How to improve your candidacy as a boyfriend by watching Food Network

Read any "womens" magazine (not that I do, but The Girlfriend leaves them lying around) or look around the web and you will discover that women want guys who are talented in fields beyond beer pong. One of qualities deemed attractive by the --pardon the ridiculous phrase-- modern woman, is a man who knows how to cook.

I can't help the fact that I am a good cook. In my family, the men always did most of the cooking, or were just better at it. Of course, being in college and living off of student loans and bar tips, I have eaten my fair share of easy-mac, but I try to do actual cooking as often as possible, especially since The Girlfriend has a hard time making scrambled eggs (I finally convinced her to scramble the BEFORE putting them in the pan).

"If you didn't know how to cook, I would probably starve to death, or just dump you"- The Girlfriend. She apparently isn't alone.

Learning to cook may be difficult for the spatula-impaired, but that's where The Food Network comes into play. I would estimate that at least a quarter of my TV watching is dedicated to The Food Network . Not only does the cable channel have shows that are fun to watch, like Iron Chef and Dinner:Impossible, but it also has shows that offer great, and relatively practical dishes that anyone can make. Often, the Food Network website includes recipes featured on certain shows so that you can take a closer look and replicate them.

So then, I now present you with my 3 choices for shows that guys should watch to pick up some tips on how to graduate beyond ramen and instant mashed potatoes:

Boy Meets Grill with Bobby Flay
Ignore the stupid title. This show features Chef Bobby Flay cooking pretty simple meals almost entirely on the grill. For those who still think a woman's place is in the kitchen, and aren't ready to make that move, the grill is the best place to start. Some of his meals are a little complicated and over-ambitious, but you can always simplify the recipe and make it your own. Here is an easy recipe for skirt steak tacos.




Tyler's Ultimate
Okay, Tyler Florence is a little bit goofy and sometimes irritating, but it is well worth sitting through a 30 minute show if it is going to greatly improve your skills. The basis behind the show is that the cook takes a well known, and often simple meal and improves upon that to create the "ultimate" version. Still the recipes are fairly easy to make. What Tyler does that a lot of cooking shows don't is explain with greater detail what he is doing as he is cooking to make it easier to follow. Here is Tylers recipe for the ultimate shrimp scampi.


Everyday Italian
Ahh, Giada De Laurentiis...Just because the host of this show is an extremely attractive woman, it does not make you any less of a man to follow her cooking instruction. Italian food is some of my favorite to make because the ingredients are relatively cheap and it is deceptively simple.
(A good rule of thumb for Italian cooking is if doesn't taste great, just add more cheese.) Here is an example of the awesome but easy dishes featured on the show.


Now man up and put on an apron!