Men can read it too! It's perfectly legal!

Ever since I started cooking (made an amazing linguini carbonara last night by the way!) I've been finding myself paging through my wife's copies of "Good Housekeeping" and, guess what? This magazine's awesome! I'm going to use the March 2001 issue as a reference for this review, but many of the great stuff found in this issue can be found in most issues. The cover of the March issue features some sextuplets and parents who raise them. From the upbeat, energized look of the parents, I'd say they've been pumped up with either Starbucks' Coffee or several "No-Doz" tablets. I only have two kids and I know I'd need a cup of strong java to look that awake, even at 9 a.m.! Other features in this issue include advice on Shaking a Cold, Love and Marriage ('must-read' report for wives which I, even as a husband and not a wife, read and enjoyed), and Quick Soups and Stews. I also enjoyed an article on Sally Taylor (James and Carly's daughter), and a mysterious tale of a father, thought to be murdered, who turns out to be very much alive and leading a new life across the country after deserting his family. Nice guy, eh?

I tore several pages out of this issue . First I ripped out a picture of an American flag made on a platter out of cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, and star-fruit! It's awesome and I can't wait to wow my friends by trying this at home. Perhaps for Flag Day, a mere 8 to 10 weeks away. They're gonna be so impressed! For under two bucks, this magazine is packed with entertainment, and don't let being a guy keep you from picking up a copy!
At almost 200 pages, this issue has been entertaining me for days, and with a blizzard raging here in New England, I need some entertainment, especially comforting stew and soup recipes, an extensive travel section (so I can dream of sandy beaches and palm trees amidst this winter madness), and advice on spicing up my love life (not that it needs it!) and keeping sex exciting and enticing even after many years of marriage.(see page 65, Love, Marriage, and Desire: The Truth about Married Sex).

Here's a quick breakdown of the issue, to give you an idea of the breadth of the information packed in these pages:

People Section (this is where I found the Sally Taylor article)
Fashion and Beauty (OK, so this didn't really interest me, or my wife, who looks beautiful enough without spending tons of money on stuff to put on her face!)
The Truth About Married Sex (This section contained several articles on everything from the latest in birth control, to the power of hand-holding (do it more often!), and Love Doctors (may I never need one!).
Relationships (Here I found articles on helping shy children and on keeping your kids safe from TV's that can tip right off TV-stands and tables and crush a child in a split second. Scary thought.
Consumer Sense (this issue had information on cell-phone shields, dealing with credit card debt, and a consumer guide to vacuum cleaners. (Can we really trust that Oreck guy?)
The Better Way (info on paying bills online, Car Care, Power Tools for Women (I'd use them, too, not being a very handy guy!), and product recall updates.
Food and Home (This is what drew me to Good Housekeeping in the first place!) Next to FoodTV.Com, this is the place to get some great recipes and ideas for culinary fun! The March issue offers some great lemony recipes including Lemon-Sugar crepes and Lemon-Buttermilk Pudding Cake. So far my experience with lemons has been limited to stuffing them in chicken cavities, but I'm ready to expand my lemon horizons thanks to Good Housekeeping. I also plan to try the Hungarian Pork Stew soon. It's the other white meat you know!
Book Bonus (excerpt from a hopefully good book!)

Other departments and columns include the always trustworthy 'Heloise' with household hints, Getting Personal with Dr. Joyce Brothers, Your Money (Jane Bryant Quinn) and a Real Deals section, with advice on finding best buys. The March issue focuses on bathrooms. "Your Health" features medical advice from Dr. Nancy Snyderman. This issue has an article on how to tell the difference between a 'cold bug', a 'superbug', asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia. A breakdown of symptoms and what they can mean is useful, especially during the sickness prone winter months. Plenty of good advice here.

So, I admit it. I’m a man, and I read Good Housekeeping. (*Holding my head high*). Much of this is geared towards women, but as a man reading this, you gain some insights into the opposite sex; probably more than you'd getting reading Cosmo or Glamour. (I'm not saying I read those, too, cuz I don't!)

OK, time to get back to my Popular Mechanics, Men's Fitness, and Maxim, after I hide my Good Housekeeping under the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Thanks for Reading! Best Regards from snowy Boston!