The Cellar - View Single Post

Chocolatl · 09-03-2008, 09:39 AM

I don't know how great of a cook you are, but I'd like to point you to Cookingforengineers.com.

The recipes have pictures each step of the way, so that when you're looking in the pan thinking "Is it supposed to look like that?" you can check the recipe and say "Yes. Yes, it is."

Their ratatouille recipe is delicious. I've made it a few times as both an "in front of the tv" type dinner and a "romantic date night" dinner. For the "nice" dinner, I get a fresh baguette, slice it into inch-thick slices, and toast half of them. The toasted and untoasted pieces get arranged on a plate with a little bit of butter in a small dish in the middle, and then served in the middle of the table. (TV dinner involves just ripping hunks off the bread while it is still in the bag.)

Also, while the ratatouille recipe has a lot of ingredients, it's mostly veggies -- a definite plus for the impoverished college student.

Whatever you decide to cook, make sure you practice it at least once, to help you be comfortable and to find out if the recipe is something you actually like. On Sunday morning, go over your ingredient list and make sure you have everything you need and possibly a little extra. You'd hate to have to call your date and say "Hey, can you pick up a few extra cans of chicken stock on your way over?"

Also: others have mentioned burning candles, which is great, but I'd actually suggest getting plain ones rather than scented. Strongly scented candles (especially if you wanted them in the middle of the table) can mess with how the food tastes, and I've had a few otherwise delicious meals ruined because someone just had to have a scented candle on the table.

09-03-2008, 09:39 AM	#18
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	I don't know how great of a cook you are, but I'd like to point you to Cookingforengineers.com. The recipes have pictures each step of the way, so that when you're looking in the pan thinking "Is it supposed to look like that?" you can check the recipe and say "Yes. Yes, it is." Their ratatouille recipe is delicious. I've made it a few times as both an "in front of the tv" type dinner and a "romantic date night" dinner. For the "nice" dinner, I get a fresh baguette, slice it into inch-thick slices, and toast half of them. The toasted and untoasted pieces get arranged on a plate with a little bit of butter in a small dish in the middle, and then served in the middle of the table. (TV dinner involves just ripping hunks off the bread while it is still in the bag.) Also, while the ratatouille recipe has a lot of ingredients, it's mostly veggies -- a definite plus for the impoverished college student. Whatever you decide to cook, make sure you practice it at least once, to help you be comfortable and to find out if the recipe is something you actually like. On Sunday morning, go over your ingredient list and make sure you have everything you need and possibly a little extra. You'd hate to have to call your date and say "Hey, can you pick up a few extra cans of chicken stock on your way over?" Also: others have mentioned burning candles, which is great, but I'd actually suggest getting plain ones rather than scented. Strongly scented candles (especially if you wanted them in the middle of the table) can mess with how the food tastes, and I've had a few otherwise delicious meals ruined because someone just had to have a scented candle on the table.