I need a new camera!

Plated up - salad on one side and rice on the other - finish off with some Italian dressing and a dollop of ranch to dip on the side.
This might be a little misleading - as there was actually enough for 3 plates... Fresh cooked lunch in 25 mins.
Your milage may vary, but that beat a Las Vegas McColostmy Crappy Meal and the local branch of Dominus Pizza (yeah, you won't even get name placement with me) .

Point being:  It was no more inconvenient for me to prep a filling fresh lunch than it would have been for me to go buy an overprocessed crap one.  Cost wise was nothing, as I keep rice as a kitchen staple at all times (who doesn't... ok maybe a few of you young bachelors - in which case read this article from the top AGAIN and pick up my subtle tip).
In the larger economic sense of 'cost', being 'opportunity cost' I would argue that one of these things has me getting my shoes, settling the kids, leaving the house, and being stuck in a car. Not exactly 'fast'.  While the other has me in the kitchen, continuing about my daily business and still having time to see to the kids miscellaneous needs. Although the time to cook and prep was 25 minutes, it still didn't take me away from the things I was doing. In fact 15 of those 25 minutes was spent doing other things.  Which makes you wonder about the how we're redefining 'convenience'.

Cheers, and happy Saturday!