Date at home

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Invite for a home-cooked meal

Photo of a couple having lunch on the deck Is your date coming to have a meal with you for the first time? You want to impress him or her, or at least not to make this person think that your cooking is bad. Or perhaps you may just want to have a romantic meal with your partner and cook something that will help you create the right mood for a more intimate experience later. Well, you do not need to be Martha Stewart to do that! Here is some plain advice on what to do and what to avoid so that you emerge as a great chef who knows how to please and impress your date. (Related article: Cheap date ideas)

The to-do's

If you are not an expert cook, then prepare a simple meal. It is much better to do a great job at a simple meal than a lousy job at a complex meal. Another thing to note is that if you use good ingredients, you will get great tasting dishes. Always look for simple recipes and fresh ingredients.

At a personal level let me tell you that I will be disappointed if my partner invites me to a meal and serves soggy pasta with cheap bottled sauce from the supermarket. I will be happier with a fresh salad and some fresh bread from a local bakery. If you are not willing to cook something fresh, at least order take out, and to make it different, you can try something less common such as Thai or Indian or Cuban (most restaurants now increasingly offer take-out meals but call ahead) and complement it with your own home made salad.
Ahead of time, try to find out what type of food your partner likes if you don't already know. Do not assume he or she will have the same taste as you. Ask if he or she has any allergies or there are any foods to avoid. Avoid foods that are difficult to eat in front of someone that you don't know so well, such as lobster or fish with meat with a lot of bones. Make it easy so that you and your partner can concentrate on what is really important: getting to know each other and having a good time. (Related: Lose weight to recover virility)

Photo of a dining table decorated for a romantic dinner. Although you do not need to spend time or money on sophisticated decorations, use what you have to create a special ambiance and please do not have dinner with the TV on. If you are inviting a date to watch a DVD together, turn on the TV only when it is time to watch it. In the meantime, it is much better to have some soft music in the background. Fresh flowers always make a splash and turn on some artistically designed lamps. Use your creativity and make some memorable decorations without going crazy.

If you are trying new recipes, make sure the day before that you have all the ingredients and read well the recipe to make sure you understand it. Sometimes, you might need to do some preparations the night before, for example, marinating the chicken or soaking the beans.

If you want to spend a lot of time together after dinner, avoid heavy foods. These foods make you sleepy and tired. And if you plan to have a very romantic evening, avoid dishes with a lot of garlic, although garlic is also an aphrodisiac. Garlic's smell is not the most desirable when you are intimate with your partner. The same applies to drinking alcohol. Stick to wine rather than beer. Try to chew cardamoms or after dinner mints to clean the breath.

The don'ts

Do not go crazy trying to impress. Very seldom people select partners based on their cooking abilities. Concentrate instead on having a good time by making the guest feel welcomed, entertained, and pampered.

As I said before, avoid serving canned, ready-to-eat, processed foods directly from the shelves. Make it special or at least make it look special. This does not apply to ice cream.

Avoid aromatic candles on the table. You may use regular unscented candles. The aromas of the food and the candle can cause a headache to some people. You may use aromatic candles after dinner while having coffee, tea or a dessert wine.

An easy and impressive dessert to serve is fresh fruit with cheese.

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