Create A New Dish by NOT Reading Labels

Hopeful Romantic
123 Rose Colored Court
Dream, 4U 12345
[phone]

16th January, 2023

Allhoo Listen
Future Romantic
123 Longing Ave
Waiting, 4U 12345

Dear Allhoo,

Have I shared with you the lesson of reading labels? Not just at the grocery store, but in the kitchen? This seems like common sense to most people. Yet, when one is in a hurry or distracted, the important things can be overlooked.

Well, pour yourself a glass of wine and put your feet up. This is going to be a doozy!

My husband just loves tacos, but he’s the only one who eats them in our three person household. So, I fry one pound of lean beef, add taco seasoning and freeze single serve packages. This way, when the craving hits, my husband can heat and eat his favorite meal.

Well, one day I must have been distracted or tired or just plain lazy. I fried up the beef, and grabbed the taco seasoning out of the cupboard. I sprinkled it in, stirred and added water. Suddenly, the smell of cinnamon hit me fairly strong. I picked up the taco seasoning and realized I had grabbed the cinnamon and not the taco seasoning!

Instead of scrapping the whole pan of beef, I put the cinnamon back in the cabinet. Then I grabbed the taco seasoning, being sure to read the label. I sprinkled the normal amount in, plus a little extra.

Without hesitation, I called my husband into the kitchen to make his tacos. I did NOT tell him what I had done. I sat at the table, sipping a coffee and watched him build his premium cinnamon tacos. I didn’t move for at least 10 minutes, but kept my eye on the back door.

I was going to make a run for it, if I had to. Yet, my husband came out with his dirty dishes and declared…. "This was the best batch of tacos I had in a long time!"
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I was working hard to get a batch of sugar cookies finished for our holiday party. The cookies were already cooled and I began to make the powdered sugar icing. I was nailing it, or so I thought. I iced the first cookie and couldn’t resist. I took a bite.

Blech! What in the world did I just eat? I dipped my finger in the icing and sniffed. Then I carefully stuck my tongue out. Oh my gosh! The taste of salt was overwhelming! I looked at the ingredients I pulled out to make the icing. The powdered sugar was in an unmarked, clear canister. I popped it open and sniffed. Then I dared myself to take a tiny taste. Baking Soda?!!!??? Oh my gravy. I could NOT save this batch of icing. I had to start all over…
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I am all about flavor, and rarely buy anything “low-fat” or “sugar-free”. This isn’t the letter for the reasoning behind this decision, maybe next time. I want the original product without any modifications. Yet, I have been known to not read the entire label. Again, time being an issue or distracted.

I have come home with “fat free” and other modified items. The one that takes the cake is the time I thought I was buying frozen rice. Turns out I was buying riced cauliflower. Not the same taste, at all. Good thing I like cauliflower. Too bad my husband doesn’t.

May you have better luck and better attention than I do at reading labels. Let me know when you are making a lasagna and I will provide the “special flavored” beef.

Sincerely,

Hopeful Romantic