He Said/She Said: Perspectives on Cooking

by Benjamin Middendorf

“No Unitaskers.”

“Stuffing is Evil.”

“Everything in food is science. The only subjective part is when you eat it.”

Those are just a few of the quotes I’ve taken to heart from Alton Brown, a Food Network “personality” who has been making shows and writing books on cooking for almost two decades.  His Good Eats show could be described as a mix of Julia Child, Mr. Wizard and Monty Python.

I voraciously consumed Good Eats as a child. It was incredibly funny (what other cooking show includes characters such as flatulent sock-puppet yeast, a kitchen equipment specialist named “W” and The Lady of the Refrigerator?), informative and it made me want to cook something after every episode. Brown was and still is a dork, but so am I.

Brown wasn’t my only inspiration for cooking. My mom continues to be one of the most amazing cooks I’ve ever met. We would eat the standard Midwestern American fare of hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and casseroles—and they were delicious—but we’d also get to try dishes like Mongolian beef, curries and tres leches cake (sponge cake soaked in evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. It is heavenly).

So now I try to cook whenever possible. I enjoy the process of breaking down a chicken with a good sharp knife and turning it into something delicious, I love the smell of freshly baked bread and I’m always looking for sales on spices to fill up my cabinet.

But that’s me. At least part of this article is about trying to convince you, whether man or woman, that you should learn how to cook and that maybe you can enjoy it as well.

First of all, it’s easier than you think. “Anyone Can Cook,” to quote Ratatouille. There are cook books, but also videos, websites, podcasts and countless other sources of culinary information for every learning style. Just do it. You’ll make mistakes, but every single cook in the history of ever has made a bad batch of something. Most of the time it’s still edible, and you can adjust or change things for next time.

Secondly, it’s cheaper than you think. We all know that ramen and easy mac are the staple diet of the college student, and dollar to calorie, they might be the cheapest options.  But it’s not that much more to make something that actually tastes good. The site Budget Bytes has a recipe for chicken noodle soup that’s only $1.31 a serving, and it includes delicacies like celery, dried thyme and parsley.

Finally, cooking will make you feel both self sufficient and important to others. It’s a gratifying experience to know that you can fulfil a basic human need for yourself, and for everyone around you. You’re in control of everything that goes into a recipe, and once you’ve made it a few times, you’ll know what can be changed to take it from good to great. Getting compliments on your cooking makes every single onion tear absolutely worth it.

So learn how to cook. And watch Good Eats. “Three Chips for Sister Marsha” is one of my favorite episodes ever.

by April Bayer

You’ve probably heard the saying, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” If this is true of every male on the planet, I’m probably destined to remain single for the rest of my life. As a woman whose cooking repertoire consists of French toast, eggs, grilled cheese, ramen and macaroni, I put the stereotypical image of a 1950’s housewife in a colorful apron pulling a freshly cooked turkey out of the oven to shame.

Part of the reason I’m not very skilled at cooking is that I’ve never really learned. All cooking I’ve done for myself since I left home has been out of necessity, and, with the busy schedule of a college student, I’ve searched for the quickest, easiest meals possible. This means a lot of canned goods, boxed foods and microwaving. Standing in a hot kitchen measuring ingredients, boiling water and chopping vegetables has also just never really appealed to me.

I’ve known many women in my life who love cooking and are excellent at it. Both of my grandmothers perfected amazing family recipes, and one of my good friends recently whipped up some delicious homemade biscuits and gravy from scratch. My father, however, is the best cook I know. As I grew up, my father was always the one who did the grocery shopping, prepared our family meals and created new recipes. Since coming to college, I’ve heard a lot of people say they miss their mothers’ homecooked meals. I sometimes get interesting looks when I reply that I miss my dad’s cooking.

It’s not exactly easy to give the ‘female perspective’ on an activity like cooking because it looks different for everyone. Cooking is something that is loved by some and loathed by others, men and women alike. Depending on culture and tradition, cooking can be a shared experience that brings families and friends together. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve helping my parents and my grandmother cook thanksgiving dinner.

If you’re like me, and you’re a female (or male) who is legitimately concerned about burning water and setting fire to the stove, maybe reach out and make an effort to learn some new skills. Get a group together and find a way to make cooking more fun. I may never wind up rejoicing at the thought of marinating a steak, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy cooking as a way to make connections and serve others.