I'll happily admit this without any shame -- I have fully embraced the "wine mom" cultural aesthetic. Nothing makes me happier than coming home from a long day, taking a bubble bath, and turning on the king of all television channels: Food Network. However, it has become a daily necessity and I might watch it a little too much. Here are some signs that you might be heading down the same path too -- get out while you still can!
1. You begin to think about food all the time.
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It infiltrates your mind at the most random times of the day. While sitting bored in class, you begin to wonder why you haven't tried to make a goat cheese tartine with a pear reduction sauce yet. The answer is because you're 20 and you can't cook. If you do this, you may be obsessed with Food Network.
2. You begin to pick out favorite chefs/hosts from different shows.
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If you cheer when you see "Barefoot Contessa" is on instead of "Chopped" and you'd defend to the death Scott Conant's dislike of red onions, you may be obsessed with Food Network.
3. You plan your week around which time slots are absolute musts to watch.
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If you avoid going out on dates or making plans with friends because you absolutely have to watch the new episode of "Cutthroat Kitchen," you may be obsessed with Food Network. Get away from the TV and go out with your friends. Bobby Flay isn't magically going to show up at your door five minutes after you leave. You're fine.
4. You use fancier words to describe boring, everyday food that anyone can make.
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"Uh yes, I've prepared for you today a bowl of buckwheat noodles al dente, finished with a garlic and chicken béchamel sauce, topped with some garden fresh parsley." It's actually chicken Alfredo from the dollar store.
5. You want to become a better cook after seeing what they can do.
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Congratulations, your obsession with Food Network can actually be useful! By paying attention instead of mindlessly watching it, you can pick up a whole lot of helpful tips and tricks that are indispensable in the kitchen. In any case, if you watch productively, there's absolutely nothing wrong with loving Food Network a little too much!