Since I'm pretty swamped Tuesdays through Thursdays since I don't get out of work till about 9:15 each night (again, since when do teachers work such sucky hours???), I thought I'd go ahead and do this cooking meme that Madhatter tagged me with. I don't know if I can really do this one, seeing as the only thing I know how to cook is mac and cheese from the box (oh, and the ghetto microwaveable kind too!), cold cereal, and spaghetti. I'll do my best. But, for the record, I want it to be firmly known that I feel it is a man's job to cook.

What is your first memory of cooking/baking on your own?

Do mud pies count? I was really good at making those in the playground as a child. I remember one of the first babysitting jobs I had at the age of 12. The mother left a box of mac and cheese for me to make for the kids' dinner. I distinctly remember reading the directions over and over, feeling panicky the entire time. After it was finished, the older girl took a spoonful, looked me in the eye with the most scornful expression I'd ever seen, and said to me, "this isn't how mom makes it" and proceeded to throw her spoon at me.

Who had the most influence on your cooking?

Now that I'm older, my mom is attempting to teach me how to cook, even though she is one of the world's worst cooks as well. She now says that she focused too much on teaching me that I was equal to my brother, and that in our die hard feminism, she forgot to teach me how to cook. But, we can make up for lost time now, and discuss how much men suck at the same time.

Do you have an old photo as evidence of an early exposure to the cooking world?

No photo. At least, not of me cooking. I remember a picture of me wearing a dressy dress as a little girl standing in front of an empty bowl of chips with a frown on my face. Does that count? But the one tangible piece of evidence that I do have is a recipe for my dead grandmother's Swedish banana nut bread that we have since laminated.

Mageiricophobia - Do you suffer from any cooking phobia, or a dish that makes your palms sweat?

I'm scared to cook anything that requires work; does that count? I'm afraid to deal with anything that requires heat, seeing as I have burned myself many a time in my attempts to cook or bake.

What would be your most valued or used kitchen gadgets and/or what was the biggest letdown?

Hands down my microwave. God bless the inventor of the microwave. Also, I enjoy using one of those big spoons (do those have a name or do we just call them a "big spoon?"). The biggest let down? A crock pot. I only know about making soups and stews with one; I thought they could do more than that.

Name some funny or weird food combinations/dishes you really like - and probably no one else!

I used to love mayonnaise and cheese sandwiches growing up. Also, ketchup makes everything better. Seriously, try it.

What are the three eatables or dishes you simply don't want to live without?

1. spaghetti (with sauces from a jar)
2. cold cereal (I eat that for dinner often, particularly on night I teach)
3. pasta salad (if I have to bring something to a party and the host/hostess won't let me buy something, this is what I bring since even I can make it)

Who are some chefs you would be most interested in spending a day with?

I literally don't know the name of one single chef. Can I just say Betty Crocker? Aunt Jamima is also another good one.

Your favorite ice cream: chocolate, cookies 'n cream, or anything with a combination of chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter. Yum!

You will probably never eat: anything with nuts (except peanuts), onions, and especially mushrooms. I'm curious about sushi, but the thought of raw fish grosses me out. Also, I hate shrimp, so I would never want a shrimp cocktail (though a regular cocktail is just fine).

Your own signature dish:

Anything takeout. Pasta salad I guess, though it might become my grandma's banana nut bread!