I am often guilty of believing the guys with whom I interact are handy...around the house and with the grill. Cooking? I waver a bit. Now, thanks to this new little handbook, there is no excuse for a guy not to swoon me with his newly found culinary prowess. Whether a man thinks a kitchen is a (a) place to heat up take out, drink OJ from the carton with the refrigerator door open, and store milk for their breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner cereal, (b) a room the architect found it necessary to include in the plans because it is expected, or (c) a place he wants to utilize but doesn't know where to begin, Recipes Every Man Should Know is the touchdown, no, the Superbowl of cookbooks for the man-cook novice. Not convinced yet? How about Susan and Brett's words of wisdom in the introduction? "Woman who think men who cook are sexy, and it involves fire, sharp instruments and meat."
Recipes Every Man Should Know includes recipes that are straightforward, achievable, and flavorful enough to make wonderful impressions that lead to memorable moments. The book begins with the basics, a list of Kitchen Tools, broken down categorically by order of preparation, including corresponding sketch-like pictures, and a list of cooking terms. The list of cooking terms is not intimidating, as it only includes 17 basics that, once mastered, will take any man-cook far in his endeavors.
Chapter 1 starts off with a jolt, as before delving into the hearty breakfast offerings, it grabs one's attention by offering three steps to making a good cup of coffee. While running out in the wee hours and grabbing a cup for your lady may be okay once in a while, filling the home with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, followed by hand delivery, offers a much more in-depth reason for a lady to swoon. Then, as the initial chapter continues, there are ample opportunities to add delicious nom noms to accompany the coffee. Java not what the doctor ordered? There is even a hangover cure recipe for a post-evening of alcoholic indulgence recovery. I don't know about you, but this is the first I have seen in an actual hangover recipe printed...in cookbook.
Reading through the pages that turn into practical chapters, the pocket-sized book may be tiny, but does a great job incorporating morsels of useful information throughout its recipes. To the seasoned cook, the tidbits may seem unnecessary, but for the man-cook, the additions are priceless - cooking temps, marinades and rubs, topping ideas (for items like baked potatoes, pizza and/or proteins), and even sketched of how to properly bread/dredge chicken nuggets. Lastly, there is a pièce de résistance of unspoken importance of every man's need to maintain some semblance of a man-cave. Susan and Brett incorporate several opportunities to include...beer. And, in case there is a girl like me who prefers a cold margarita over a beer, compromise is a wonderful relationship builder. Why not begin that building with the Beer Margarita?
But, don't take my word for it. Take a moment, flip through the pages, and try it out on your man-cook apprentice. For under $10, the return will be invaluable.
