When I cook, I give little regard to fat content, carb content, or any other science-y-sounding content. I go for flavor. I go for fun. I go for “I want to rub this all over my body and lick it off all day long.” Usually, sugar and fat free food does not elicit that sort of response.

I find cooking to be an act of rebellion. As an aging wild child (and a pregnant one), I don’t have that many ways to be subversive anymore. I don’t find myself wearing torn up clothing or piercing new body parts. I don’t drink, and I don’t smoke, and I don’t stay out late. But dammit, I can cook with butter if I want to. If it hurts your feelings, go do some extra yoga afterwards. It’s worth it.

And there’s a theoretical component, too. It goes along with this knitting craze. Women are somehow finding domesticity to be subversive these days. There is something ironic about a big fat feminista sitting around knitting, or stirring up buttermilk blueberry pancake batter while wearing an apron and pearls. I know there are those who disagree, but I maintain that I have reclaimed cooking. I have reclaimed embroidery. I have a glue gun, and I know how to use it. It is a source of strength for me, to say “I can cook if I want to.” (AND use butter.)

In that spirit, I give you The Pioneer Woman. She may not be a feminist in the traditional sense. You might find that word to be a very big stretch of the imagination, to be honest. But her food? I’m all over it. She’s a subversive in my book. She’s the wife of a rancher. No namby-pamby vegetarian health food here.I think the way she organizes her recipes is totally useable, and the pictures – oh, the pictures, she takes of the process. My sister and I agree that our favorite is always her “cast of characters” post that is the first photo of every post. It features all of the ingredients, sort of piled up and stacked, ready to be used, and somehow it always has all this character and appeal, and I feel confident that what she’s getting ready to make, I too, can make. Her writing is a little overmuch sometimes – I think she thinks she’s quite cute. Don’t let it get in your way; her cooking is still pretty freaking good.

If your computer is slow, this is not the site for you; those gorgeous pictures she stuffs her posts with take a minute to load.Generally speaking, it’s a site for the everyday cook who wants delicious things to feed an entire family. The food is decidedly midwestern, which I find comforting, and it’s usually at least a little bit fun. About the butter… she’s not afraid, and you shouldn’t be either.