 |
|
|
|
|
|
Two Cooks in the Kitchen Dishing up quick and easy dining ideas for newlyweds (ARA) - "The first time my now husband ever cooked for me, he fried eggs in about three inches of bacon grease. I was absolutely mortified," says former newlywed Andrea Alexander, who is now a chef instructor at The Art Institute of Houston. Whether you're a two-cook, one-cook and one helper couple, or both culinary-challenged, the chef instructors at The Art Institutes have created a few simple ideas for dishing up harmony and delicious meals in the kitchen. Start with what's correctly called "the most important meal of the day." According to Chef Peter Weeren of The Art Institute of Washington, "newlyweds are notorious for skipping breakfast, and when asked, will often say they don't have time to cook anything êworthwhile' during the week." So, for a quick solution to the "no time for breakfast problem," Chef Weeren suggests preparing extras on the weekends. Make double portions of pancakes, waffles or French toast that can be cooled, placed between wax paper, popped into plastic storage bags and then frozen. To give you and your spouse an added nutritional boost, try using whole grains, and add fresh berries as toppings. Says Chef Weeren "next Monday, instead of running out of the house on coffee alone, grab one or two of those pancakes or waffles, toss them into the toaster and in just minutes, you have a solid foundation upon which to build your weekday without the fuss." How about the end of the day? After a long 9-to-5 grind, most couples don't have the energy to turn out a big meal, even though they're hungry. Instead of elaborate meals that require a lot of preparation, Chef Benita Wong of The Art Institute of Washington says "try something new and simple, like tapas." Chef Wong likes the Spanish tradition of tapas, which are an array of small plates of food that are meant for nibbling. Loaded with flavor and texture, tapas are, according to Wong, "a freewheeling nibbling and noshing concept that can be a wonderfully exotic and entertaining meal to enjoy with your better half." The appeal of tapas for newlyweds is they can be easy to prepare. For example, olives, hummus with pita bread, or cured meats can all work for tapas. You can pick up more ideas by browsing around the prepared food section of your local grocery store. Small plates of many foods create the perfect array of diverse taste and flavors. Says Wong, "you can either make these dishes ahead of time or spread out portions of the week's leftovers with some healthy delicious snack foods." She also suggests accompanying tapas with a great glass of Spanish wine to turn Friday night wind-down into a romantic evening filled with an assortment of flavors. Another great way to smooth the path to mealtime for newlyweds is a well-stocked pantry. All our chef experts agree that well-chosen foods in the pantry can save time, money (you'll eat out less!) and will make cooking more enjoyable. Here are their suggestions for a well-stocked pantry:
Courtesy of ARA Content
|
|
|
||||||||||
Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Guide
Combining
two different cooking approaches into one kitchen isn't always
easy. Even professional chefs have to adjust their kitchen attitudes
when they get married. But it can be done. With a little patience
and coaxing, Chef Alexander was able to convince her husband there
was a better way. "Now we eat poached eggs on polenta, lots
of fresh vegetables and as much fresh seafood as possible,"
she explains.
