Referring to soup as a 'hot, steamy surprise' will surely inspire your man to stir some up for you. Suman Chhabria-Addepalli offers sneaky suggestions to tempt him into the kitchen...

YOU'VE tried and tested all the mushy ideas in the book and want to do something different? Just do nothing at all!

Get your man to cook up some special fare for you - after all it's that time of the year when Women's Day is celebrated internationally!

Nope, do not despair if the only utensil he knows how to use is a spoon.
There are ways to get him into the kitchen to make a meal for you. Just use all the EB (Emotional Blackmail) lessons you've learnt through life.

Getting Started ...
• Wake up in the morning looking really sexy, but sad. When he asks about your hopeless expression, tell him "nothing is wrong" - that'll get him really worried.
• Let him prod you for a while. Then, tell him that you'd rather not be the year-round cook in the household, and it hurts that he doesn't even cook an occasional dinner.
• Okay... so that doesn't evoke any response. Or maybe all he does is reach for a restaurant menu. Then, whine that there are hundreds-thousands-perhaps millions of men who make dinner for their partners!
• Now, without moaning, tell him that it would really mean a lot to you if he made a dish for you. And that the best gift (besides the solitaire, of course) would be that you can be called to the table to dig into the grub for a change!
• During your conversation, refer to cherries as 'blushing belly buttons', to the burner as 'red hot', and the chicken as 'succulent'.
• Finally, when you sense his will to fulfill your wish, look really elated - that'll prevent him from changing his mind.
• Distract him if he feels too unfortunate and remind him of the joy that comes from feeding a lover, and how 'wild' he would look with an apron on.


In Unfamiliar Territory
• Be around and appreciate him but don't crow excessively when he keeps peeping out jealously to see how YOUR day off is.
• Don't forget to tell him that your sensual appetite soars when you see that bit of flour on his cheek, and how eager you are to explore all that he has stirred up.
• Promise him that the menu for the day is entirely his choice, and no matter what, DO NOT interfere with that.
• Whatever the outcome, simply smile. And of course, resolve to taste it all.
• Of course, assure him that it's perfectly fine with you if he tries his version of one of your recipes and that you will not mind it even if the result tastes like nothing familiar.

When The Food's Ready
• Now, just relax. You've got what you wanted. And oh yes, volunteer to set the table. That way, maybe some of your precious crockery will be saved!
• Taste all the food. Refer to all of it as 'sinfully good'. Praise him profusely after tasting the meal.
• Now, pick that phone and call your favourite home-delivery restaurant... if the food's all burnt, that is!
• Finally, if you want this day to be the first of many, bring out that stringy red negligee in appreciation of the taste of romance he worked so hard to give you!

Handy Tips
• If there's a cricket match that day on the telly, forget it. Don't ask him to cook!
• Do not have the TV on unless there is a cookery show.
• Make him wear an apron. Keep one handy for yourself in case of an emergency.
• Keep some band-aids along with the knives.
• Keep the ketchup away, unless you want all the food to look red.
• Give him baking gloves, lest he picks up the hot saucepan with bare hands in a rush of adrenaline.
• Do not go anywhere near the kitchen. But do stay at home in case he wants to know how to use the microwave or gas lighter.
• Tell him to remember where he took the ingredients from and replace them after use.
• Warn him that leftovers are definitely not permitted, but could be used in an emergency.
• Resist the temptation to cook yourself, no matter how messy things get.