As much as I’d like to say everything I eat at home is from scratch, it’s just not true. I try not to eat too much pre-made food, but sometimes it just makes sense. Last night was a good example. It was very hot; too hot to do much real cooking, and a perfect time to cut a few corners.

I ended up with rice pilaf from a box, falafel from a box, and store-bought stuffed grape leaves, supplemented with homemade hummus and diced tomato.