We bought a pretentious Kama Sutra for dummies type new age book 20 years ago and flipped through pages maybe once or twice and since lost in our collapsing bookshelf in the basement. Yes, one can go for that book or Garten’s Barefoot Contessa and get some ideas for something hot and steamy for tonight – I opted for corpulent pear with cognac with something meaty and strong like lamb kabobs with couscous, gamey juice in aromatic Marketuno vinegar, sensually brushed with sweet marjoram. Hubby likes. Cooking can still make an ordinary weekday night interesting.
But who really cooks anymore. Luckily we’re kid-less, and we’ve consciously made some effort in toning down our ridiculous type A personalities once we get home. It has helped, but the confidence is straining. Not much you can do with the fatigue after a full day’s work, a quick call on speed dial to Mario’s is all the energy that’s left.
My point is that cooking is safe enough that both can spend quality time on. If the food turns out well then that’s a bonus. Nora Ephron appropriately writes: “Cooking is the only thing in life where if you follow the rules you are guaranteed results.”