The mouse ran up the clock ...
And there you have it - a prophecy!
Online charges or not, the mouse will run up the clock and oops weren't you supposed to be getting something on the table by now?
Cookery: the art of dressing and preparing victuals for the table. The key word is dressing, which comes from the French dresser, meaning to arrange. Don't you feel better already? As long as you can arrange to get the victuals arranged on the table you are cookering, crookery though your tactics may be.
Amy V. gives OK to packaged food
"Don't ask Anna to bake fresh rolls, along with everything else she has to do. Rolls can be of the brown and serve variety or little glazed rolls from the bakery. Frozen vegetables cut down on preparation time. The dessert - even pie or cake - can come from the freezer." From the queen of all things correct, Amy Vanderbilt, circa 1954.
What a hoot! I had blown the dust (darn that Anna) off the etiquette books doing another type of research; like a moth to a flame, could not resist the entertainment/food section. "Pathological condition." The nice doctor hasn't been able to give it a name yet but I'll let you know the minute we have a breakthrough.
More Amy: "In a one servant household, the mistress must face the fact that she cannot expect too much. She must be willing and able to take on some of the extras. Butterball making, silver polishing," you know ...
Poor Amy was mourning the passing of Victorian style. "Very few homes in the land can accomodate the traditional 34 guests at one dinner - or even half that many - in comfort. Who indeed has the space to store all the silver, glassware and china for such parties, and where are all the men trained to serve them?"
I fear dear Amy would succomb straight away with a case of the vapors upon a close encounter with my interpretation of gracious living. I have committed the most outrageous offenses. My good stuff has appeared with paper napkins, small plastic plates and cups (color-coordinated - what else?) take care of the relishes and dip, bread/butter, etc. About the only thing that is truly tacky is using paper dinner plates or plastic utensils. OK for a picnic, not a sit-down, flowers and candle to-do.
Whatever the occasion, give it your best shot and relax. Anyone you cook for is secretly thrilled to be relieved of the duty.