What Every Dad Should Know about Cooking
Every man should know how to cook. Where did some people get the idea that women were supposed to own the kitchen? Probably from old grandma, who had nothing better to do than cook casseroles while grandpa slept in the recliner after work. But that was little more than a convenience. There’s nothing uniquely feminine about cooking.
Men are the vast majority of professional chefs, and with more women working, more men are starting to share the task of preparing dinner. I’m one of them, and I love it.
Cooking is fun. It satisfies that deeply masculine desire to create something real that work in the information age so often lacks. And women love it; your wife will thank you in more ways than one. She wants someone to take care of her, and few things are sexier than a well-prepared meal. Even if she likes to do the cooking, she would probably love some company in the kitchen. Plus, your kids get hungry even when mom isn’t around. You don’t want to be the dad who always serves box macaroni and frozen pizza for dinner. You want to be the dad who can do anything.
What you need to understand about cooking is that it’s a lot more like painting or woodworking than constructing an IKEA shelf. Following the instructions and using precise measurements can help—often it’s necessary—but mastery involves an apprehension of the basic components work and a feel for how combining them in just the right way can create something entirely new. My 7-year-old can build a lego set according to the box, but she’ll never know the joy of legos until she can turn those same pieces into something all her own. No real artist paints by numbers.
Cooking takes practice. You need time to figure out how the pieces fit together and interact, how much paint to put on the brush and how firm or light the stroke, whether to shave off that extra bit or sand it down to perfection.
How hot should the pan be? How long can it cook without burning? How much salt is too much? What will adding a little more garlic do? Should I use oil or butter? What kind? How thick do I want the sauce to be? Regardless of the recipe, these are questions with a different answer for each person, each pan, each stove. You won’t know until you try it a few times. Don’t give up.
Start with the basics. Every dad needs a signature dish, something you can cook well, everyone in the family loves, and that’s easy to do on a hectic night. Maybe it’s spaghetti or burgers or quesadillas or pancakes and eggs. Mine is fried rice. I’ve nearly perfected it over the last five years.
It doesn’t have to be a gourmet, three-course meal. Keep it simple. Whatever you do, just get a feel for the heat and the timing and the flavor. Experiment with new ingredients or proportions. Try to make it a little better than the last time you cooked it.
Another great way to learn is by using the mail-order meal boxes. You’ve probably seen the commercials for Hello Fresh, Home Chef, Blue Apron, and the like. They take some of the pressure off meal planning and shopping, add some variety to your diet, and give you a chance to practice dishes you probably wouldn’t make on your own, sides and all. You can find one to fit your budget and tastes, so check it out and have fun with it.
Dads, it’s time to take over the kitchen. Do it for your wife. Do it for your kids. Do it for yourself. Just do it.
Let me know your favorite meal to cook, and come back soon. I’ll have plenty more tips to help you on your way.
Good luck!
-Dave