Last week’s Marvelous Monday, “Cooking for Your Lover” covered the basics for a guy cooking for his gal. The essay included instructions, a shopping list, a time line and even a SPOTIFY playlist. This week, we go in a little different direction with Cooking Together. Your menu selection could be any of your favorite entrees’. I’ll give you my selection and will tell you why, but on this, it’s your call, as you know what’s involved and you know your favs. My selection is for those who need some suggestions. if I am looking for a delicious yet easy meal, it’s a hearty stew/Boeuf Bourguignon or a pasta dish like Bolognese’. Here’s why; A meal like this involves a good amount of chopping, which you both can do to speed up the process, it relatively easy, you chop, you saute’, cook, stir and serve, to sum it up, it’s a hearty meal of protein and vegetables and there is some for another meal or two or to put in the freezer in individual servings to be enjoyed on a busy night when there is not adequate time for a home cooked meal. In this category, I would include a Chili recipe with it being playoff/Super Bowl time of year and I think of Chili when I think of football. With the chili you could make a corn bread-I like the Jiffy in the box. While the chili is simmering, make your cornbread and a salad and by the time you get everything cleaned up from prepping and the table set, your are ready to eat.
If you enjoy a glass of wine or a beer while you cook that’s a nice touch. I find that I am drinking less and less so a nice glass of ice water is also refreshing especially with the colder temperatures and maybe a fireplace on or heat turned up…
As soon as you get all of the prep work cleaned up, table set, salad mixed up, take time for a little “happy hour” time with your beverages and small snack platter, also called a Charcuterie Board/Tray which was discussed in last week’s post. Also, as mentioned last week, lighting is something to consider. While you are chopping/prepping you’ll probably have lights on bright to see what you’re doing. Once all of that is done, I like to dim lights, or kill the overhead lights opting for lamps or those little charging lamps you see often on restaurant tables to avoid candles-I’m using less candles now and more little lamps or flameless candles. Dessert could be picked up or made earlier in the day. Make it easy for yourself and opt for something you make often or something simple or picked up, so as to make the most of your time. If I’m making dinner and it’s a special occasion like this, I may change clothes after the prep work is done and the dinner is cooking. Aprons will keep your clothes from getting stained or splatters from sautéing. For myself, I ALWAYS wear my hair up when cooking. Even changing into a pretty blouse and jeans is fine, for me it just delineates from “The work is done” to “It’s time to enjoy the evening.”
Here are some dinner ideas. Top left and center, Turkey Chili served with cornbread and Kale Salad. Top right and bottom left photo, meatloaf (my recipe but you probably have your own favorite recipe). Middle photo, Boeuf Bourguignon and bottom right, Pasta E Fagoli served with homemade applesauce and home made bread. Think about your favorite dishes to make and create a special meal for you and your Honey ❤️
Make your table look pretty. Again the lighting from a little lamp to a little tea light in a jar-flameless or real, just watch it if you have a real flame. Burning the house down is not a good thing. Flowers on the table are pretty. I like to start dinner with a prayer. I don’t like phones at the table and a pleasant playlist of your favorite background music can all play a part in a very pleasant experience for your dinner prepared together. Personally, I like to clear dishes, loading the dishwasher before serving dessert which could be either enjoyed at your table or if you feel like switching things up, how about by the fire or in your sitting room. Enjoy your time together, don’t rush your dinner or dessert. Unless of course you have more important business to take care of afterwards. There is something quite special about deciding on a meal together, shopping together (or not, if that isn’t possible) and preparing it together. Spending time one on one with no distractions sometimes can add a nice little spice to any relationship. Who doesn’t love it when you get your spouse/special person together all by yourselves for an evening with no distractions? Taking time out from your busy schedules or social obligations is making an investment in your most important personal relationship. Sometimes I call it, “remembering why we got married” in fact, I said that just this weekend. Who knows, you might just fall in love all over again. And you know what? That just might lead to some great days (or nights)…Next week, Breakfast ❤️
