No More Microwave Meals Mission Statemnent

No More Microwave Meals is a grassroots movement that is being headed up by a group of people who want others to enjoy cooking as much as they do.
Let’s face some brutal truths…
First, food can be an art form. There are two operative words in this sentence that this writer would care to point out, the words CAN and ART.
Can is operative because, honestly, some people out there just have no idea how to cook a thing. I recall a friend in my youth who had attempted to heat a pocket type meal in the microwave. It only needed 2 minutes to be done, but he accidentaly hit 20. 12 minutes later, he’d nearly destroyed the microwave and the kitchen stunk for weeks. I’ve seen people burn eggs by not paying attention, produce the worst tasting tough flavorless steak ever by not tenderizing or seasoning, turn instant mashed pototas into something more like malt-o-meal with less flavor and more water. It seems like even the easiest, lowest common denominator, dumbed down meals are not completely idiot proof.

Art is the other operative word here. Art is essentially the quality, according to certain aesthetic principles (ones we won’t get into cause the argument of “what is art” has been waged for a long time period and by people much more well versed in the subject) of what is of more than ordinary significance. That’s right, food doesn’t have to be ordinary. Food, in fact, should never be ordinary. Just as music tantalizes the ears, visual art the eyes, film and performance art on multiple levels, food should also be an art to multiple senses.

Second, You already know what you like to eat. It isn’t in the plating or the presentation; It’s all in you, in your senses. Use your taste buds and sense of smell, you should not be able to fail. And remember, above all else, practice makes perfect. You have to walk before you can run, play “Twinkle Twinkle” before taking on Mozart Concertos, make short films before copying Scorsese, and pen some short stories before staking your claim as the next Dickens. Start small and work your way up, but chances are that if you trust your instincts and your senses, you’re meal will turn out just fine.

Third, There’s nothing wrong with frozen or pre-packaged food, just as there’s nothing wrong with fast food or delivery. We can almost guarantee, however, that you will see a drastic change in the quality and taste of your food when you start cooking. You will also see a change in your waistline and your wallet.

Fourth, Cooking should be fun. Think of it as creating art, think of it as a performance. The only ones who whould be stressing over food are people that get paid to do so.

And Finally, what better way to impress your parents, grandparents, children, spouses and significant others, than putting obvious time and thought into creating a meal. Food can be an aphrodisiac, food can be a way to comfort and show appreciation. So go ahead, release your inner artist, impress someone you care about, and awaken your senses.

And for heaven’s sake, back away from the microwave!!

- The N.M.M.M Staff