and the red wine poured throughout! In a former life, I would think about that meal defensively whenever I felt I had to have a particularly depressing meal for business reasons. Fortunately, there aren’t any of those these days. If I’m serious about having jam today, I really can’t waste time not enjoying my dinner. For any reason. Shelf: We’re talking about American Dreams in this issue. In your essay “Feminism and the Baked Potato,” you cite Michael Pollan’s New York Times article about “the rise in fascination with watching others cook… and the decline in home cooking.” How do you think home cooking fits into the American Dream today? Davies: Home cooking—the prepara-
get in there and create yourself. And you can start at home. Delicious! Healthy! Fun! Do it today! Think of how easy. Take the wonder of the Baked Potato. First you buy your potato. This should be an organic one, not treated with sprouticide, which is a particularly hard to get rid of pesticide. Scrub until clinging dirt unclings. Stick a knife into it in a few places so it doesn’t explode when you cook it. Put in oven (toaster oven ideal for this) at 400 degrees for about forty-five minutes to an hour, depending on its size and how done you like it. Squeeze it gently or poke with a fork to test doneness. It won’t hurt to leave it in the oven for longer (just makes the skin even crispier), or turn off the oven and leave it warm till you want to eat it. Then EAT IT. Split it in half, mash with
And the American Dream says that everyone deserves to have a full and engaged life. How can you have a full life if you’re only watching, wistfully, from the sidelines while others create? tion, sharing, and savoring of food—is one of the prime elements that make up a truly full and human life. It’s basic. And the American Dream says that everyone deserves to have a full and engaged life. How can you have a full life if you’re only watching, wistfully, from the sidelines while others create? You need to
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a fork, top with topping of your choice: unsalted butter, sour cream, hot sauce, garlic mayonnaise. You make the call. With a salad and a piece of corn, this makes a pretty darn good meal. Now that, in my opinion, is the American Dream. Or at least, nourishment for said dream.