Now I am not saying you have to put out five star culinary extravaganzas each time, just keep it simple.
When I was 9 or 10 my Mom took me into the kitchen to give me the basics. This was probably because I
was a "husky" kid with a generous appetite and she
figured this to be a time saving measure in her favor. In any case I got the crash course on hamburger frying, macaroni and cheese preparation, how to make eggs, boil potatoes, you get the idea... the "basics". Now if you didn't get the same chance at an early age it is still not too late to learn. Start out by asking your wife to let you hang out while she makes a meal. Don't get in the way, just pay attention. Ask a few questions, stir a pot or two, flip over a pork chop. Before you know it she may even let you solo on mashing potatoes.
My wife and I cook together all the time. It is good quality time and we talk about a lot of things. What went on that day, what's the latest word on the street, what is new in the neighborhood, you know stuff that you never seem to have time for. While you're talking, you're learning, don't worry she won't let you mess it up. Another tip...try and not be too messy, if your making a big mess you could get thrown out and you have accomplished nothing. Try to clean up as you go so that the end of the meal cleanup isn't such a big chore. Especially if you do as my wife and I do sometimes, if one person cooks the meal the other one cleans up. It will be much better for you.
Well before you know it you will want to try something on your own. Try this, it is really simple and tasty.
This is my recipe for "Hamburger Hotdish". I know there are a million and one of these recipes with this name but I like this one (because it is mine).

1lb hamburger
1 medium chopped onion (optional)
1 cup macaroni (cooked - you boil it in water until tender)
1 medium can chopped tomatoes
sliced American cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the hamburger and in a large fry pan. Add the onion and cook until tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drain off excess fat. Add the tomatoes and macaroni, put as much sliced cheese on the top as you like. Put the cover on the pan and heat on medium until the cheese is melted and that is it. Serve with bread or rolls. There, your first meal. Told you it was simple. The more you make this the more you will experiment with additional ingredients, like mushrooms or green pepper.

So now you may be thinking of branching out a little. Well there are a lot of cookbooks out there to help you. One of my favorite has to do with beef. Yes good old All-American raised red meat. (Don't let my doctor in on this!) I am mainly a meat and potatoes kind of guy and I like beef. Don't get me wrong I like a lot of things, but beef is supreme. Take this cookbook for instance, The Ultimate Book of Beef Click Here!. It contains everything you ever needed to know about beef. If it grazed on grass and mooed a lot this book can help you bring it to the table on a platter.

Now that you have let her in on the idea that two can tango in the kitchen you may want to step it up a bit. Like Emeril says "BANG!!!" Take a look at this book that will guide you through making those dishes that you pay for at your favorite restaurant. Click Here! It is called "America's Most Wanted Recipes" and it has recipes for some of your favorite dishes from Red Lobster, Boston Market, TGI Friday's, and Applebee's. You can even get the Colonel's secret recipe for his chicken. You think you impressed the family with Hamburger Hotdish wait until you roll out Fettuccine Alfredo from the Olive Garden or Shrimp Diablo from Red Lobster. I haven't tried all of them yet but I am on my way.
You get a lot of other cookbooks along with this e-book. The "Good ole Comfort Foods" cookbook is as close "to the way Mom used to make it" as it gets. There is another one about grilling that takes the guess work out of the backyard grill.

OK, so here is another one of my favorites and my waist can prove it. PIZZA!! Who doesn't like pizza. I have had some great pizza in my lifetime but the best has been made by my very own hands. This book Click Here! lets you in on the secrets of a pizzeria. After going through this book you could go into business for yourself. All of the information that you need to create your own pizza recipe is in here. Believe me, after you sit down and share a pizza with the family that you have assembled yourself you will never go back to those frozen cardboard pizzas. Granted it is more work but it is well worth the effort to take pride in your own creation.

So if you're a young guy just starting out and Mom is not just a phone call away, fear not it is not that hard. Dive in!! I thank my lucky stars that I know that I could make myself a meal fit for a King and not have to depend on the Queen to fix it for me. Good Lord, nobody should be that dependent on another human being.