Because I hadn't cooked before I was married, I asked my mother how to turn over a fried egg without breaking it. She smiled and said if my new husband noticed a broken egg yolk, our marriage was in trouble. Thankfully, John never complained; but that wasn't because of my skill or his patience. One of the many surprises for me about my marriage was John didn't like fried eggs.
Because I knew John liked potato salad, that was the first dish I attempted to make as a newlywed. In our home potato salad has been called "it helps" ever since. When I had told our landlady I was making potato salad, I'd asked her if the potatoes had to be cooked. She patiently replied, "It helps".
When it comes to preparing food, practice helps - but practice didn't make me perfect. Although I no longer depend on the smoke alarm to let me know when dinner is done, I'm a good cook who doesn't want to be great. Now it's me - not the food - that's burned out. Nevertheless, when I suggested to John that we subscribe to a meal service, he put on an apron. Yes, I'm a lucky woman; but I know my luck is running out. Soon John will realize dinner always tastes like leftovers to whomever tastes it while making it.
Yes, when it comes to making meals, I'm burned out; but I'm not the only one. According to a new National Restaurant Association report, Americans eat out 4.2 meals a week. The report also said that 2.4 meals a week are skipped. That leaves only14.4 meals a week that are eaten at home. That might explain why you don't hear the phrase "what's cooking" as much.
KNIGHT PIERCE HIRST takes humorous looks at life. Take a minute to make yourself smile at http://knightwatch.typepad.com