As you may know, we’re a married couple who cooks together, so we’re pretty passionate about the benefits it brings to a relationship. It’s mega quality time, builds communication and team work, gets food on the table in half the time, and it’s just plain fun. (In fact, we’ve already written a post about the benefits of cooking together: read it here.) But what if your significant other is just not interested, after years of honest trying? What if he or she is a walking recipe for kitchen catastrophe?
In this week’s podcast, somewhat in homage to the upcoming holiday that celebrates l-o-v-e, we’ve got a podcast about figuring out cooking with your S.O. Like it or not, you’ve got to come to some consensus on how to get food on the table, be it cooking together, alternating, designating one cook, or (gasp!) not cooking at all. Joining us are Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom of the food blog Pinch of Yum, who share their experiences finding their groove. Check it out below!
*Are you meant to cook with your significant other? Take our *QUIZ* below the podcast!
**Our recipe for a great cooking date? Our simple shrimp and artichoke paella.
Cooking with your S.O.: Together, or Separate?
- You or your S.O. are exceptionally clumsy and have been known to burn yourselves, catch things on fire, boil over pots, and/or set off smoke alarms. (True=0, False= 1)
- When things don’t go right, you throw things. (True=0, False=1)
- Your S.O. is a leeetle bit anal about keeping things neat and tidy. (True=0, False=1)
- You’d rather achieve a goal than make sure everyone is having a good time. (True=0, False=1)
- Your S.O. concedes when you are right. (True=1, False=0)
- Your S.O. is never right. (True=0, False=1)
- You’re pretty patient, and when you start to lose it, you even slowly count to 10. (True=1, False=0)
- If something doesn’t work out, you’re not afraid to throw out dinner and make peanut butter sandwiches. (True=1, False=0)
- “I can’t cook” or “I am not a cooker” is your S.O.’s motto. (True=0, False=0)
- Spending quality time together as a couple is a priority. (True=1, False=0)
- You like to micromanage. (True=0, False=1)
- You or your S.O self-identify as a pyromaniac. (True=0, False=1)
Scoring
- 8 or higher: You’re natural kitchen buddies! You’ve got the tenacity and patience to make a great team. Start cooking together now.
- 5-7: You’ve got potential. Start cooking together and see where it leads!
- 4 and lower: Divide and conquer! One of you on cooking, the other on cleanup duty. Trust us, it’s safer in the long run.
- 0: Consider a personal chef.
This was such a great episode – I love hearing about how other couples interact together in the kitchen! My husband and I are definitely more like Lindsay and Bjork… I absolutely love to cook (and am definitely a little controlling in the kitchen) and my husband could not be less interested in the process. But he appreciates a well cooked meal and is a wonderful taste tester! And yes, he is always asking where the meat is when I try to cook vegetarian meals :)
Lindsey and Bjork are such an inspiration. I love cooking with my husband. Our joy of cooking together and finding ways to combine his California style flavors with my Southern style flavors is what prompted us to start a blog. That way we could watch our dishes as they grow and change.
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I BELIEVE THAT COOKING WITH MY S.O. GIVES US TIME TO CATCH UP WITH EACH OTHERS DAY AND SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH THE MAN I LOVE AND DEFINITELY THE CLOSENESS!!!! DOING THINGS TOGETHER EVEN IF IT’S COOKING JUST STRENGTHENS OUR RELATIONSHIP!!!
THANKS FOR SHARING,
MELYNDA MALDONADO- GAMEZ
Love the quiz! So cool! My relationship with my wife is unique in the fact that I more of a guru with nutritional knowledge but I have almost zero cooking knowledge or experience! It actually makes for an interesting pairing because she will ask me for nutritional advice (which recipe is more healthy ect…) So although I am a 5 on the quiz I try to contribute from other areas and also clean up the kitchen afterwards! I have experienced this as a bonding time and I think it needs to come back into fashion. Great post!
It sounds like you two are a great match with her cooking and your nutritional knowledge! Contributing by cleaning up the kitchen afterwards is a perfect synergy as well. Thanks for weighing in — it’s so fun to hear!