GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

I've been on a cooking kick lately. 

The problem with this is that I am usually unprepared to cook correctly. What I mean by this is simple: I crave certain meals, but I lack the proper supplies to actually follow the recipes.

So, I punt.

Chicken casserole? Sure, I'll just throw some stuff in a glass dish, things like chicken and spinach and frozen cubes of squash and some fresh green beans and shredded carrots. Hey, is that a can of cream of chicken soup? Sure. Sounds good. Low on bread crumbs and no Ritz crackers? No problem. I'll just use a package of cornbread, all mixed together and thrown on top . . . because why not!

Baked ziti? Yes, that sounds marvelous. I have a half-pound of ground beef I can cook, a half a box of pasta, and a jar of sauce. Oh, wait. No ricotta cheese? That's okay. I have shredded mozzarella and shaved parmesan and some grated Romano. That should work, right? Who needs ricotta cheese when you can improvise.

My sister tells me that she is making nachos for the Super Bowl. She is a far better cook and baker and crafter and pretty much better anything than I will ever be. Now I want nachos, too. I have corn chips and salsa and more ground beef and shredded cheddar cheese. I could go high-brow and actually cook the nachos in the oven (even the toaster oven would work). But, no. I must cheat. Into the microwave they go. And, dagnabbit, they're not half-bad.

I suppose I should actually open up my recipe file, especially since I recently made an honest effort to put everything into order in a binder, complete with tabs and everything. I suppose I should go to the store that's only a few miles away and buy the correct stuff to complete these concoctions. There just isn't as much adventure in any of that.

And, so, as I said, I punt. The results, like the New England Patriots, are worthy enough for recognition, impressive enough to make it to the table, but not quite the crowning achievements they could or should be. Either way, they're are good enough for me.