Men can cook!

Today, when a woman stands for strength, courage and character, it is shameful to deliberately try to confine her to regular domestic chores like washing the dishes and watering the plants. Some even do the extraordinary by stereotyping cooking as solely the woman's job.  Maybe this certain category of people need to be reminded time and again that cooking is a respectable form of art that also quenches the gastronomic desires. In a simple sentence – the culinary prowess should never be typecast as a regular chore for any particular gender. 

Cooking can bring as much happiness to the household when it's prepared by daddy dearest as when it is arranged by wonder mummy.  There is no reason why men should roll their eyes when they think of getting into the kitchen. If you can lead the front of any business and run several companies, you must be able to know your vegetables and meats and run your kitchen too!

There is only one single prerequisite to cooking. What is that you ask? Cooks must be in love with food. How would you know whether you have any affinity towards the produce of the culinary world? The answer is simple; if you had ever complained about the minutest of details when someone else prepared the dinner, marvelous! You immediately proved yourself as an ardent fan of cooking.

If it is the loneliness that bothers you when you get into the kitchen then you can get the children involved by making them your sous chefs. I am sure they will agree to do whatever daddy dearest plans.  If you have never fried an egg before or your cooking skills are confined to preparing instant noodles only, don't panic. Wipe that sweat off your forehead and take a deep breath. There's a first time for everything; think about those climbing Everest for the first time. As much as their minds are being skeptical, their adrenaline is plummeting and allowing them to reach the top. Now here you go, you can do this. If they can climb Everest why won't you be able to make dinner? Now is the time to score some points with the wife and give her a day off with her lady friends while you prepare a good home-cooked meal. 

THE POTLUCK DINNER
Preparation time: 20 min; cooking time: 10 min 
4 to 6 servings 
Ingredients for the soup
12 ounces linguine
2 large sized tomato, diced
1 medium sized onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
½ tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 pot vegetable broth (pre-prepared)
2 chicken breasts, diced
Parmesan cheese for garnish, grated

Method
Place everything together in one soup pot – everything! You do not have to separately cook the pasta. Just flame on and cook everything together in slow heat. Remember just one single point. Never drain the pasta for this recipe. 

Cover the dish and bring to a boil, the starch that leaches out from the pasta will make a rich sauce that will combine with the vegetable broth and make a remarkable dish. Then, stir and reduce to a simmer.  Cook covered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Cook, until most of the liquid is gone and the chicken is cooked through.  This is what it looks like when it is done.

Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top for a further enhanced flavour. The most interesting part of this recipe is that you can play with the ingredients and add any vegetables you like. Every time with a new vegetable, a new taste will emerge. 

EASY TECHNIQUE TO VEGETABLE BROTH 
Choose your favourite vegetables and chop them into chunks. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a cooking pot and then cook the vegetables for 5 minutes, stirring frequently

Add salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. For this preparation only do not discard the vegetables.

By Mehrin Mubdi Chowdhury
Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed