british

Should you refuse sex if your husband or boyfriend doesn't cook for you? Jamie Oliver thinks so. The British celebrity chef recently expressed his opinion to the Times Online. He said:

Men are driven by sex. So the best way for women to get their men into the kitchen would be to stop having sex with them until they start to cook.

Oliver's tactic may be outlandish and unreasonable but it also may work. Being single, I don't have the chance to put his theory to practice but was wondering, what do you think about the idea?

Have you ever abstained from sex to get your man to cook?

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I love taking a classic pub meal and making my own version at home. Fish and chips are a pub favorite that is usually heavy on the oil. However, if you bake both the potatoes and fish in the oven — instead of cooking in a deep fryer — the dish is delicious and much lighter. This flavorful fish is coated in a mustard-egg mixture before being dipped in crushed melba toast. Serve with malt vinegar, hot sauce, or even ketchup.

Take a look at the recipe when you read more

Earlier this week I got a call from Food Network's latest star, the British charmer and self-proclaimed renaissance man, Danny Boome. Danny's new show, The Rescue Chef, debuts tomorrow at noon and I'll be watching. The show pairs Danny with home cooks who are desperate to overcome culinary obstacles. And according to Danny, there is no problem he can't solve, no dish he can't make. To see what he had to say when we spoke over the phone, read more

Although Pimms wasn't created until 1840, I'm planning on serving the classic, quintessentially British Pimms No. 1 Cup Cocktail for my Pride & Prejudice — which is set in the 1812 — book party. Pimms Cup was originally a tonic of gin and a mixture of secret herbs developed to aid digestion. Its popularity grew and now it is the perfect English garden party drink. A refreshing mix of lemonade and soda and fresh fruit, this old fashioned drink will pair nicely with my menu of tea sandwiches. For the ladies who prefer wine over cocktails, offer one type of champagne. For the non-drinkers among the guests, serve classic lemonade and sparkling water flavored with cucumbers. To take a look at the recipe for the Pimms Cup cocktail, read more

In my opinion, the best part of a travel party is transforming each room to resemble a different country. With a little imagination, it's easy to come up with festive and fun decor.

• Mexico: Dress the table with Mexican blankets and hang a Mexican banner in a crisscross pattern along the ceiling. Plate chips and dips in plastic sombrero shaped serving platters. Use bright candles, flowers, and clear glasses for the tequila sunrises. Create a playlist with your favorite Latin stars: Luis Miguel, Mana, and my personal favorite Paulina Rubio.
• Japan: Set the scene with red, white, and black decorations. Instead of floral arrangements, place bamboo in small vases filled with black stones. Rest a cherry blossom Japanese shade along one of your walls. Floating candles add a zen and relaxing touch. Search iTunes for some fun Japanese tunes. I recommend Pizzicato 5 and Cornelius.



• Russia: Ornate metallic gold decorations with red accents are perfect to create a lux Russian room. Cover furniture with fur throws and arrange flowers in open Russian dolls. For music play Tatu and your other favorite Russian groups.
• England: Plaster the ways with images of the Royal family, soccer teams like Manchester United, and a Union Jack banner. Instead of a tablecloth, cover the table with old covers of Hello magazine. If using red, white, and blue decor, be sure to make it British rather than American. Robbie Williams, Anastacia, Joss Stone, The Spice Girls, New Order, Oasis, Elton John and the Beatles should be playing softly in the background.
• Cuba: Make posters that say, Abajo Fidel (Down With Fidel) in large block letters and pin to the walls. Wrap Cuba Libre glasses in Cuban flag beads. Allow more musically inclined friends to play the Cuban bongos or turn on a regatton radio station.

Do you have a great decorating or music idea for my travel-themed party? Tell us in the comments below!