The article stated: "N the world of Sandra Lee, cookbook author and self-proclaimed "lifestylist," life is hectic and people are busy. Cooking food from scratch takes too much time, and is too difficult and too expensive. And while Ms. Lee believes that cooking food for someone is the greatest gift, it really isn't worth too much of your time."
I really have to disagree with this; I'm a senior with a double major, have a girlfriend, and am actively into martial arts and a few other clubs, and I find the time to cook almost everything completely from scratch (the furthest I get from scratch is a can of unseasoned tomato sauce to save me from having to puree tomatos). I manage to cook from scratch over the summers when working more than 40 hours a week as well. Honestly once you get good with a kitchen knife and learn the basics it doesn't take any time at all to make good food; I can trim and slice a pound of beef in a minute or two. Sure, it's difficult when you're first getting started, and I admit to having had my fair share of cooking disasters (there was one curry incident that still brings shudders to my friends), but if you put the effort into learning and buy a couple of good cook books you pick it up quickly. As far as expense, it's FAR cheaper to cook from scratch; there is some initial investment in spices, but if you're going to stick with it paying $5 for a 14 oz bag of cumin at an ethnic grocery store is nothing. I manage to eat for roughly $5 a day, and I'm a 21 year old male who exercises enough to eat enough for two people.
Basically, if you're willing to put forth the effort to learn how to cook you'll eat better, for less, and in the same amount of time. I admit, some recipes take time to do, but I'm not making leg of lamb on a regular basis. Besides, and I think most girls will agree with me, women love a guy who cooks for them
