Do you want to impress your girlfriend or really, really, impress a potential girlfriend? Don’t bother with the old “let me take you out to dinner” stuff – “come to mine and I’ll cook you dinner” will win every time!
Words of wisdom from my mom – “learn to and you’ll never be without a girlfriend…”.
So, you want to cook to impress? Here’s the way to do it with five simple rules:
- Get organized
- Keep it simple
- Be prepared to cheat
- Don’t leave a mess in the kitchen!
- Always start with bubbles
Get organized
Planning is the most important part of any meal preparation, so be prepared to write lists, lots and lots of lists.
- You need a list for your menu
- You need a list of the ingredients you are going to need
- You need a list of what needs to be prepared when
Keep it simple
Get yourself a good cookbook – one with easy, step by step instructions.
Be prepared to cheat
Every memorable meal contains a complicated bit, this is the bit that makes it ‘special’. Don’t do the complicated bit – cheat. If a recipe calls for a sauce flavored with a hint of mustard and tarragon – go to the market and buy the best you can afford. It’s not worth the risk of everything going pear shaped just because of some tricky sauce!
Do not leave a mess in the kitchen!
Whatever happens, all your efforts will be in vain if the lady you are trying to impress sees the kitchen looking like a bomb-site. The meal may be superb but if the kitchen’s a tip you’re going to be out of luck. If you can’t manage to wash-up as you go along then, as a last desperate measure, shove the dirty pots and pans back in the cupboard, but remember to wash them out!
Greet the lady with a chilled glass of bubbles
Chill the bubbles, chill the glasses, leave her with the bubbles, a magazine, some gentle music whilst you ‘just finish off in the kitchen’ – magic. By all means pour yourself a glass too, but don’t drink it until you have finished the cooking! Many a good meal has been spoiled by the cook getting tipsy too soon – this is the voice of experience calling so pay attention!
Good luck!
