The Cooking Type

As I was eating a frozen meal of macaroni and cheese during my lunch break one day, a co-worker walked up to me and asked if I cook at home.  "Yes," I replied, "I try to as much as I can." This is the honest truth, too.  There have been times when I didn't make it to the grocery store during the week so our dinners consisted of horrible (horribly unhealthy, yet incredibly tasty) fast food or take out.  For the most part, I try to cook as often as I can.

I used to hate cooking, but I don't anymore. It's probably because I'm scared to fail at things, so I just didn't want to try. I also didn't want my husband to have to eat some gross concoction and secretly compare me to his mom who is incredibly skillful in the kitchen.  Now I'm learning.  I can follow a recipe like no other. I can even make some things without instructions! I am truly a work in progress. But, seriously, I can and do cook.

This brings me back to my co-worker's question: do I cook at home? After my thoughtful response, I asked her why she wanted to know.  She said it was because I didn't look like the cooking type. Gasp! How dare you... I mean, wait... What does that even mean? The cooking type? Should I have been offended?!

I mean, I was offended. Do I look completely incapable of measuring out ingredients and throwing shit into a pan? Do I really give off the helpless vibe? I feel like I am pretty awesome at work, so why would she think that I'm not awesome at home too?

And do you know what's really funny? Someone else asked me THE SAME QUESTION before. At work. Seriously. "You cook, Sara?"

Image courtesy of Mags

(1952 Good Housekeeping)