Comments on: Notes on Cooking for Men

By: Thra

Thra — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:52:35 +0000

Mr. Henry–

How did you know about the banana thing? I have become a total banana hag to my husband as of late. But do you really like fruit flies in your apartment? Maybe it is worth a rotten banana or two if the outcome yields banana bread.

I think you needed to be more forceful about the wiping-out-the-sink part of your analysis of proper male kitchen behavior. My request for the final wipe up had been met with little response until I said: Ha! You think you are doing the dishes, Babe? Well, the sink is the LAST DISH, and you never do it. It smells, too. Finish what you start!” I know it sounds harsh, but the results were spectacular. My hubby and I make a great team in the kitchen. Thanks for reminding the men out there how important a role they play in that regard.

By: Mr. Henry

Mr. Henry — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:33:05 +0000

Ayyyy! Mrs. Henry caught her husband looking at your link, raincoaster, to The Twilight Zone. And it was 3:45 a.m. Today she is watching him carefully for more indications of strange behavior.

By: raincoaster

raincoaster — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:14:54 +0000

Am I the only demented soul who was reminded of this?

By: Twistie

Twistie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:22:56 +0000

At Casa Twistie all excess overripe bananas go into my favorite banana cake which, alas!, Mr. Twistie cannot eat since he has diabetes. And since he doesn’t like cake anyway.

Still, the extra bananas are always welcome and get him much praise and positive reinforcement when he comes through.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:54:19 +0000

My husband has taken these tips to heart and now he is happily outgrowing all of his pants. He really takes #9 seriously. He loves his banana bread. Thanks for posting

By: Narya

Narya — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:51:55 +0000

The nice thing about this advice is that one can switch the sexes and it still all works.

One of the best circumstances, however, is when both of you know how to cook, and you’re at that point where you can divvy up the cooking duties for a particular meal, throw in your two cents (or receive the other person’s two cents), and the overall fabulousness of the meal merely increases exponentially. Oh–and both of you get in the habit of cleaning up as you go along, which means there are almost no dishes at the end. Which leaves plenty of time for assignations, clandestine or otherwise.

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:45:55 +0000

And always say “thank you” and something nice about dinner. My wonderful husband always does and it means the world to me.
It also means I will continue doing the cooking.
(Yea, that, and the fact that he really can’t cook. We still remember the Funny Pasta Incident.)

By: Irene

Irene — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:48:06 +0000

Oh my goodness. Is there a way to copy this post in its entirety and reprint it, say, on a page of the Sports Illustrated bathing suit issue? The back of a beer bottle? The bottom of a urinal? The potential to help so many is so great.

By: caia

caia — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:52:42 +0000

Personally, I think the wisdom that should be taught all males is the skill and willingness to do half the cooking. (Including the meal-planning and shopping therefor.)

By: La Petite Acadienne

La Petite Acadienne — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:22:42 +0000

When you’ve done the dishes, do not conclude that you’ve finished cleaning up. Wipe the counters, sink, and dining table. If you harbor hopes for clandestine assignations between you and the missus later that evening, sweep the floor.

Yes, yes, a million times yes. My girlfriends and I have despaired over this many times, after making a deal with our respective mates that we will cook, but they must do the dishes, only to have be confronted every evening with clean dishes and a dirty countertop, table, sink and floor.