| In
Hot Water
Written
and moderated by Adrienne Gusoff
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Dear
Babe:
Help! I met this terrific woman at a party. During the course of our
conversation, she mentioned that she often cooked for men, but that
she'd never dated a guy who cooked for her. Naturally, I immediately
invited her over to my place for dinner, which she instantly accepted.
Sounds great, right? Except I can't cook for squat! Microwave pizza
or frozen potpies just aren't going to cut it. I really want to dazzle
her. I need something easy to prepare, but impressive. Any ideas?
Can't Boil Water
Dear Can't Boil:
OK. Take a deep breath and relax. If you can read, you can cook. Check
out some of the great cooking sites on line (Epicurious.com is my personal favorite, but there
are plenty of others.) Limit yourself to recipes with fewer than ten
ingredients, including condiments. Ignore any recipe containing items
you can't pronounce, never heard of, or that are not immediately available
in your local grocery store. Stick with simple but elegant recipes
and you should be fine.
Another option is to buy ready-made pizza dough and add your own ingredients.
Be sure to buy the best of everything. For example, fresh, homemade
mozzarella instead of that "plastic" store bought stuff; use sun-dried
tomatoes, fresh mushrooms and basil, etc. Make a nice salad, buy a
good wine, get a store-bought pie or some gourmet ice cream for dessert,
and you're all set.
Or ask a kitchen-savvy friend or family member to help you prepare
something in advance (i.e., lasagna, pasta sauce, a casserole) so
all you have to do is reheat it before your guest arrives. Again,
don't forget salad, wine and dessert.
Create a romantic atmosphere by using a nice tablecloth, fabric napkins
and crystal wine glasses. Light candles. Put on soft music. Oh, and
before she arrives? Be sure to peel your underwear off the floor.
Throw away those week old take-out boxes you kicked under the sofa.
And don't forget to clean the bathroom (women hate dirty bathrooms!)
Better yet, invest in a few hours of maid service to make the place
sparkle.
Most of all, remember, it's your effort and desire to please her that's
going to impress this woman and win her heart.
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