Today, instead of posting a new recipe, I’m joining a group of bloggers who decided to proclaim it “Significant Other Appreciation Day” and do a post all about the person that sits across the kitchen table.

I write about Shawn all the time, but I never really “introduced” him, so I thought this was a fun idea. There’s a short interview with him and I had him think back through all of the recipes I’ve posted over the years and pick his absolute favorites.

I really appreciate everything that he puts up with for this blog: from eating lukewarm meals that have been manhandled so I could get the perfect photo, to politely eating at least a few bites of all of my recipe flops, to basically never getting to eat the same dinner twice. He’s my chief taste-tester and my food-photo-site-submitter (if you’re a blogger, you know how important that last one is!)

He’s super smart and he always makes me laugh.

Sometimes he even cooks.

He’s my favorite. (Considering the fact that we’ve been married for 8 years and have been a couple for 14 – omg – I would hope so!)

Meet Shawn.

Me: What is my favorite blog called?

Shawn: Is Pinterest a blog? No?

Me: What’s my favorite prop?

Shawn: Uh, its a… grey floor tile

Me: What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen me do for a blog post?

You videotaped going to the farmers market.

Me: That’s weird?

Shawn: Yeah, for you!

(Note: I’m pretty sure I’ve done much stranger things. Like baking Christmas cookies in June, Dying Easter Eggs in February, or flying across the country to do a demo in front of hundreds of people despite that fact that I’m terrified of public speaking. But ok, we’ll go with the farmer’s market video.)

Me: If you could have your own blog what would you call it?

If I could come up with a name, I would already have a blog.

Me: What do you do for a living and what are your hobbies?

Shawn: I run a residential program for disabled adults. My hobbies include driving, reading (you know… looking at pictures on Reddit), and dining in and out.

Me: Who does the dishes?

Shawn: The dishwasher? I guess it’s me… but only when I have to.

Me: What’s the worst thing I’ve ever made you eat?

Shawn: Atichoke skin. (Backstory: This was forever ago. I was trying to make a recipe for Jeruaslem artichoke chips that everyone at weight watchers was raving about, but I didn’t realise that Jerusalem artichokes weren’t the same as regular artichokes. He’s right: they were gross.)

Me: What’s the best thing I’ve ever made?

Shawn: Short ribs. Or Lamb in Fiery Chili Sauce!

10 Guy-Approved Recipes, handpicked by Shawn:

(You’ll notice a few trends here. All of these recipes have big, bold flavors and, for the most part, the only vegetables you’ll find are in the form of hot peppers or tomato sauce. There’s also lots of whisky. While they’re all delicious, it’s pretty obvious that it’s a list that was cultivated by a guy.)

1) Southwestern Short Ribs

2) Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppadews

3) Crispy Duck with Whisky Sauce

4) White Bean, Sausage, and Turkey Cassoulet

5) Seafood Chowder in Bread Bowls

6) Taco Bake

7) Spicy Crab and Corn Chowder

8) Jalapeno Popper Macaroni and Cheese

9) Ropa Vieja with Olives and Capers

10) Oatmeal Cookies with Whiskey-Soaked Cherries

Want to learn more about some of the other men behind the blogs and learn about their favorite foods?

Lauren from Keep It Sweet Desserts made M&M Kit Kat Cake