For Those Ladies Who Are Tired of Cooking

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for the 4th. I hope your holiday was filled with festivities, family and fun.

Here, on Red Pine Mountain, we had a lazy day. Thunderstorms rolled through, rain teemed down upon the roof, my internet connection was sporadic and it was chilly and damp necessitating a fire in the wood stove. And, while I sat reading a book, lazily reaching down to pet the dogs sleeping by the couch, I listened to the hum of activity in the kitchen. Mountain Man was preparing our holiday feast; homemade potato salad, barbecued chicken, fresh asparagus and apple tart. As I turned the pages of my novel, I was enchanted by wonderful aromas and the promise of a full, satisfied belly. Yes, there are actually those of us women like to eat too.

We have all heard the phrase "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" but what about us women who can't wield the mighty saucepan, who look at a cookbook and have our eyes glaze over? Does that mean we are to remain loveless forever? Doomed to days of loneliness because our flambes don't flame and our souffles don't rise? No, ladies, I'm here to tell you for those of us who are less than adept in the kitchen, there is still hope.

You have to have a strategy though. First, search for a man who had a wonderful relationship with his Mother. He spent time with her in the kitchen munching on cookies fresh from the oven, licking cake batter spoons and being the first to sample delectables cooked by his Mother's loving hands. His appreciation for all things culinary will have been inculcated over the years.

Next, search for a bachelor who has been on his own for a number of years and is used to cooking for himself. Not a bachelor who runs to the local eatery for his meals but one who loves to entertain and delight his friends with his newest creation. He knows the difference between a microwave and a pressure cooker, has his personal preference in cookware and spices adorn his shelves.

Okay, you've found that perfect bachelor. What next? How do you keep him from relinquishing the cooking duties to you?

Well, here's my story. I didn't set out to have it happen this way, really I didn't but when it comes to cooking, everything I touch goes up in flames. Luckily, we have a fire extinguisher close at hand.

My attempts to surprise Mountain Man with grilled chicken.


Attempting to cook lasagna in the oven.
Surveying one of my burned meals. "You expect me to eat this?"
Mountain Man, smiling and happy again, after banning me from the kitchen. And me, well, I'm content to be reading my book sitting by the fire which is nicely contained within the wood stove.
Ladies, sometimes the way to a man's heart is to stay away the kitchen and let him take charge.