The way to a man's heart...

Recently, I have been doing some self-analysis, and have come to an unorthodox conclusion:  When it comes to cooking, I love to spoil men.  Call me crazy, but there is just something so completely, and totally, “primally” satisfying about serving a fantastic, hearty meal to appreciative men!

Now, I know all my feminist friends are shaking their heads, and stewing in their own juices (don’t boil over! :-)  ), so just hold on- you might like the next part.  You see, when I realized this truth, I suddenly asked myself, “Why?  What is it, beyond my personal desire to make people happy, that actually makes it even more enjoyable to feed men?”    The answer I finally came to was a little surprising:  Being a good cook is powerful. 

Hear me out; I swear I don’t think I’m completely nuts on this one.  Let’s take a journey through my thoughts (buckle your seat belt- this brain is one heck of a place to travel!). 

As a child, I must have heard the women around me say a million times over, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”  Now, as a girl, the saying didn’t really mean anything; it was just a funny thing to say.  All the women around would laugh & nod when they said it; agreeing wholeheartedly, “Yep!  You want him happy, you keep him well-fed!”  I didn’t realize the full truth of this adage until much, much later- like… last week.  You see, I believe that the ability to cook, much like a woman’s ability to sew a button or shave a man’s beard, are ancillary criteria that men use when choosing a mate.  You think I’m crazy, don’t you?  Well…hear me out first, then you can call me nuts!

By the time I got to college, I had learned a few tricks of my own.  I had worked in a restaurant & in catering, and was coming to realize that I was a fair hand in the kitchen.  I used to cook for friends in my dorm in college.  For the bigger events, I always tried to take something special:  baked chicken, a ham, cornbread… something NOT ramen noodles, y’know??  It was then that I began to notice that, while everyone was appreciative, the male response was different.  It wasn’t just the standard, “Hey, this is some good stuff, Meg!”  I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was an intangible, deep appreciation for me, personally, not just the outcome of my efforts- even from the guys who were already taken!  Hey… who was I to complain; a young, single woman, with a room full of admiring young fellas… Sure!  I’ll take it! 

Time passed, and I met & married my husband; a man whose mommy makes the “world’s best” cornbread, chicken & dumplings and biscuits & gravy!  Whew!  Tough act to follow!!  I knew I had passed the test, though, not when he told me, personally, that he appreciated my food, but when he started asking me to take certain dishes to parties, or when friends were coming over.  Then, the real kicker:  the bragging began. 

You see, bragging rights, to a man, are immensely important.  Nearly everything in a man’s world is a competition, and anything you can do, as his mate, to “up the ante” is increasing his overall value!  Therefore, being able to cook holds power (and you thought I was kidding!).  

Need another example?  My cousin’s husband has started posting an almost-daily detail of everything available for dinner in “Miss Britt’s Kitchen”.  The details are amazing, and undeniably mouth-watering!  And… she daily increases his worth, because he married a woman who can cook such deliciousness! 

The real kicker; the ultimate flattery from this husband of mine, came two weeks ago when he told me that he was bragging about my meatloaf to the guys in his office.  The response from his boss: “Well now, I can’t say whether she has the best meatloaf or not, since I’ve never tasted it! You’ll have to bring some in, and we’ll decide!”   

LOL… oh, men!  They drive us women crazy, and make us want to pull our hair out, but we adore them!  I think our ancestors, truly, had them figured out a long, long time ago:  “The way to a man’s heart IS through his stomach.” 

Time to go make that meatloaf!