Going For A Dip

 When you live alone, meal making isn't a production and you don't want it to be. Most of us eat secretly in front of our computers, some at TVs and others out at a cafe. Food for most of us is, or used to be, a social time when we ate and talked and exchanged our daily lives and feelings around a table with other folk. The cook for the meal on the table, enjoyed seeing people savoring the food presented, and that  made it more than a pleasure to do the work. Things change for most of us when we no longer have our kids or spouses to sit down with. We singles continue to hope we get in all the necessary healthful elements our diets demand, but somehow taking hours to prep what it means to do that, has no appeal. It just doesn't feel good and everyone wants to feel happy when cooking and eating.  And when you live alone, who's to see if you indulge a bit here and there or eat cold pasta or consider a boiled egg sufficient. Not good. We have guilt about abusing our bodies by not ingesting what counts for top physical maintenance. I discovered dips. Dips don't have to be purchased at the store because if you read the fine print on these costly little containers, you will learn that they have loads of chemicals: preservatives and flavour enhancers to make us buy more. These days of inflation, we are trying to trim our budgets and feel good about the planet. My recipe for a delicious and nutritious dip is tub of sour cream with additions. These "additives" could be dried green onions (made from clippings of the ones you keep constantly by your sink?), dill mustard, bit of horseradish, ketchup and your favorite sweet chili sauce. Okay, some of these are commercial, but wait. There are better things coming. Raid the fridge and chop up some tomatoes, peppers, celery, whatever you find that will taste yummy. You always have on hand your taste treats: herbs and spices in little bottles. Some you may dehydrate and blend yourself. Good for you. I keep mine in alphabetical order but that's just a librarian habit formed out of the past. The little bottles sit on a shelf above the stove ready to be snapped up and sprinkled. Perhaps celery salt, garlic powder, salt and pepper and any other bits and pieces that you love. Stir these into your sour cream. Give your mix a taste. Tasting is the first order of anyone who purports to be a good cook. Mix the whole thing up well. Now you have not only some crucially nutritional items in there, but also you will love a great tasting dip. You can dip away even as you play games on line or sit in front of your movie time or read from your electronic book stand or computer monitor. And no guilt. The dip welcomes sliced veges: peppers, carrot sticks, broccoli trees, cauliflower bits, apple slices, and any other fruit or veg you come across out of your collection. You don't even have to cook. As you travel along your healthful new dip road, you will come up with some fantastic ideas that can be used with fruit or biscuits. Tacos bases or crackers are okay but skip the greasy chips. You might like to toss in some grains or nuts, even ham or bacon or other chopped meats to your dips. Use your imagination and let your taste buds decide.  Simply dip in and enjoy.