Changing the subject, as gardening is a future fantasy in Ontario at the moment.

On my last visit to the supermarket, they were giving away “meal kits” — small brown cardboard boxes containing (according to the packers) everything required for a meal of Jamaican-style jerked chicken for two to four people. I accepted one (free food!) and followed the directions. The box contained a plantain, a sealed plastic packet of skinless, boneless chicken thighs, a tiny Zip-loc bag of basmati rice, a tin of red kidney beans, a bag of shredded cabbage and carrot for coleslaw, a lime, and little packets of mixed spices for each dish.

First, the amount of food was certainly plenty for three and sufficient for four, so I’m still working my way through it. Its Jamaican-ness is doubtful, as the mixed spices are deficient in the oomph I associate with island cuisine. I would never have tried cooking plantain myself under other circumstances and I remain unconvinced in this world that already has potatoes, but I’ll gladly eat it again if it is cooked by a Jamaican person to his or her taste. The spice mix for the rice and bean dish did not contain salt, which is odd, and the recipe called for too much water.

On the whole, I’m glad I did not have to pay for this first excursion into the world of meal kits. They are advertised relentlessly and I know people who use them with pleasure, but I don’t see myself doing it again.

What do youse all think of meal kits?