"Christine Dabney" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:26:45 GMT, "Peter Aitken"
> > wrote:
>
>
>>The world is full of people who rave about bad food.
>
> Don't I know it.
>
> I am planning a Thanksgiving dinner for a bunch of traveling nurses
> who are on assignment here in the SF bay area. Due to many of us
> working on Thanksgiving, we will more than likely be having dinner the
> weekend after.
>
> Of this group, there are a few nurses that proclaim that they are good
> cooks, and they offered to help with the cooking, and putting on the
> meal.
>
> One suggested to me (knowing that I love to cook) that she could go
> pick up some pies from Costco, since it would save a lot of time, and
> "Costco does a great Pumpkin pie and other desserts that are just
> like home made". She suggested that we didn't need to kill ourselves
> doing this, which is true, but I am not going to sacrifice flavor and
> quality in the interest of expedience.
>
> I suggested to her that I preferred homemade. Now I am wondering
> what her idea of good homemade food is, if she thinks Costco pies are
> just like homemade.
>
> Christine

Not being a big fan of desserts, anyway (unless they're outrageously good) I
wouldn't care much if someone brought out a decent store-bought pumpkin pie.
The rest of the meal is more important to me.

On the other hand, canned gravy or packaged stuffing would make me cringe.

My hubby and I talked about this the other day -- things I would consider
"company" food and things I would serve at home. For instance, I have no
trouble eating leftovers, but I wouldn't serve them as a company dinner.
Spaghetti, to me, is family food, but I'd make lasagna for company. The list
goes on...

OTOH, I have a relative who's not exactly a good cook, and when I see
pre-made, packaged goods, I know I'm in for a better meal that if it's
home-cooked. So the day we had KFC and a store-bought pie was a "success,"
as was the day we had chicken kievs and rice-a-roni. I don't go there for
the food, I go there for the company, so whatever is served is fine; it's
just not what I would do. I enjoy cooking for people and having them rave
about the meal, whereas it's just a chore for her and the less time she has
to spend in the kitchen the better.

Donna