It’s 9 am Sunday morning. I hear the sounds of utensils on the countertops and the opening and closing of cabinet doors. In preparation for tonight’s dinner, my husband is busy in the kitchen…choosing just the right spices…peeling carrots and potatoes…pulling out the crock pot. Tomorrow being St. Patrick’s Day, he decided to make corned beef and cabbage today. He had planned ahead and bought everything he needed yesterday.
Why…do you wonder…am I not there with him? Because I HATE TO COOK. I mean seriously hate to cook.
There is a certain irony in my disdain for the act of cooking. My mother was an amazing cook. She came home from work and prepared a full meal for our family of seven everyday . She actually enjoyed it and said it was her way of winding down after a busy day. What? Who thinks of cooking as a way to relax? Apparently my husband does since he cooks our dinner every night after he’s worked all day. Thank goodness he doesn’t share my feelings on the subject.
And then there’s my daughter, the chef. You heard it right. She’s a chef. She has a degree in the culinary arts and has worked for a few very famous chefs in downtown Chicago. She absolutely loves the restaurant business and thinks nothing of the hard work required of the hot kitchen environment. While I love to GO to restaurants, I would never work in one, not mention cook in one! People often ask if she got her love of cooking from her mother. Definitely not.
It’s sad that my mother’s love of cooking didn’t rub off on me, but thank goodness that my lack of love for it didn’t rub off on my daughter.
Cooking is not my cup o’ tea…or the cup o’ coffee I have in my hand as I write this. (Coffee, BTW, that my husband made this morning. Yes, it’s that bad.)
Do I hate to cook because I’m not good at it? Or is it that I’m not good at it because I hate to cook? I guess it really doesn’t matter much. What does matter is that years ago, I found someone who loves it and I married him!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!
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Loved your topic! You really are lucky to have someone who cooks for you!
Smart lady finding a man who cooks! Bon apetit!
This is a really cute piece, Cathy. I love the ending, “I found someone who loves it and I married him.” Bob from Alsip, the cook! I love how he even made your coffee this am. 🙂
Cathy, this Slice was super fun to read. I loved the line: I found someone who loves it and I married him. Now you have me thinking I want to Slice about cooking – I can’t decide whether I love it or hate it!
I am sending this to my husband! He is the cook in our marriage out of necessity. Unless if it was up to me we’d have cereal every night. 🙂 I love how this read.
“I found someone who loves it and I married him!” So I married a man for his name and you married one for their culinary skills?!! Just kidding. This slice was funny. I’m no great shakes in the cooking department either but it became my chore. Thank goodness for a family of chefs, both amateur and professional in your case and pizza nights?
Such a wonderful piece. I could feel your hatred in cooking- perfect match to marry someone who loves it. I was wondering if your mother and daughter feel a special connection over cooking since it is something they share such a passion for.
You are lucky you have a guy who will cook. enjoy
I love the honesty. I have had times in my life when I have enjoyed baking (not really cooking). Other times, just the thought of having to plan, shop, put away, and then cook seems just too overwhelming.
But you give me hope for my daughter who has shown no interest in cooking anything other than a grilled cheese sandwich. She was lucky to find a husband who is at home in the kitchen, too!
Good one! I can relate first-hand to this as I’ve sat next to you in many a meeting as you ate the lunch that your husband prepared and packed for you! We all have our special talents. Yours are plentiful….just not cooking!
It is perfect that you found someone who balances you out. If he loves to cook so much, have at it!! Sounds like a delicious dinner, by the way. Yum!