For the first time in the three and one-half years I've known her, my wife is letting me "cook supper" this weekend.
SWeeeeeeeT!

Any suggestions...?

Really! My fiancée wants me to cook sometimes! I promised her I would prepare a meal at least once a week to which she replied, "I will be glad for this!"

My suggestion is anything but something Russian! How about lasagna?

Man Food (aka: Chili)

Oh no. This is heartbreaking. If you need anything at all, the VJ community is here to support you.

This is a real "guy" opportunity here for you ! Whatever it is, burn it. Make a huge mess, and then crack several plates while doing dishes. You will never *ever* have to worry again about having to cook.

Does she want Russian food or American food? I second Kazan' Tiger's suggestion of lasagna--i was never able to find lasagna noodles in st. petersburg, and it's my favorite thing to cook. My guy is also OBSESSED with pizza. He is very concerned with living a healthy lifestyle and is a vegetarian who mainly sticks to raw fruit and vegetables, but once we pass by a pizza hut it's all over. I would stay away from anything spicy, though, because Russians generally have trouble with spicy food, from what I've seen. What passes as spicy food in Russia is tasteless to American tastebuds. You should also consider sticking some dill on whatever you make, and offering up some smetana or mayo.

For a second thee I thought you said: "My wife left me! She really left me! I thought...here we go again (shades of Satellite).

Real tempting!

She's going to be out all day Saturday, and then come home to the meal. I was thinking about going down to the local "southern fried" restaurant and bringing home a batch of fried frog legs.

I have so many thoughts about this going through my head right now about how I might handle this...


No. No.
I only modeled my title after that fantastic thread.

I can only speak for the gatecrashing foreigner community (and possibly the AAL - Anti-arrogant League) but we virtually hug you at this terrible time! I usually find a cup of tea and a slice of cake work wonders at times like this.



A stroke of genius I must say!

I hate cooking... that's what I should do.

oh darn, i thought it was gonna be she let him do something else.......

Hahaha. I think my mind was in the same place as yours.

I think not being with our SO's for so long has gotten to us

Good luck with your dinner! My fiance makes a GREAT lasagna and its not hard to make, so I think thats a good suggestion. Skip the frogs legs

How dreamy.I wish my SO knew how to cook.

You mean you all have fiancees that....cook?? Lol!

Yes it is great.. other then the fact that I have to guard the cheese sauce ...
I do not know why... but for some reason people try to steal the food before it is done.

Same thing with pancakes lol.. I went BALLISTIC when they kept begging for them. lol.
Remember.. waiting is key.

Hey this is America, that means if a guy cooks it is Barbeque

Earlier today, we were discussing what I might cook;

She said she knew that anything I cook will be wonderful;

Dang it.
Er....... damn it.

I love to cook but my wife gets upset because I just make stuff up, like parmessan encrusted herb and garlic chicken. Then she wants the recipe and I dont have one. I have a friend who is a chef and taught me just to make it up as I go along. Its fun and keeps my sweetie guessing

I also love to cook. And Thomas, I love to experiment as well! Thank God for the Food Network, lotsa ideas there. Last week I even replaced my old coil electric stove with a new gas convection unit in anticipation of all the fine meals Tanya says she wants to make. As we talk to each other every day, part of the conversation always is what we ate or are going to cook. She is a fabulous cook and is the adminstrator for the best restaurant in Sochi and loves seafood, so she tells me that she wouldn't mind if I grill up a nice Loin of Tuna!

One thing I do anticipate is that I will be having to make the breakfasts. I have a 16 yo boy and will be adding a 13 yo girl, and I want to make sure that they have a good breakfast before school. School here in Georgia starts at 7:30am, and for a while it definitely is going to be a challenge for Tanya to get up early (before 10am)! Are all Russians late risers? Discuss......

At the risk of stereotyping and thus being flamed, I am going to say that Russian women are among the best cooks in the world!

I love Alton Brown's "Good Eats" show. I've learned many a cool culinary trick or two.

i thought the same thing...i said "oh no! not again!!"

good luck with the meal!

It's considered rude to call someone in Petersburg before 11am, but Muscovites tend to get up a little earlier. I don't know about the rules for the rest of the country. That's one thing I definitely prefer about Russia--i'd definitely rather stay up late and wake up late.

Great idea!

Or to really get some kudos, go talk to the Colonel and get a 10 piece meal with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Put it all in your pans and dishes and take the garbage out before she gets home. Spread some oil in a pan (with a couple pieces of extra crispy) and drink a beer or two so you can look flustered.

Boston Market is even better for this purpose. Yummmm.

Ditto...

You could try stir-fry - quick and easy and yummy unless you want to go for the burning option

Also check out http://www.allrecipes.com/ - there are some great things in there and you can search by the ingredients you have in your pantry

Hmmm....really great website! Thanks for that.

Epicurious is another good one.

I want to know, is your cooking that bad? My family for some reason makes sure the males in the family can cook before they teach the females. Then we are expected to teach our brides to cook. I ain't making this up. I was scratch baking puddings at the age of 9, when they realized I could read a cookbook. Used a Watkin's cookbook written in 1928. It is still used and in the family. It was my paternal grandmother's first cookbook. She went to college, graduated in 1928 (I graduated from the same college, now university 65 years later). She was expected to teach, not be a housewife, lasted 6 weeks in the schoolhouse. Married my grandfather and was married for 50 years and one week in happiness.

Now that's a cool story!