Cooking is overrated. What I mean to say is that, as a semi-adult female living in the “set it and forget it,” or “instant gratification” era, I’ve never taken the time to really try to cook a decent meal beyond Ramen noodles and frozen pizza.
Nutrition is an extremely important aspect of one’s life, especially with all of the health concerns lounging loftily on the horizon. Smoking is considered enough to send one to purgatory, forgetting to exercise may cause an anxiety attack, and if your car isn’t on its way to “going green,” then its time to buy a new one.
Fast food is not the blame for all this, however, I’m not even going to begin to mention their hold on society and the influence they curtail. But the whole idea of popping it in the microwave, of driving up and having it handed to you, all of it is dauntingly beautiful. The simplicity of doing nothing and getting something — it certainly is tempting.
I’ve tried baking once or twice, which is a member of the “cooking” family, and they were birthday cakes for my father. It’s not important that he liked cake from a box versus the home-made stuff, but what matters is that both times he ended up with a horrible mistake. He gleefully stuffed the treat into his face in between chuckles, and told me it was the best present he could’ve gotten.
Perhaps it isn’t the mastery of the oven that is my problem, but my mastery of using a stove in general. In most homes today one can find a standard electric range, but if its gas you can count me out. I set a pot on fire once by pouring oil into it (no one told me you had to let the oil heat up with the pan). Amidst my screaming and flailing, I pulled open a window and threw the inferno into the neighbors yard. No one was harmed in my attempts at making spaghetti.
Words to the uneducated wannabe chef: have someone show you, visibly. Those books are full of crap and the pictures don’t even make any sense. If you can cook, however, congratulations. I’m coming to your house and you’re showing me all you know.
I pity my future husband, really, I do. But, hey, I’m really good at doing the dishes.
