Julia Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

I have a secret. I am horrified of cooking. I cannot even boil water. I feel so incredibly inadequate in the kitchen. My mom also did not know how to cook(but she thought she did)that is a story for another day. I am lucky to have a husband who is an amazing cook. A lot of people might think this is just laziness on my behalf but it is not, I am hopeless when it comes to cooking. I admire women and men who can whip up a meal, even if just a simple meal. I have yet to do anything of the sort to my embarrassment. I even had friends offer to help but I freeze. I have flash backs to setting the kitchen on fire at school during home ec, no one got hurt and the fire was quickly extinguished. I was transfered to shop. I was never allowed to forget that incident. I dream of being able to cook, to set a lavish table or even a humble table with food prepared by my own hands. The thought of burning my own kitchen stops me in my tracks. I hope to beat this fear one day. I want my children to remember at least a special dish from me.