Fiancee Confessions...

I can’t cook. There, I said it. If it’s more difficult than Hamburger Helper, I fret. whispers: My dinners are often of the frozen sort... If the recipe sounds too complicated, I won’t attempt it. Well, I can follow most simple recipes, but I don’t know a whole lot about cooking techniques. You know, those things every mother knows will make something just right. The basic ways to cook things! How done is done? (I am terrified of undercooking things. So J bought me a meat thermometer.)

J on the other hand, is a wizard in the kitchen. A chef. A Williams-Sonoma gadget loving, technique savvy, tuna-steak and twice baked potatoes-making gourmand. After cooking for himself for years, he’s also worked in kitchens and at a country club helping with weddings, banquets and events. He even made omelets for Arnold Palmer and Mel Gibson, among others. Cooking is just an extension of his artistic talents. And he’s good at (and persnickety about) it.

I just want to learn enough to be adequate in the kitchen. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever love it. It’s just too much work for me. I don’t know how you moms do it--if you’ve worked all day at the office, or if you stay at home chasing the kids all day—and still have the energy to make a good meal. When I get home from work, all I wanna do is make a PB&J, soup, and watch Friends reruns.

In an effort to improve myself, I signed up for a cooking class at our local organic supermarket. It’s called, seriously, “How to Boil Water” (and other kitchen techniques). It’s truly a beginner’s class, where we’ll learn basic techniques and cooking methods. It’s in January, so I’ll start the year of my married life with some new skills :)

J and I have unofficially decided that he will be the one to make the meats and related entrees, and I’ll tackle sides since I looooove making creative things like lemon-lime rice. People always say you gain weight after you get married, but honestly, I think I may lose a pound or two. With all the junk food, pizza, fast food, etc that I eat weekly, cooking at home will be better for mine, and J’s, health!