How To Enjoy Cooking For Two
May 10, 2011 Gourmet Food
Whether you are cooking for two for romance or out of necessity, you will find that there are many resources online and off to help you find the perfect meals for your terrific twosomes. One thing to keep in mind however is that when cooking for two, it is often best if two are doing the cooking. This allows cooking to become a chance for communication rather than just a job.
In spite of the fact that there are lots of resources and recipes accessible to those that are cooking for two, there are even more recipes for those cooking for four, especially the traditional recipes that are designed to feed a family of four. These offer an opening to stretch your food budget even further.
By cooking traditional meals for four and eating half of it, you have managed to cook two meals for the time investment of one. It is a good deal for many, but particularly for those that do not like the idea of cooking at all.
Young and older couples alike frequently discover that it is as easy and almost the equivalent cost to go to a fast food or other informal restaurant as it is to prepare a pleasant, healthy meal for two at home. The one thing they often forget is that cooking for two can be an appealing way to bring a little romance into the evening.
When cooking for two, you will have as much occasion to be creative as in anything else you do in your life. You have the option of trying appetizing new recipes and the knowledge that if you do not like the meal, you are not throwing away a lot of money.
You can try mixing and matching flavors and textures. You can make works of art on your plate as in nouveau cuisine. Or you can go farmhouse style. Cooking for two opens doors that are not necessarily accessible when cooking for larger numbers with more limiting tastes.
Cooking for two is a great way to get your partner involved in the cooking process as well. When cooking for two you can find out the things that you both like and those that are not so appealing to one or the other of you.
Make sure that when you are cooking for two that you encourage an frank and honest dialog about the things that you like and dislike about the meals being prepared. This will help you determine things to add to your regular menu as well as the things to avoid making a part of your dinner rotation.
Perhaps the best thing about cooking for two is the fact that you can afford to eat special occasion cuisine more often when you are cooking for only two than when you are cooking for a larger crowd. Bring on the steaks and lobster tail. Learn how to make shrimp scampi and fillet mignon. Take the time, when cooking for two, to prepare those dishes that you enjoy most.
Cooking for two is a great way of exploring the gastronomic universe and exposing your palates to some amazing surprises along the way. The Internet, bookstores, and libraries are filled with books about cooking for two. Take advantage of the chance to do just that and you will be amazed at the world of flavors you have been missing out on.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the Rival Versaware crock pot. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots
Tags: Business, Crock Pots, fitness, Food, Gourmet, Gourmet Food, Health, Hobbies, Kitchen, Nutrition, other, Recipes, recreation, reviews, Uncategorized
Cooking And Preparing Food
Nov 13, 2010 Gourmet Food
With a world population in excess of six billion people, we are all becoming progressively more aware that food is a scarce resource. Traditionally, people have not regarded food as a resource, but more of a birthright. However, the populations of many Third World countries are required to be more pragmatic.
We in the West are constantly bombarded by implorations for donations by charities and I think that many people are getting a bit tired of it. I also think that people are mistrustful of the charity workers’ operating cost and costs, especially after the MPs’ expenses scandal in the UK. So, what can you do, if you want to make some sort of contribution?
I think that the best thing one can do is not to squander food. Not squandering or wasting food will reduce the quantity you have to buy, which will leave more on the supermarket shelves. This will augment supply, which will reduce prices. Therefore, by not buying so much food, you will be saving money and reducing the price of what you do purchase. Can not be bad, can it?
So, here are a few of my favourite money-saving tips.
Funnel – I have bought a few funnels in my time, but they always seemed to have fallen to the back of the cupboard when I needed one. I do not buy them anymore. As an alternative, I cut the top 9″ off the top of a plastic cola bottle. When I am done with it, I throw it away, particularly if I used it for pouring oil.
Microwave – sometimes, when you open the microwave oven door, a whiff of the last meal comes out. Instead of spending money on cleaners or what-not, put a slice of lemon in a saucer of water and microwave it for three minutes after every time you use it.
Cabbage – boiling cabbage really smells! However, there are three ways of hiding the smell without using air freshener. The first way is to put a slice of lemon in the cabbage water as it cooks. The second way is to boil a small pan of vinegar next to the cooking cabbage and the third is to place a sieve over the cooking cabbage and put a round of stale bread in it. These techniques work because the lemon cancels the smell of the cabbage as does the vinegar and the stale bread absorbs the smell.
Fish Fingers – it is not nice to have smelly fingers after cutting up fish, onions or garlic. As an alternative to washing and washing your hands, rub a little lemon juice on them and rinse for instant relief.
Sponge – a tablespoon of hot water whisked into a sponge mixture at the last minute will really enhance the rise and the texture of the cake.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching the crock pots by Rival. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching the crock pots by Rival. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots
Tags: Business, Crock Pots, fitness, Food, Gourmet, Gourmet Food, Health, Hobbies, Kitchen, Nutrition, other, Recipes, recreation, reviews, Uncategorized
Cooking Food
Nov 12, 2010 Gourmet Food
Everybody likes a meal properly cooked. The proof of this, if it needs proving, is that members of religious orders like monks often have to eat dreary food like porridge, gruel and unleaven bread for atonement.
I would like to share a few tips with you to help you get the most out of your food.
Chicken Tarragon – I love chicken tarragon, but this is my preferred version. Take: 1 chicken; .25 teaspoon of chopped onions; 1 heaped tablespoon of dried tarragon (double of fresh); brown stock or Bovril and water, cream, flour and salt.
Roast the chicken, carve it and put in a plate. Pour off the fat and make a gravy with it, the salt and the flour. Bulk the gravy up with the stock or Bovril and water. Add the tarragon and cream and cook for a minute or two. Serve with the gravy already poured over the chicken or serve the gravy separately. Add your favourite vegetables. This recipe will serve four.
Chicken Left-Overs – if you are unsure what to do with left over chicken, you could do worse than try this recipe.
Chop the chicken up small and mix it with sliced avocado. Cover with mayonnaise and sprinkle with crumbled, fried, crispy bacon. If this sounds excellent to you, take it from me that it tastes even better.
Apple Sauce – if you like apple sauce with your pork, bake a couple of cooking apples alongside your joint of pork. Prepare and core them just as you would as if you were going to cook them separately. Sprinkle with sugar, if required. Then, run a knife tip around them, so that they will puff upwards, but still retain their form. Gorgeous.
Sauces – if you cannot get the sauce right, just strain it and do not tell anyone. Nobody will know the difference and what are strainers for if not straining?
Soups And Stews – if you find that you have added too much salt to a soup or stew at the last moment, do not be concerned. Put a cube of sugar in a large spoon and lower it into the liquid for twenty seconds. It will absorb the surplus salt. If you have longer, and it is appropriate, add a diced potato and it will absorb the salt too.
Pie Crust – if you need a quick, yet flexible topping for a savoury pie like chicken or beef, leave the pastry off. Take a large bag of crisps; pop the bag to let the air out and scrunch it up until the crisps are but crumbs. Tip this over your pie before you bake it. It is unusual but you can experiment with different flavoured crisps.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching the Rival Versaware crock pots. If you have an interest in cooking or crock pots, please go over to our website now at Large Crock Pots
Tags: Business, Crock Pots, fitness, Food, Gourmet, Gourmet Food, Health, Hobbies, Kitchen, Nutrition, other, Recipes, recreation, reviews, Uncategorized
