Comedy: September 15, 2021 Issue [#10975]
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 This week: Cooking II
  Edited by: Robert Waltz
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Cooking is like snow skiing: If you don't fall at least 10 times, then you're not skiing hard enough.
         —Guy Fieri

I don't like cooking and don't cook until I am forced to. Then I expect everyone around to appreciate what I dish out.
         —Urmila Matondkar

My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor.
         —Phyllis Diller


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Yes, I'm still stuck on the cooking thing. What can I tell you? I'm just lazy. For reference, last month's newsletter: "Cooking

Since I'm lazy, and the whole measurement thing might as well be quantum physics (actually, I have a better understanding of quantum physics, which isn't saying much), I want to spend as little time cooking as humanly possible. For me, as I suspect it is for most of us, going out or ordering delivery all the time gets really expensive really fast, so what's the alternative?

Foods that cook quickly, of course. Sure, you can spend an hour cooking actual oatmeal, but there's also instant oatmeal. Ready in 2 minutes!

...Or is it?

I've found that the times listed for cooking anything are always and inevitably wrong on the optimistic side. I've learned that if a recipe says, "Preparation 20 minutes, cooking 30 minutes," well, there goes my entire afternoon.

But misrepresentation of cooking times is everywhere, not just recipes or instant oatmeal. How about that old college staple, ramen? Cooks in three minutes!

Well, not really. That three minutes is just for boiling the noodles. In actuality, me trying to make a bowl of ramen -- even excluding any additions I might want to make to it -- takes at least an hour and a half. Sometimes more.

It usually goes something like this:

1) Decide I'm hungry.

2) Wait half an hour. Am I hungry enough to actually do work? No, not really.

3) (30 minutes later) Okay, now I'm hungry enough to do something about it. But I'm too hungry to take the time to cook anything real. How about a nice bowl of ramen?

4) Walk into the kitchen. (The timer actually starts now.)

5) Put the cat outside so she's not underfoot. (2 minutes)

6) Wash and dry the necessary pots, dishes, and utensils. (20 minutes)

7) Back into the cat and step on her poor tail. Apologize. (20 minutes) (How did she get back inside, anyway?)

8) Measure the water (see previous newsletter) (5 minutes)

9) Set the water on the stove and wait for it to boil (30 minutes)

10) Actually cook the noodles. (3 minutes, as advertised)

11) Add the little cardiac-destroying flavor packet and stir until it's completely dissolved. (5 minutes)

12) Realize I forgot to wash a bowl. Do so. (5 minutes)

13) Apologize to the cat for stepping on her little paw. (30 minutes)

14) Feed the cat so she maybe won't get trod upon. (4 minutes)

15) Reheat the broth because it's been cooling for nearly 45 minutes at this point. (10 minutes)

16) Pour ramen into bowl. (1 minute)

Total time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Three minutes, my gas.

Next time I'm ordering delivery.


Editor's Picks

Some funnies for you:

 A Good Limerick  [13+]
What is a good limerick?
by Prosperous Snow celebrating


 Resignation  [13+]
Comedic resignation letter written for Writer's Cramp.
by Diane


Can't Explain It, Hmmm?  [E]
She didn't think she could explain Writing.Com, and then she was a hostage
by J.M. Butler


 
There Are Questions, And Then . . .  [ASR]
Are you sure you understand the questions you are questioning?
by Shaara


 
Why Are Frogs so Happy  [E]
A strange piece using frog jokes
by Angel


 The Negotiation  [E]
A leader gets a negotiated solution that is nothing but a joke.
by Preet Malcolm


 
Folk Ways  [E]
Nearer my parents to me.
by Teargen


Wanna write a Comedy novel? (Or a funny feeling you could write one in some other genre?) It's not too early to think about NaNoWriMo! Humor me and sign up for October Prep:

FORUM
October Novel Prep Challenge  (13+)
2023 Sign-ups are CLOSED. A month-long novel-planning challenge with prizes galore.
#1474311 by Brandiwyn🎶

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Don't forget to support our sponsor!

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Ask & Answer

Last time, "Cooking featured the first part of the Cooking series.

Quick-Quill : I am your mom but a better cook. I made a great hot fish with hamburger. I had ground ham I used to make ham lunch spread. So I substituted it for the hamburger. It was not good. Only the dog ate it. So now it’s referred as Mommie-o surprise. I still substitute things and experiment. I usually do a good job. I watch a lot of food channel shows

         I'm... not seeing how that's "better." Okay, no, now I remember: even the dog wouldn't eat my mom's cooking.


Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008 : Loved this newsletter! I used to experiment with cooking, some things were good and some not so good.

         My "experiments" are always: How precisely can I follow the recipe? Then if it fails, I can shift blame.


QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham : I like the quote: I won't be impressed by technology until I can download food.
—unattributed internet person

That would be the true achievement of the 21st century. Keep your electric cars. Give me food from the air.


         You know what technology from Star Trek I most need to see? It's not warp drive. It's not transporter pads. It's not even the holodeck. No, it's the replicator.


Elfin Dragon-finally published : With regards to Cooking...I've found that even with a recipe there is room for creativity. But you still have to understand the basics of what actually tastes good together. Certain spices just don't work with one another. But in general, creativity is a good thing.

The only thing where specific measurements are really required is baking because that is more of a science. If you get things wrong with baking...well your item can not only look bad but taste bad.


         Sometimes, I can muster up a milliliter or two of creativity for my writing. That's all there is. There's none left for cooking. You know how some people freak out when they have to do math? I love math, but creativity is forever beyond my grasp.


And that's it for me for September! See you next month. Until then,

LAUGH ON!!!

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