Heroes In Aprons

I know that superheroes are cool and most of them wear capes but the other heroes we don’t recognize and always underrate are those in aprons. And by that, I mean people who cook, both men and women. Have you ever eaten after being hungry for so long? That feeling is what I’m talking about. Okay, I better stay on topic. I find it funny when I hear men say they can’t cook because what???? Let me tell you why.

I grew up with boys and they are probably the best cooks I’ve ever met. I don’t know if it’s because I am the last born and therefore it was their responsibility to feed me but my brother can cook so well. I remember the first time my elder brother cooked palm nut soup, he was probably 15 years old. I genuinely didn’t think he could pull it off because cooking palm nut soup in Ghana is like a huge deal but he did it.

And that wasn’t all, he finished the soup and cooked rice balls too. Just at the age of 15 years. Although I can cook now, if I tell you what I was doing at the age of 15 years old you’d probably open your mouth. Mmm probably something crochet or something unnecessary. Anyway, the whole point is that seeing my brothers cook so well gave me the notion that all men can cook until I grew up.

In my house, you’ll barely see dirty dishes in the sink and anytime people find out my house is usually full of men, they get surprised as to how that is even possible. Well, it’s how we grew up. The punishment that came with leaving dirty dishes in the sink when we were kids was even more terrifying than being grounded.

In as much as I find it funny when people can’t cook, I think talking about this has also brought my attention to the fact that certain men can’t cook because of how they were brought up. And of course I’m not here to criticize them but I believe after you grow up, whether as a man or woman, you should know how to cook. Nothing serious but at least something to survive.

For me, cooking is just like any basic skill. And we all know basic skills are not gender bias. At least you should be able to make yourself a nice meal even if you don’t know how to do all these complicated food. Something simple and local should be at your fingertips as a man. At this point I think I should just add cooking to the list of the things I want in a man.