How to be a cooking dad even if you're pressed for time!

1. Tips on Being a
Cooking Dad
Dads are supposed to spend their time
away from work tinkering in the garage
and doing home improvements, but
there has been a substantial growth in
the cooking dad field. They’re not just
grabbing some steaks and brats and
throwing them on the grill, but
becoming the primary chef or sharing
cooking responsibilities. It can be a bit
intimidating being a family chef, but
here are a few tips to make it easier for you and your family.
Start Slow and Work Your Way Up
Odds are when Chef Gordon Ramsey is at home, he’s not breaking
out the Beef Wellington for Saturday evening meals and that the
occasional PB&J sandwich will cross his path. A beginning dad
chef doesn’t need to break out the fancy pans and elaborate
recipes. It’s best to start simple and be prepared to mess up every
now and then.
Every dad would like to think that his meals will be some grand
affair filled with all the food groups and enough vitamins and
minerals to make his child the next Tony Stark or at the very least,
Thor. The reality is that life isn’t easy and that the best laid plans
often run into scheduling conflicts and picky children.
If he tries something elaborate while he’s still a novice cook, then
the likelihood of a minor to major disaster is going to be much

2. higher. It’s one thing to try his hand at macaroni and cheese, but
if the recipe involves things he’s never heard of and cooking
utensils that he can’t get at the local store, then maybe he should
hold off on it for a while.
It’s okay to go outside the comfort zone, but first crack open a few
cookbooks and start out following the directions. Men may not
think they need directions, but as any man who has spent the day
traveling in circles knows, sometimes directions make things go
smoother. When he’s comfortable making a dish, then he can start
looking for shortcuts.
Dads Don’t Have To Be Perfect
To children, no matter what their dad does, he’s always the
infallible superhero that can jump tall buildings and lift cars with
his pinkie. Even Superman probably worried about burning the
toast the first time he cooked, but it’s okay if things don’t turn out
as planned. Mistakes are bound to happen and instead of getting
discouraged, dads should try and learn from them.
Some of the most entertaining family memories start out with,
“and then dad started cooking.” It’s all part of the learning
process, but without trying, there is no chance of success. One of
the most common mistakes dads make when they cook is getting
distracted. The pot roast is in the oven and needs to be in for a
while, so they head off to the living room to catch the game and
two hours later the house is filled with smoke.
They go “off the book” and add a few extra pinches of salt or
sugar, which can alter the taste completely. They might even add a
whole new ingredient that was never in the recipe. Dishes get
overcooked or undercooked, they fall off the plate or refuse to
become unstuck from the plate.
It’s the life of the beginning cook. Perfection doesn’t even enter
the vocabulary until week number three or four, and that’s after

3. they have been doing the same dish over and over again. The
important thing to remember is that mistakes happen for a
reason. Dad screwed up, and it’s time to take something away
from it.
Believe it or not, mistakes can make dad a better cook. With each
mistake he makes cooking for the family, dad knows not to do that
again. He’ll remember to set the timer before going to watch the
game or to not add hot peppers to chocolate cake because he
wants to know how the flavors mix. The next time the man of the
house cooks, he’ll remember his past defeats and make a better
dish.
Get the Kids Involved
Fatherhood lasts forever and even when the children are older,
they are going to be coming back or advice—but they are only
young for a short time. Time passes by so quickly. One minute
they are clinging to dad’s knee before he heads to work, and the
next they’re waiting for their bride at the altar. Cooking with the
kids can be a fun way to make cooking a little easier for dad, teach
the kids a valuable skill and create a lasting bond.
When dad goes to the kitchen to cook, odds are he won’t be alone.
Children tend to be attracted to the smell of delicious food and
love to watch dad do his thing (Dad = Superman, remember).
They can be shooed away for a short time, but they’ll always come
back, so why not give them some simple chores to do.
Letting children retrieve the ingredients from the fridge and
cabinets makes them feel important. It also allows you to focus on
the job at hand, cooking for the family. Cooking with dad also
gives them the opportunity to learn from an early age. The very
mistakes dad makes and learns from, teach the kids as well. Dad
burns the pan making eggs, and 15 years later his son remembers
to use non-stick spray.

4. Children will remember these times for years and every time they
cook that same dish, they are going to smile and remember all the
times they did it with their father. Cooking can create a very
strong bond and anything that can bring a father and a child
closer together is worth it.
If you are a dad looking to learn more about cooking, then visit
DadsThatCook.com. It doesn’t matter if dad is a culinary master
or a beginner, there is always something to be learned. The site is
dedicated to Chef Dad and all the trials, tribulations and rewards
of being a dad and a cook.