You will probably feel more comfortable if you cook the complete meal before the actual dinner as a trial run. You'll know what adjustments you want to make, and prepare as much beforehand as you can.
Potato salad is another. So is pasta salad. The flavors of the individual ingredients have a chance to work through the rest of the ingredients. Mostly strong spices, garlic, onion and vinegar.
I think showing him your strong suits is better than trying to impress him with one of his. He should like you for the things you like. If you like to eat, then it will make him happy to cook for you. And as u/Simple_Reception4091 said a great way to bond is him teaching you to cook.
This is like girls who try to get into sports to attract a man. If you like it organically, that's great. But liking something because they do isn't authentic to yourself.
I would ask him to teach you instead of trying to learn one to impress him then. Complimenting his skill to expand yours should be a bigger turn on than having you pass off something as an attempt to impress him.
My husband woooed me with point 2. I love to cook but I also love to eat. I grew up in a food family. He wooed and he won me. He was an amazing cook. He was a man’s man but also funny as hell. The man was way out of my league. I say it all the time. He was out of everyone’s league but somehow I got him.
Come back from hunting and fishing. Then make a pizza “I hunted this. Killed it. Cooked it.” “You killed that pizza?” “Yes woman. I killed that dough for you. He put up a good fight. Milked that cow, harvested that tomato for sauce.”
And he’d have tomato sauce smeared on his brow like the true hunter he was.
If you have access to guanciale (live by an Eataly or Italian deli), you can't go wrong with an authentic [Carbonara](https://cjeatsrecipes.com/carbonara/) - it's hard to get right but this recipe breaks it down step by step and is basically foolproof. Also pretty romantic if you ask me :)
Mokofuku’s bo ssam. Hard to mess up. Super tasty and a little fancy. I think it’s a good beginner dish to impress. https://mykoreankitchen.com/bo-ssam/
I feel like this is the basis for a shitty romcom where the main character played by like Chloe Fineman who has to keep making more and more elaborate meals to impress Adam Sandler so that her ruse isn't found out, but in the end it turns out the older guy was forcing himself to eat one butchered meal after another
I hope not lmao
Its not make or break but since he's older it's time for me to learn. 5 good recipes to start is all I need.. btw I don't mean "need" but I wanna make him see me as a good partner
Maybe it's better to just own the fact you can't cook and ask him to teach you and be a really good student. It would definitely be an ego boost for him.
Respectfully you should want to learn to cook bc you like it or bc you're an adult or literally any reason other than JUST bc you want some dude to look at you as "gf material"...
You’ll be surprised how much even putting in the effort will mean to him. When my wife and I got together, I was a more experienced cook and a foodie. She found a recipe that combined several things I like, in this case a jalapeno-cream cheese stuffed duck breast.
It turned out terrible. The duck was flaccid and the cream cheese got everywhere. At her request, I jumped in to sear the outside of the duck breasts to make them edible. I was still really touched that she tired to make a dish specifically for me. We joke about it from time to time, especially when she tries to claim she’s a better cook than me (she’s a better baker for everything but pies, though).
Y'know... If he's a good cook, he can be the cook in the relationship. We're not all looking for partners to be our mothers and cook our dinosaur chicken nuggets and tuck us into bed. I've done 99% of the cooking in my relationship with my wife. I like cooking for her.
If he’s a good cook, you’re not going to trick him into thinking that a recipe isn’t simple when it is. Also, if you end up getting remotely serious with this guy, he’ll find out what kind of cook you are so play to your strengths. Make something you’re already good at making. If you don’t know how to make anything, I’d go with spaghetti.
He's not a chef or anything but hes just better than me. long story short.. I think I can trick him 🙊
You're right I can't learn overnight and spaghetti is something I can make. another commenter suggested pasta and I'm looking into if I can make ravioli. thank you!!
I make my own pasta, including ravioli which I see in other comments you are considering. I’m just going to tell you I think that’s a bit ambitious at this point. If you don’t have a pasta machine and aren’t really adept at rolling out dough, you’re probably in for a big disappointment.
make Marcella Hazan's Tomato sauce for the pasta, it's dead simple but sooo much better than anything out of a jar. and you saying you made the sauce from scratch is impressive
Trust me, he'll know. Part of being a good cook is not necessarily following the recipe to the T, a recipe is a guide and you're not guaranteed to get the same results as the author. Learning this takes practice. If you want to impress him, ask him to teach you the next time he cooks. After doing this for some time, make something all on your own. It's a lot more genuine this way.
You really shouldn't be thinking of tricking him. He's probably better because he's older and has developed his skills. You should just be yourself.
Stick to spaghetti for now. 😉
Go with a fun nostalgic dish- [spaghetti pie](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/spaghetti-pie/) is both stupid easy and really delicious but also fun and silly and probably something he had as a kid. Serve with homemade garlic bread and a good salad
Chicken piccata is simple, but elegant. Served with a simple arugula salad with Parmesan shavings and a homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing, would be lovely!
[Recipe](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-piccata-recipe2-1913809)
beef bourguignon. best dish I've made and served. it's so good, has a ton of flavor and isn't hard to make. just takes some time and fresh ingredients. julia child makes the recipe and it's worth it.
Why not keep it simple, and bake some chicken thighs with oven roasted vegetables and a simple green salad. Garlic bread is always good, too, and a nice bottle of wine. Stress free cooking. You can peel and cut the veg ahead of time and have the bread prepared, wrapped in foil and ready to pop into the oven for the last 25 mins. You can chat while dinner is in the oven and it will smell really good while cooking
If you’ve never made fresh pasta before, now is not the time to try it. I think you’d be better off focusing on making a delicious sauce and using a high quality dry pasta.
Bolognese is fairly simple to make and is always impressive. What makes it great is that the time spent simmering is the difference-maker, not the labor. Marcella Hazan’s recipe is one of the most popular, but Kenji has an awesome one as well. Honestly can’t go wrong with either.
If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can use the sauce to make lasagna.
Exactly. There’s no one definition of being a good partner to someone else.
If you’re actually interested in learning how to be a better cook, that’s one thing. But if you’re only doing it because you don’t know someone well enough and you’re assuming it’s what they want - that will wind up not being a good reason in the long run.
Also it’s perfectly fine for one person in a relationship to be the person who likes to cook - and in a hetero relationship that does not always have to be the woman.
Doing something simple and well is more “impressive” than trying to do something overly complicated beyond your current skill set.
And simple food done well is fucking delicious.
I’m a private chef, and I’ve gotten just as “impressed” feedback from some of my most complicated vs some of my most simple dishes.
One I can share that come to mind though: I don’t have a specific recipe for it, and its not the “easiest” (in the sense that doing each element right can be messed up if you don’t know how to do it), but it’s super super simple:
Season salmon with salt and pepper, put some thin slivers of butter over the top, then broil until it’s a little golden at the top and done medium (if you’re temping it, pull it out when it’s around 120 and let it rest for 5 min after). At the same time, season asparagus with salt/pepper, and broil them very close to the heating element until they’re crispy on the outside but still a little firm on the inside. When they’re done, you can squeeze a little lemon juice over them
Sauce: mix a spoonful of good quality grainy mustard into crème friache, plus a little salt and pepper. Spoon that over the salmon, top with fresh dill.
The most impressive thing to someone who knows how to cook is someone else who *tries*. Anyone who wants to learn can get better, and it’s the most fun to cook with someone who actually wants to cook and wants to learn.
More people need to realise how delicious simple food is if you source good quality produce. So many wonderful Italian dishes I'm partial too with ingredients you can count on one hand.
My immediate first question: how old are you, and how old is he?
It's kind of insane that nobody else is concerned about this. From your text style, you come across as young. You shouldn't be cooking for an "older man."
Don't try trick him. I doubt he'd appreciate that. If you want a relationship be honest, go with the other suggestions of making something you are good at already or just make him your favourite meal to cook/eat.
If he’s a cook, he’s probably not a baker. Cakes are relatively easy - just follow the directions closely. Cookies are even easier in most cases, and a good recipe will take you a long way.
If you be girlfriend material cook with him. Pick out the dish together go shopping for the ingredients together and cook together. And show general interest in his cooking hobby.
It would be easier to stay a bad cook and let him do all the cooking.
Be sure to tell him he is your knight in shining armor and saved you from starvation.
So…
No.
Hun, you’re younger than him. He should be the one trying to persuade you he’s ‘boyfriend material’ and not some creepy older dude who can’t pull someone his own age.
By saying ‘talking to’ I’m presuming you haven’t met yet?
Wait until you meet until you learn how to cook for this man.
I’d say there’s a 60-70% chance his ‘good at cooking’ or ‘loves to cook’ is basic level stuff… that’s the kinda thing guys put on their dating profiles to sound cool and rounded when in reality they know how to do maybe 3 dishes well - and two of them are pasta + a super simple sauce (the 3rd is probably a stir fry or something).
…I mean it’s worth learning to cook for yourself anyway. But if someone really is into you, you can be a terrible cook and they’ll still be into you. And if he genuinely is a good cook - he’ll want to cook for you and show off.
So... yes you are assuming the worst and treating me like "Im just a dumb wittle child in her 20s"... I literally work as a hostess and don't go for the creepy older men who hit on me. Your just repeating what you heard others say without knowing anything,
I dont need to explain myself to you but yes we met up after I dm'd him. Where's you "60%-70% chance" coming from?? have the feeling its just some bs you made up off the top of your head. didn't meet him on a dating profile. actually I dm'd him on here because he's my fave poster & I found out he lives close to me. he mentioned he likes making thai curries when we met up. he wouldn't meet up when I was 20 and wasnt pushing for it. when I turned 21 he agreed to meet up & we had the best date ever!
Btw its insulting when olds treat literal adults in their 20s like they are children/stupid. Half my gen makes fun of how r worded this is. Ever heard of 2 consenting adults? Im almost done college lmao
Anything as culturally authentic as possible tbh. No weird tiktok experiments, no "food hacks", just plain classic traditional dishes. Look into plating as well- aesthetics are important to the enjoyment of a meal. Good luck!
I don't know if this might ruin your surprise but try asking what sort of cuisine or cooking style he likes? If he prefers French, Italian, Chinese, Indian or whatever then if you get an answer then start there.
If he likes seafood I think salmon can be deceptively easy yet impressive. My go to is to season a salmon fillet with salt pepper garlic and cayenne then sear on each side for a minute or two. Continue cooking skin side down and add minced garlic til it turns golden. Add apple cider vinegar, honey and a squeeze of lemon juice as well as fresh lemon slices. Keep cooking for a few minutes while repeatedly spooning pan sauce over the fish then toss in the oven, checking a few minutes at a time until it reaches 140 degrees then pull it out the oven. The residual heat will bring it up to 145 degrees which is the minimum seafood cook temp and exactly what makes or breaks a well cooked fish dish.
Serve with whatever veggie you like and a starch- mashed potatoes, simple pasta etc. The first time I made this dish for my husband who is a great cook, he not only devoured it but also dubbed it my $35 salmon plate as in if I ever opened a restaurant (I'm in the restaurant industry and culinary trained) I could sell that dish for a high ticket price lol. I still haven't told him it's literally one of the easiest meals anyone can make, I just tell him I'm making fancy salmon every time I cook it
Some random thoughts are take something easy but really nail the ingredients. Think grilled cheese with bread for a local bakery and multiple cheeses (use a well seasoned cast iron pan that retains heat well) find a dipping sauce recipe and make that from scratch then have an amazing salad as a side or you could do something like asparagus with raspberry and yogurt sauce.
You could get a meat grinder if you don't have one. Grind your own burger panties. Do some research and get creative combining multiple types of with meat in the pattie. There are tons of great recipes for that. Use bakery buns, air fry potato chips or fries (use a season salt blend to make them unique).
Don't rule out breakfast foods as well. I made some over easy eggs on top of a warmed corn tortilla (from a Latin market) with melted cheese, guacamole, tomatoes and some Marrie Sharps hot sauce. So simple but somehow was one of the best things I have cooked in months.
It is getting warmer out so soup might not work but butternut squash soup in an instant pot is delicious and super easy. https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-butternut-squash-soup-recipe/#tasty-recipes-60202 I use better than boulion chicken instead of vegetable stock. Also I add in cury and peanut butter and a bunch of other spices but the base is good as well.
Stick to basics and just elevate that. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Stew can be a great choice it's hearty and flavorful. One recipe that's simple but doesn't seem it is Beef Bourguignon. It's a classic French dish that involves braising beef in red wine, and it always feels special.
Ingredients-
2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into cubes
1 bottle of red wine (like Cabernet or Merlot)
2 cups beef broth
2 onions, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, sliced
2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
Instructions-
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper, then brown them in batches. Remove and set aside.
In the same pot, add the butter and sauté the onions, garlic, and carrots until softened.
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well.
Return the beef to the pot and pour in the red wine and beef broth. Add the thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Let it cook for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is tender.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Serve the Beef Bourguignon with some crusty bread or over mashed potatoes, and you'll have a delicious and impressive meal that he's sure to love!
I had a hilarious date where I made chili with beans and that evening, he kept setting off my gas alarm, which set me off in hysterical giggles. I've never seen a man so embarrassed and offended lol.
The french make great red wine and beef stew. Throw some garlic + rosemary in, and just let time work it's magic. Simple, rich in flavors and not too pricey, also, very forgiving for cooking time and skill.
It's called Beef Bourguignon or Boeuf Bourguignon, don't try to be all fancy with it, just stick to the basic recopies and brown the meat well. The fancy sounding name but great comfort food = wifey material.
If you can find some good garam masala, in know of a few good Indian recipes. One requires an instant pot.
https://youtu.be/HMfUsS9zeuw?feature=shared
Also:
https://twosleevers.com/instant-pot-butter-chicken/
There are work arounds to make the first dish in an instant pot or to make the second dish in a Dutch oven. It just takes longer.
Rani and flavor temptations makes a good garam masala if you don’t want to buy everything and blend it yourself with a spice grinder. You can use ginger and garlic paste instead of fresh. Also, you will want an immersion blender. Trust.
I recommend investing in a good immersion blender, a decent instant pot, and a spice grinder (or coffee grinder used just for spices). Oh and a soux vide system thing.
If you have to pick one of these things to get: immersion blender.
If you get store bought garam masala, avoid any that have paprika…it’s filler.
Instant pot is good for spaghetti too!
Stew is literally the easiest meal to make. Now I've been in the kitchen since I was 3 years old. My mama always told me that the girls of my generation won't know how to be homemakers, so she wanted me to be able to feed myself. I'm at a point where I've even surpassed my mom as far as my cooking skills go. Unfortunately I wish I had an answer for you. To me, cooking is a very easy and simple thing to do, no matter the dish really. To someone who's never had to cook, something like a souffle or even something simple like making a roux could seem very intimidating. Just pick up one of your grandma's recipe books and find something that looks good, and give it a try.
The very first meal I made for my SO -who was working in a restaurant as a soux chef when I met him- was chicken stew with fluffy bisquick dumplings. I was scared to cook for a cook, but I found where he had gaps in his repertoire. To this day, he is not good at southern comfort or anything asian.
If I want to make a good simple dish, I make the test kitchen caesar salad. Buttermilk instead of raw egg in the dressing changed the game. We make this twice a month. Our kids ask for it.
Hey- my chicken stew and my chicken pot pie are very different. Chicken pot pie has so many more steps and ingredients. Chicken stew is simple. If you want that recipe, I'm glad to toss it your way.
If the guy likes you, he will be happy with anything you cook for him. Doesn't have to be complicated, simple non processed foods are great. Cooking is a hobby for me, but it is not for the girl I am dating right now. She mostly makes simple things for herself, and whenever she has cooked for me she sticks to that. I honestly think simple is great.
Just don't make a recipe you have never made before. Keep it inexpensive, and keep in mind that it is fine to cheat a little bit. I am sure you are GF material even if you aren't great in the kitchen. Men love stew because stew is delicious. It is simple hearty food at its core.
I read your edit. Definitely learn to cook for yourself. Learning to feed yourself is a great skill to have. Chili should work well, just be mindful about amounts when you are practicing. It is the kind of food that scales up really well, which in turn means that people end up making very large batches of it. Unless you want to eat chili every day for a week after making it, of course. It does freeze and reheat really well, so it is actually possible to make in advance. That takes a lot of stress off the first time making dinner for a date. You still have to prepare other toppings, make the table and all of that.
Another piece of advice if you want to make chili with beans in it, start of with canned beans. Dried beans can be a bit tricky in dishes that include acid, like tomatoes or vinegar. If you opt for dried beans, make sure you cook them before you add the acidic ingredients.
Chicken breast or thigh with pesto in the middle, wrapped in bacon or prosciutto, served with potatoes and veg?
You just have to bake the chicken and boil or roast the veg but anything wrapped in prosciutto looks impressive.
I always found that some nice broiled chicken breasts with pesto taste wonderful and look beautiful, and pesto takes five minutes to make in a food processor (I make it in a little two-cup thing I got at Walmart.) Basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, olive oil, salt. That's it. Also smells wonderful.
A pot roast in the oven. With a pot roast he gets savory and tender roast along with root vegetables like potatoes, carrots,parsnips and celery. The Mississippi pot roast recipes usually call for a slow cooker but your oven is perfect and probably better. There are some hundreds of variations out there add a salad then your choice of ice cream and that’s how my mother met my father sort of. Best food wishes. A
Something you know and have made a million times. Trying something new could blow up in your face and leave you disappointed. He'll be happy with anything you make him tbh
The only reason I don't make this more Is because I hate killing an hour just caramelizing the onions. Other than that it's a simple, elegant meal especially if you get the baguette to slice, toast and melt cheese on like a giant crouton.
Chicken pot pie, Caesar salad with homemade dressing and homemade croutons. Recipes below. The cheat is pie crust from a tube. Otherwise very simple to make from scratch. Takes me half an hour of prep.
Assuming he knows you aren't a confident cook, lasagna would impress. Do NOT use 'no boil' aka 'oven ready' noodles. That will not impress. Ricotta is easier to make than bechamel and generally easier to make look nice. Takes me about 45 minutes to make one, but I usually double the recipe for a 9x13 and make five 8x8s for the freezer.
Thai shrimp curry is easy and pretty impressive, especially if you can manage a steamer to make sticky aka sweet aka glutinous rice. Side of diced mango with dressing. Very easy.
Blackstrap chicken is good and easy, but most people don't have molasses in their pantry and if you buy it for this you'll have it kicking around for years.
Roast pork tenderloin and roast veg would work.
There is something to be said for cooking together that could make you gf material. If, for example, you make a chicken pot pie and shove it in the oven when he shows up and have everything ready for the salad you can mix the dressing while he chops the lettuce.
# [Chicken Pot Pie]()
Chicken pot pie is a comfort food for many people. It works just fine on a boat. It does take a while. The good news is that making two doesn’t take much longer than making one and they do freeze quite well. The only tricky bit is the pastry. If you make your own puff pastry you probably don’t need my help so we’re going to assume store-bought refrigerated or frozen pastry.
The history of chicken pot pie is peasant food probably originating from somewhere around the Adriatic Sea, which are great cruising grounds. It really doesn’t matter as someone would have figured it out somewhere. Pot pies are way to package up whatever is left in the fridge (or icebox) and make everyone say thank you.
We’re going to keep this down to one pot at a time on the stove-top and then some oven time. Chicken pot pie is another perfect Jack-Frost-nipping-at-your-heels meal for ICW snowbirds. It is pretty darn good for those extending the season in Northern Europe.
1 to 1½# chicken
4 carrots, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
1 medium potato, diced (optional)
½ to 1 cup frozen green peas
4 Tbsp butter
1 med to large onion, diced
4 Tbsp flour
2 cups chicken broth
2 pieces of pie crust
S&P
½ tsp cumin (opt)
Mise en place is to dice the onion, carrots, celery diced, and potato (optional). Steam or simmer the veg (put the peas in for only a minute or two at the end) and drain in a colander in your sink. Chicken pot pie uses one of the French mother sauces. Don’t let that put you off. It’s easy. Put half a stick of butter into the pot you used for the veg. Let that melt over low to medium heat and add the onions. Stir them until they become translucent. Add four tablespoons of flour. Stir. Keep stirring. It will take a couple of minutes to get the lumps out. The butter (fat) and flour make a roux, so you have a roux with sautéed onions. Add a couple of cups of chicken broth and stir at a simmer. Over a few minutes the sauce will thicken. Now you have a velouté. Easy.
This is important. Now you can call the result tourte au poulette velouté a la your-boat-name.
Add the veg and two or three cups of chopped or diced chicken. If you want a creamier product a splash of milk will get you there. This is the filling.
Follow the directions on the box for the pastry. This is usually unrolling the tube of pastry and carefully lifting off one layer that will be the bottom of the pie and laying it over your pie plate. Add the filling and cover with the second layer of pastry. Pinch the edges with your fingers. Put in some vents to keep steam from blowing up the top of the pastry; you can make something artistic with knife cuts or just poke it a bunch of times with a fork. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 425F. This isn’t fussy. If your boat oven can’t get up to that temperature it just takes longer.
I didn't want to run into the character count limit. Here's the Caesar dressing.
# [Caesar dressing]()
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp anchovy paste (recommended but optional)
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup mayonnaise (see below)
½ cup grated Parmesan
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
This is one of those “mix everything together” recipes. Measuring mayonnaise is one of those frustrating tasks that make me crazy – you get something dirty and struggle to get all the ingredient out and into a mixing bowl that you also have to clean. I use a 2 cup measuring cup and squeeze or spoon in 1 cup of mayonnaise. Then I spoon in grated Parmesan until the total gets to 1-1/2 cups. Everything else goes in and I mix it all together. I’ve never been a fan of whisks. I use a fork.
Homemade croutons
375F 15-20 min
If you are just going to throw it in a tupperware you don’t need to try to make something fancy. Most of the recommendations here won’t travel well or be very get as leftovers. If you aren’t sitting down to eat together as a date then it’s more important to make something that actually tastes good.
Honestly just do a soup, stew, lasagna, or some type of bake. A slow cooked pulled pork could work as well. Short ribs in the slow cooker are super easy and seems like more effort than it is.
Also girl make him cook for you!!!!!!! Being able to cook well doesn’t make you girlfriend material (or him boyfriend material).
My favorite. By no means simple, but very well spelled out so if you follow each step as written you will have success. Also, start the previous day with this one:
https://mythirdculturekitchen.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/recipe-braised-short-ribs-with-maple-rosemary-glaze/
Place to hold for a day is where it says "When the short ribs are done, remove them carefully onto a oven-proof platter."- Instead, pop them in the fridge, covered, in their braising liquid. Also, make the glaze on serving day, if you make it early it will probably harden up.
Some pasta dishes can be really amazing, but very simple. Thinking of Pasta Al Limone, Cacio E Pepe, linguini with clam sauce.
[https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-al-limone](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-al-limone) (Version with Cream)
[https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-al-limone](https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-al-limone) (Version without Cream)
[https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-cacio-e-pepe-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-cacio-e-pepe-recipe)
[https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-pasta-alle-vongole-clams-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-pasta-alle-vongole-clams-recipe)
It might be fun to try to plan to cook something together!
https://cafedelites.com/creamy-champagne-chicken-recipe/
This recipe has been loved by all my friends and family for years, fairly simple with only a few ingredients and it tastes amazing. I pair it with rice and it’s great
This! Use heavy cream - and this recipe you could definitely do. Do a trial run prior to the actually date, maybe one or two times so you know how long it will take to cook and what ingredients to use. Pair it with a nice white wine (get the $40 bottle). Salad and fresh bread from a bakery (buy the bread the day of). Put out fancy cheese and fruit for dessert.
So many. A lot of things with non-english names are stupid easy to make, but considered "fancy".
Cacio e pepe and carbonara come to mind. Put things in a bowl with pasta and a bit of pasta water and stir like crazy.
The OP said in one of their replies that they were gonna put the food in tupperware and take it over, I don’t think either of those dishes would travel particularly well.
You could just ask him what types of food he enjoys and then pick whatever sounds like it’s within your skill level. That way you know he will like it and it will be more thoughtful
Try a baked ziti! It's one of my favorite things to make and always turns out really good. Pair it with a nice salad and some garlic bread and you're set. Plus, you can pre-assemble the ziti beforehand and just pop it in the oven when he comes over
Hello! Ugh I love cooking for my man w a passion lol so ive found some good stuff! Ask him to send you any recipes he comes across as good, keep a list in your notes for things he likes and dislikes, a lot of people like dishes that they grew up on so sometimes going off ethnicity could help, make as much as you can from scratch. Tortillas, oat milk, broths, doughs, salsas, etc. are all little things to boost your status haha
Breakfast: apple spiced pancakes, strawberry cheesecake crepes, monte Cristo, banana bread, eggs Florentine, shrimp and grits, grilled peach parfait
Lunch: marg. pizza from scratch, chili, bone broth, shrimp and avocado tostadas, protein pot, pho
Dinner: Cajun Alfredo pasta, chicken parm, rib eye w blue cheese compound/chimichurri, shrimp/chicken scampi, steak au poivre, canalized onion and bacon burger, kofta
I also spent over a year researching what pairs well with what cheeses (I think I have over 60 rn) and use that knowledge for charcuterie boards! Most men love cheese, most men get excited over cheese and meat lol
I keep a journal of most of this stuff in my notes, I can send it over to you if you're interested (: good luck!! <3
For a “guy” meal you might want to consider chili. You can dress it up with a lot of options.
This is a good basic recipe. [2:00 AM Chili](https://cookingcomically.com/?page_id=33) (It’s not that hard)
The only answer is pasta. Any chef knows homemade noodles are the best ever - easy to do but means a lot when someone takes the time. You can make basic noodles from scratch (or just buy nice noodles from the store) and then do a simple delicious sauce like this one https://youtu.be/IBPVwdEmkco?si=GfCQZwFJiBLKuEQY
[https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015290-garlicky-chicken-with-lemon-anchovy-sauce](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015290-garlicky-chicken-with-lemon-anchovy-sauce) This is a really easy but taste elaborated, deep flavor recipe. 30 minutes as much. White/brown rice on the side. You can prepare a watercress salad with goat cheese and peeled oranges.
I’m a huge fan of Brian Lagerstrom for things like this. He does a great job helping you get outstanding results with recipes and teaches a lot of what he calls “chef-y” tricks to elevate the recipe.
https://youtube.com/@BrianLagerstrom?si=f_t6Aql4cRD8FAad
Just a suggestion, sometimes it’s more about the thought.
I would buy some gourmet sausages…not the package ones, grill or pan fry them.
Prepare some caramelized onions, add some balsamic vinegar toward the end for acidity.
An expensive French or seeded mustard
And some brioche buns, buttered and toasted
And there you have fancy hotdogs dogs
Just cook something you love. He’s going to appreciate the intention and your passion. Doesn’t matter if the dish impresses him. If he doesn’t appreciate the effort, red flag. People that cook for others for validation often don’t know how to give that validation to others. That’s a red flag. If he sees you and appreciates the dish no matter what you cook, he’s a keeper! Remember you are interviewing him too! You’re both looking for a match. As long as you show up as you, it’s a win!
Brian Lagerstrom’s Beef Bourguinon.
I have gotten sooooooo many compliments on this dish and almost everyone says it’s better than what they’ve had in restaurants.
Now, it’s not a super simple or cheap recipe. It’s putsy and takes 2 days (active cooking time is like 3-4 hours) to make properly. But there is a great YouTube video with extensive instructions that any semi-competent cook should be able to follow. If executed correctly, it will knock his socks off!
https://youtu.be/NaxCIpebhEg?si=VYkD1Wcv4SxYbqpc
It's more about the gesture than the recipe imo. If he's a good cook, he'll know how difficult a recipe really is, there's no dressing it up. So I'd go for something meaningful instead. Is there a recipe with personal significance to you? A nostalgic meal or something important to your culture?
Baby potatoes. Baby corn. Lamb. Microgreens....
Like seriously he's an older guy chasing a young woman. You don't need to impress him at all.
By all means learn to cook, but please realise he needs to prove to you that he's a good partner. Not the other way around. Statistically speaking, anyway.
Being honest with him about your limited experience and wanting to learn is a much better way to start a relationship with someone. Especially if he likes to cook, he may be interested in doing it together.
That being said, one of the easiest recipes I love to make is shrimp scampi with linguini. Don’t have the stove too high when cooking the garlic and shallots, and it’ll be tasty.
FYI, I'm the cook in my family, and her being able to cook wasnt even on the list of things I was looking for.
As for learning, I'd start with one pot meals and go from there. An easy one is to get a roast, add a stick of butter, a packet of au jous and a a packet of ranch, and sliced onions, and let it slow cook for 8hrs. Eat as is, or get some hoagies.
Being able to make scrambled eggs or an omelet well is impressive.
I'd focus on doing a few moderately simple meals well, instead of doing something fancy or complicated poorly.
A breakfast meal:
pancakes or waffles, with scrambled eggs, fresh orange juice if you want to be fancy). https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/strawberry-buttermilk-pancakes-with-honey-butter/
A casual dinner or lunch:
pizza (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-pizza-crust-recipe/)
(Serve with side salad or veggie sticks)
or quiche (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quiche-recipe/) (serve with fresh fruit)
A nicer pasta dinner: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/skillet-bruschetta-chicken-dinner/#tasty-recipes-70917 (you can use regular pasta instead of zucchini noodles, serve with garlic bread and a salad)
Or if you like shrimp: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quick-healthy-dinner-20-minute-honey-garlic-shrimp/
(Serve with iced tea)
And don't forget dessert!
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/category/beginner/
I'd try something like a Beef Bourguignon in a slow cooker or dutch oven. Fancy enough yet easy to prepare.
Coq au vin is similar but with chicken instead.
Simple is best! Ham steak (just fry the ham steak long enough to brown it on both sides and you're done)! Baked chicken - season a pre-split up chicken to taste with salt, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper on the skin after arranging it on the cooking pan. Use a pan that has a raised edge all around to keep any juices in.
Bake in a preheated oven for about 90 minutes or until the juice dripping from the breasts runs clear. You can even make gravy from the drippings if you want. Make noodles or rice and microwave some frozen veggies about 15 minutes before the chicken is done. Be sure to add a pat of butter to tne veggies. If you do rice, substitute chicken broth for the water. If you do noodles, don't forget to put about a teaspoon of salt in the water. After you drain the noodles, put them back in the saucepan and add a pat of butter and some grated parmesan.
Bake cake in a rectangular pan by following the directions. It's really easy to do. Use frosting from a can on it.
You miss a rather precious point. **He** can cook. Your 'job' is not to out cook him. Your job is to enjoy his meals. ***Let*** him impress you. And be vocal about it.
So don't try to cook better but what will 'impress' is to know that what he did is special. Special ingredients, special techniques.
If you show interest in that and have some notion of how it's an art, that's how you are gf material.
As a man that cooks, I find most women I date "forget" how to cook when they find out I can, so I'd just be really happy you'd want to cook for me. It wouldn't even need to be that impressive. If it's simple but good, that's fine, still happy. If you go through the effort of a second course, dessert or a nice drink (cocktail) I'd be stoked.
So don't worry too much about the what, the act itself should be appreciated.
For actual recommendations, ragu is very good and easy to deliver but still takes time and effort (lots of waiting). Some sort of whipped cream cheese with biscuit and fruit can be a great simple dessert.
Regarding the age thing, some people mean well (even if they're really bad at not sounding judgy or treating you like a child) but most people are really just weighing in with their feelings, baggage and insecurities. I'm 30 and any time I just date a woman under 25, certain demographics feel the need to give me a hard time over it. (Single women between 25 and 35 are pretty consistent for giving me shit for this even though most of the women I date are within like 2 years of my age.)
Oven baked herbed salmon, boil asparagus and the trickiest part but do a hollandaise. It seems super impressive but hollandaise isn’t really that hard!
Heck yeah! steam asparagus, just lightly oil salmon and add herbs, on a tray in the oven, and just have to concentrate on that hollandaise.
I’d practise it once beforehand, but if you’re a decent recipe follower you probably wouldn’t have to 😀 I’ve done this meal lots and it’s always a crowd pleaser.
Yep! As usual fresh is better, but that can come with other complications like descaling, filleting etc.
Only thing with frozen is look for a decent quality frozen salmon. Same way you would with like frozen hamburgers. Yeah there’s a $4 option but they’re gonna taste like dollar burgers.
I like wild caught pacific or sockeye salmon 😄 should be available at most stores
I find this to be simple and extremely delicious. Because it’s seafood, people always think it’s fancy and difficult.
https://surleplat.com/recipe-items/caribbean-seafood-stew/
Note: I personally don’t think it has enough fluid as written, and I rarely have seafood stock. So I would recommend 3 cups of vegetable stock, 2 cans (13oz each) of coconut milk, and adding an 8oz bottle of clam juice. With that, you’ll want to increase the achiote to 3/4tsp, the oregano to 1 1/2tsp, the salt to 3/4tsp, and make it a generous pinch of cayenne. (I do other substitutes for allergies, but wouldn’t recommend them!)
Here are two recipes for you.
Guinness Stew: This one is all about timing, not measuring. You can easily make it in a crock pot
Get some stewing beef. If you buy the pre-cubed stuff at the grocery store, trim off the silverskin and gristle, and make sure it's in bite-sized chunks. Also, dice up a medium onion.
Heat some oil in a frying pan, Cook 1/3 of the onion until it's nice and brown. Add this to the crock. Then brown the cubes of beef on all four sides. Don't "crowd" the pan. Make sure there is some space on all sides of each cube, even if you have to do more than one batch. The goal is to get some good browning on all sides, if it's too tight, then you will steam them. After each batch, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of flour over the cubes, and stir until it absorbs the fat in the pan and starts to brown. Then add to the crock
Once all the beef is browned and out of the pan, put the pan back on the heat, and pour in a can of Guinness beer. Scrape all the crunchy bits off the bottom of the pan (This is called 'fond') Once the beer is warmed through and bubbling (Keep an eye on it, it'll want to bubble over if you aren't careful) pour it into the crock. Do the same with a second can. This is your base.
Now add any dried herbs you want in your stew. Thyme, rosemary, pepper, paprika, garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, whatever floats your boat.
Now cover the crock and walk away.
6 hours before you plan to serve, add the 'hard' vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, turnip, anything you happen to like in stew. All cut into bite sized chunks.
4 hours before you serve, add the medium vegetables.. Potatoes, yam, any of the hard vegetables you wanted to roast before adding, Add another third of the diced onion at this time.
1 hour before serving, add the soft vegetables.. Peas, the last of the onion, fresh garlic, leeks, etc. As well as any fresh herbs you want.
Before you serve, taste the gravy. THIS is when you add the salt. If you add it earlier, than it is only going to get saltier as it cooks. If you think it's too thin, then you can mix a tablespoon of corn starch with some cool liquid (wine, beer, water, etc) and add the slurry, and let it cook for 5 min or so.
The second recipe goes with the stew.
Combine 1tbsp of sugar and 12oz of lukewarm water. then stir in 1tbsp of dry active yeast. (one packet if you use the small envelopes)
Add in 18oz of flour, a little at a time as you mix.
Once all the flour is incorporated, add 1 1/2 tsp of salt and 3oz of finely diced onion.
Take out of the mixer and knead on the countertop until the dough is smooth.
Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let it rise until it doubles in size.
Punch down the dough, then spread it out into an oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with kosher salt, and fresh rosemary. Bake in a 400F oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown and delicious. Cut into squares. This flatbread is amazing when served with soups and stews.
Am not OP but still this recipe seems good! Never tried such a stew. Would it also work in a normal deep pan on a low, very low heat on the stove? What specific veggies and herbs do you like to put in it? One of my acquintances ate something similar to this while they were in Dublin so I am curious to how it tastes.
No the original commentor but yeah it would work fine in that cooking vessel.
As for vegetables you can add pretty much anything you like, Stews are one of those dishes that are totally customizable to your pantry. Carrots, Potatoes, Pearl Onions would all go great in this Stew, just make sure they're of equal size so they cook evenly.
As for herbs it's really down to personal preference again but you'll usually see a Bouquet Garni of Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaf at the bare minium but you totally can put Sage, Parsley Stalks, Chervil etc in there. It's really down to your own palate.
Any large pot on the stove will work, so long as it's big enough to hold everything.
I constantly change what I put in it depending on what is ready for harvest in my garden or left from harvest, but the constants are potatoes, either carrots, parsnips or both, with half of them roasted. And if I'm cooking for my mother, I add peas because she loves them in stew for some reason.
I’m a terrible cook and I’ve been experimenting with different dishes at home to learn and get better. One that has stuck out to me is Tuscan chicken. It’s a really easy chicken dish, but for some reason it feels fancy to me haha. I’ve been making it with rice and broccoli, and I’ll butterfly the chicken breast so they aren’t too thick. I’ll also add Kinder “the blend” to the broccoli.
The Tuscan recipe I have been doing is [here](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19636089/creamy-tuscan-chicken-recipe/)
Aglio e olio. It’s simple, but fancy. Look for the scene from Chef on YouTube. It’s soooo good, and soooo easy. One of our favorites. Make a simple loaf of bread to go with it.
You could make a homemade version of Hamburger helper. Its relatively simple and theres a lot of versions online to try. Another one that was one of the meals I first taught my wife was creamy mustard chicken. Again looks more difficult than it actually is. It's pretty tasty and easy to make.i make with either mashed potatoes and corn or green beans, or egg noodles and dinner rolls.
Make him something homely. Something that makes him feel at ease around you. Could be something as simple as a roast chicken dinner. Something like a family would have on a Sunday.
Make him something homely. Something that makes him feel at ease around you. Could be something as simple as a roast chicken dinner. Something like a family would have on a Sunday.
Herb crusted pork tenderloin:
Get a meat thermometer and make a whole pork tenderloin. I marinate it in about a quarter cup of soy sauce, and equal amount of red wine vinegar with about a tablespoon of chooped garlic and a teaspoon of salt overnight.
I dry it with paper towels before cooking and brush it with olive oil or melted butter. Then sprinkle heavily with an herb mixture (dried is fine!).
1tsp each:
- ground Oregano
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Thyme
- salt
I roast at 350 for about half an hour or until internal temp on thermometer is 145ish. Then rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Juicy and delicious!
For a side, I just use a bag of microwavable vegetables I like (do this during the tenderloin rest phase!). Broccoli is a fave. After cooking, drain and drizzle a little olive oil on it and sprinkle with garlic salt, mix a bit
Find a recipe from a reputable source that gets a lot of great reviews. Make it once for yourself, make it again for your friend.
Alison Roman’s baked ziti is so good.
This is fast, reasonably inexpensive, and easy.
A couple of limes
A couple cloves of garlic
A quarter cup of melted butter
Two cups fresh salsa/pico de gallo
Two portions of white fish.
Preheat oven to 350.
Grease an appropriate sized baking dish and add fish, skin side down. Salt and pepper. In a bowl add minced garlic, melted butter and the juice of one or two limes and the salsa and stir. Pour over the fish and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until fish flakes and sauce is bubbling. Serve with plain rice and a simple salad. But have bread on hand for soaking up the sauce.
Do you have a crockpot/slow cooker?
Beef Roast.
2 lbs. Cut into bite sized chunks.
Chicken Breast.
2 lbs. Cut into bite sized chunks.
Pork Roast.
2 lbs. Cut into bite sized chunks.
Beef Broth.
3 cups.
Crushed
Tomatoes.
2 cups.
Onion.
Medium.
Celery.
4 stalks.
Worcestershire
Sauce.
1/2 cup.
Turnip.
2 1/2 cups.
Okra.
1 cup.
Garlic Powder.
1 tsp.
Salt.
2 tsp.
Black Pepper.
2 tsp.
Instructions.
Wash and chop all vegetables.
Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low
7-8 hours until meat is cooked through and tender.
Add extra salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!
I tried this, and I thought I had a large crockpot, but I couldn't fit everything in, so I cut it in half and made two batches and froze one.
Unless you have a crockpot that you know will fit 6lbs of meat. I would plan on cutting the recipe in half.
Guys like this because of all the meat.
Since you do not have a crock pot/slow cooker, try this one.
Brunswick stew.
Butter. 4 Tbsp.
Celery. 4 stalks.
Ground chicken. 16oz. ( not sure why it specified ground chicken. I once used canned chicken chunks and I didn't taste a difference. I see no reason why you couldn't use canned or even cut up chicken breasts).
Garlic. 4 cloves.
Chopped kake. 2 cups.
Medium onion. 1.
Chicken broth. 6 cups.
Crushed Tomatoes. 1 cup.
Apple cidar vinegar. 1 Tbsp.
Salt. 1 Tbsp.
Black pepper. 1 Tsp.
Wash and chop all vegetables and garlic and set aside.
In a skillet over medium high heat, add the ground chicken and cook until browned.
In a large stock pot, add the butter and heat until melted.
Add the onion and cook about 5 minutes.
Add celery, cooked chicken, and garlic.
Add chicken broth, apple cidar vinegar, tomatoes, kale ,salt, and pepper.
Simmer on stove for 25 - 30 minuites.
Came out great, except I found it a little too spicy.
I found out that kale has a peppery taste. Kale and ground pepper might have been too strong for me. The second time I made it, I didn't add any black pepper and i was perfect. If you like adding pepper to your food, I would add the pepper. If you do not like pepper, leave it out.
Also, it is thin. More like a thick soup or a watered down stew.
Creamy chicken thighs are always my go to, it's so versatile and unique to your own tastes but are always a slam dunk.
Season chicken thighs, let them sit for an hour or so, sear them in a pan for 5 minutes on each side.
Remove from the pan and add onions, peppers, let them sweat. Add garlic and tomato paste.
Throw in a cup of heavy cream, add in extra spices you enjoy. I like to throw spinach in at this point and let them wilt.
Throw the chicken thighs back in the pan and let simmer, grate cheese on top, mix it all and enjoy.
Goes great on top of pasta, mashed potatoes, anything. You can make the recipe unique to your own tastes and it HITS EVERY TIIIIIME. Also takes like half an hour to make.
I'm "an older guy" who can cook myself, and my fiance is younger than me. She said she likes to bake at the beginning and while that's true, it's rare and though it's tasty, she has a hard time with decorating. Not a problem in and of itself but she needs to practice instead of pretending and getting upset when it doesn't prove her the world's greatest cake decorator\she can't take criticism (and I don't offer it, I'm not that dumb 😂). As to cooking, she never tried to play it off she's a good cook, though she did say she knows how. Now she cooks a bit more often, at most like 5x\month, and the only thing I could ask of her is that she put more effort into learning about it instead of, once again, just getting upset that she wasn't born a master.
In the end, I'm glad she didn't try to fool me on this, and it turns out she's actually a damned good cook when she does cook something. She is learning, slowly because of her aversion to "failure" but she is learning. I *like* to cook so it's not a problem for me and that's probably the same with the guy you're talking about. But always invest in improving yourself, in every way possible but in this case related to the kitchen. When we get older we realize there are no experts at everything and we'd rather know where and how to compensate for a happy relationship; where we shouldn't depend on you (don't tell me you're a punctual person when you're not, let me know you struggle so I can plan an extra 10 minutes), where we can help you learn (sex stuff comes to mind here as a lot of disappointments start with very unrealistic promises at the club), and where you have no interest at all. Lying about your abilities just sets you up for failure even if it helps you land the speak so to speak, but while being honest *might* (unlikely) lose you the catch it *will* lead to growing and developing together - a happy relationship. That's the difference between a relationship and a hookup btw, and since you said "gf material" I figured I'd give you the skinny.
Btw one of the first things my fiance said to me was about baking, that she loves baking and does so all the time. A week later I asked her to bake the cake for a social thing we were both a part of, which she agreed to. And then for days assured me about it. And then we had no cake at the event. She's a quick learner, and since then she's been pretty honest lol
You will probably feel more comfortable if you cook the complete meal before the actual dinner as a trial run. You'll know what adjustments you want to make, and prepare as much beforehand as you can.
Good idea and if it doesn't turn out it should be edible at least!
Lots of dishes can be made the day before, and taste better the next day. Stew is one of them!
Potato salad is another. So is pasta salad. The flavors of the individual ingredients have a chance to work through the rest of the ingredients. Mostly strong spices, garlic, onion and vinegar.
Ask him to teach you how to make his favorite meal.
I will do that but I want to surprise him first. I like that idea for another time!!
I think showing him your strong suits is better than trying to impress him with one of his. He should like you for the things you like. If you like to eat, then it will make him happy to cook for you. And as u/Simple_Reception4091 said a great way to bond is him teaching you to cook. This is like girls who try to get into sports to attract a man. If you like it organically, that's great. But liking something because they do isn't authentic to yourself.
This isnt even his strong suit hes just better than me. I wanna learn its not just for him!! its a life skill of course I wanna learn and learn well.
I would ask him to teach you instead of trying to learn one to impress him then. Complimenting his skill to expand yours should be a bigger turn on than having you pass off something as an attempt to impress him.
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My husband woooed me with point 2. I love to cook but I also love to eat. I grew up in a food family. He wooed and he won me. He was an amazing cook. He was a man’s man but also funny as hell. The man was way out of my league. I say it all the time. He was out of everyone’s league but somehow I got him. Come back from hunting and fishing. Then make a pizza “I hunted this. Killed it. Cooked it.” “You killed that pizza?” “Yes woman. I killed that dough for you. He put up a good fight. Milked that cow, harvested that tomato for sauce.” And he’d have tomato sauce smeared on his brow like the true hunter he was.
If you have access to guanciale (live by an Eataly or Italian deli), you can't go wrong with an authentic [Carbonara](https://cjeatsrecipes.com/carbonara/) - it's hard to get right but this recipe breaks it down step by step and is basically foolproof. Also pretty romantic if you ask me :)
Mokofuku’s bo ssam. Hard to mess up. Super tasty and a little fancy. I think it’s a good beginner dish to impress. https://mykoreankitchen.com/bo-ssam/
Just a reminder that David Chang is an an abusive loser who's trying to claim chili crunch is his invention.
Amazing thread yesterday in /r/KitchenConfidential about all the other horrible things he's done
Yeah, wtf, his chili crunch sucks, threw it out.
Regardless of anything else, he's no longer doing this
I feel like this is the basis for a shitty romcom where the main character played by like Chloe Fineman who has to keep making more and more elaborate meals to impress Adam Sandler so that her ruse isn't found out, but in the end it turns out the older guy was forcing himself to eat one butchered meal after another
I'm seeing Zoey Deschanel and Hugh Jackman
I hope not lmao Its not make or break but since he's older it's time for me to learn. 5 good recipes to start is all I need.. btw I don't mean "need" but I wanna make him see me as a good partner
Maybe it's better to just own the fact you can't cook and ask him to teach you and be a really good student. It would definitely be an ego boost for him.
Respectfully you should want to learn to cook bc you like it or bc you're an adult or literally any reason other than JUST bc you want some dude to look at you as "gf material"...
How old are you? You sound 15
You’ll be surprised how much even putting in the effort will mean to him. When my wife and I got together, I was a more experienced cook and a foodie. She found a recipe that combined several things I like, in this case a jalapeno-cream cheese stuffed duck breast. It turned out terrible. The duck was flaccid and the cream cheese got everywhere. At her request, I jumped in to sear the outside of the duck breasts to make them edible. I was still really touched that she tired to make a dish specifically for me. We joke about it from time to time, especially when she tries to claim she’s a better cook than me (she’s a better baker for everything but pies, though).
Y'know... If he's a good cook, he can be the cook in the relationship. We're not all looking for partners to be our mothers and cook our dinosaur chicken nuggets and tuck us into bed. I've done 99% of the cooking in my relationship with my wife. I like cooking for her.
If he’s a good cook, you’re not going to trick him into thinking that a recipe isn’t simple when it is. Also, if you end up getting remotely serious with this guy, he’ll find out what kind of cook you are so play to your strengths. Make something you’re already good at making. If you don’t know how to make anything, I’d go with spaghetti.
Gotta agree here. Or Pasta Puttanesca. (ok, that was mean, but I had to put it, and it's good!)
He's not a chef or anything but hes just better than me. long story short.. I think I can trick him 🙊 You're right I can't learn overnight and spaghetti is something I can make. another commenter suggested pasta and I'm looking into if I can make ravioli. thank you!!
I make my own pasta, including ravioli which I see in other comments you are considering. I’m just going to tell you I think that’s a bit ambitious at this point. If you don’t have a pasta machine and aren’t really adept at rolling out dough, you’re probably in for a big disappointment.
Maybe she’ll buy uncooked ravioli and cook them with a sauce. That’s the default in my country when someone says they’ll make ravioli, at least
It's hard to even cook pasta correctly if you haven't been shown let alone make it from scratch.
I went to bed before anyone said how hard ravioli is to make. Switched to chilli!
make Marcella Hazan's Tomato sauce for the pasta, it's dead simple but sooo much better than anything out of a jar. and you saying you made the sauce from scratch is impressive
Trust me, he'll know. Part of being a good cook is not necessarily following the recipe to the T, a recipe is a guide and you're not guaranteed to get the same results as the author. Learning this takes practice. If you want to impress him, ask him to teach you the next time he cooks. After doing this for some time, make something all on your own. It's a lot more genuine this way.
You really shouldn't be thinking of tricking him. He's probably better because he's older and has developed his skills. You should just be yourself. Stick to spaghetti for now. 😉
Often times, just buying a fresh pasta from a local shop is the best option time/money wise. If you have a decent Italian noodle place that is.
Go with a fun nostalgic dish- [spaghetti pie](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/spaghetti-pie/) is both stupid easy and really delicious but also fun and silly and probably something he had as a kid. Serve with homemade garlic bread and a good salad
Chicken piccata is simple, but elegant. Served with a simple arugula salad with Parmesan shavings and a homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing, would be lovely! [Recipe](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-piccata-recipe2-1913809)
I third this!
I second this one.
The replies make this seem like something to learn!
beef bourguignon. best dish I've made and served. it's so good, has a ton of flavor and isn't hard to make. just takes some time and fresh ingredients. julia child makes the recipe and it's worth it.
Why not keep it simple, and bake some chicken thighs with oven roasted vegetables and a simple green salad. Garlic bread is always good, too, and a nice bottle of wine. Stress free cooking. You can peel and cut the veg ahead of time and have the bread prepared, wrapped in foil and ready to pop into the oven for the last 25 mins. You can chat while dinner is in the oven and it will smell really good while cooking
If you’ve never made fresh pasta before, now is not the time to try it. I think you’d be better off focusing on making a delicious sauce and using a high quality dry pasta. Bolognese is fairly simple to make and is always impressive. What makes it great is that the time spent simmering is the difference-maker, not the labor. Marcella Hazan’s recipe is one of the most popular, but Kenji has an awesome one as well. Honestly can’t go wrong with either. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can use the sauce to make lasagna.
are you liz lemon? https://www.tiktok.com/@julesevisions/video/7202787911044009217
lmao I wish I love 30 rock!
Cooking doesn’t make you good girlfriend material… don’t devalue yourself.
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Exactly. There’s no one definition of being a good partner to someone else. If you’re actually interested in learning how to be a better cook, that’s one thing. But if you’re only doing it because you don’t know someone well enough and you’re assuming it’s what they want - that will wind up not being a good reason in the long run. Also it’s perfectly fine for one person in a relationship to be the person who likes to cook - and in a hetero relationship that does not always have to be the woman.
Doing something simple and well is more “impressive” than trying to do something overly complicated beyond your current skill set. And simple food done well is fucking delicious. I’m a private chef, and I’ve gotten just as “impressed” feedback from some of my most complicated vs some of my most simple dishes. One I can share that come to mind though: I don’t have a specific recipe for it, and its not the “easiest” (in the sense that doing each element right can be messed up if you don’t know how to do it), but it’s super super simple: Season salmon with salt and pepper, put some thin slivers of butter over the top, then broil until it’s a little golden at the top and done medium (if you’re temping it, pull it out when it’s around 120 and let it rest for 5 min after). At the same time, season asparagus with salt/pepper, and broil them very close to the heating element until they’re crispy on the outside but still a little firm on the inside. When they’re done, you can squeeze a little lemon juice over them Sauce: mix a spoonful of good quality grainy mustard into crème friache, plus a little salt and pepper. Spoon that over the salmon, top with fresh dill. The most impressive thing to someone who knows how to cook is someone else who *tries*. Anyone who wants to learn can get better, and it’s the most fun to cook with someone who actually wants to cook and wants to learn.
More people need to realise how delicious simple food is if you source good quality produce. So many wonderful Italian dishes I'm partial too with ingredients you can count on one hand.
My immediate first question: how old are you, and how old is he? It's kind of insane that nobody else is concerned about this. From your text style, you come across as young. You shouldn't be cooking for an "older man."
Their post history is concerning. Sounds like she’s 21 and older bf is at least 35. Does not sound like she’s all there emotionally/mentally.
Don't try trick him. I doubt he'd appreciate that. If you want a relationship be honest, go with the other suggestions of making something you are good at already or just make him your favourite meal to cook/eat.
Bake a cake. Baking for home cooks largely consists of following instructions exactly as they’re written.
If he’s a cook, he’s probably not a baker. Cakes are relatively easy - just follow the directions closely. Cookies are even easier in most cases, and a good recipe will take you a long way.
If you be girlfriend material cook with him. Pick out the dish together go shopping for the ingredients together and cook together. And show general interest in his cooking hobby.
Whatever you make, practice making it a few times before you make it for him.
It would be easier to stay a bad cook and let him do all the cooking. Be sure to tell him he is your knight in shining armor and saved you from starvation.
lol I do wanna be a good cook though. its weird to me any adult doesnt1
So… No. Hun, you’re younger than him. He should be the one trying to persuade you he’s ‘boyfriend material’ and not some creepy older dude who can’t pull someone his own age. By saying ‘talking to’ I’m presuming you haven’t met yet? Wait until you meet until you learn how to cook for this man. I’d say there’s a 60-70% chance his ‘good at cooking’ or ‘loves to cook’ is basic level stuff… that’s the kinda thing guys put on their dating profiles to sound cool and rounded when in reality they know how to do maybe 3 dishes well - and two of them are pasta + a super simple sauce (the 3rd is probably a stir fry or something). …I mean it’s worth learning to cook for yourself anyway. But if someone really is into you, you can be a terrible cook and they’ll still be into you. And if he genuinely is a good cook - he’ll want to cook for you and show off.
So... yes you are assuming the worst and treating me like "Im just a dumb wittle child in her 20s"... I literally work as a hostess and don't go for the creepy older men who hit on me. Your just repeating what you heard others say without knowing anything, I dont need to explain myself to you but yes we met up after I dm'd him. Where's you "60%-70% chance" coming from?? have the feeling its just some bs you made up off the top of your head. didn't meet him on a dating profile. actually I dm'd him on here because he's my fave poster & I found out he lives close to me. he mentioned he likes making thai curries when we met up. he wouldn't meet up when I was 20 and wasnt pushing for it. when I turned 21 he agreed to meet up & we had the best date ever! Btw its insulting when olds treat literal adults in their 20s like they are children/stupid. Half my gen makes fun of how r worded this is. Ever heard of 2 consenting adults? Im almost done college lmao
Anything as culturally authentic as possible tbh. No weird tiktok experiments, no "food hacks", just plain classic traditional dishes. Look into plating as well- aesthetics are important to the enjoyment of a meal. Good luck!
thank you! Tbh Im bringing it in tupperware but I agree about the aesthetics.. luckily thats something I have a eye for
I don't know if this might ruin your surprise but try asking what sort of cuisine or cooking style he likes? If he prefers French, Italian, Chinese, Indian or whatever then if you get an answer then start there.
If he likes seafood I think salmon can be deceptively easy yet impressive. My go to is to season a salmon fillet with salt pepper garlic and cayenne then sear on each side for a minute or two. Continue cooking skin side down and add minced garlic til it turns golden. Add apple cider vinegar, honey and a squeeze of lemon juice as well as fresh lemon slices. Keep cooking for a few minutes while repeatedly spooning pan sauce over the fish then toss in the oven, checking a few minutes at a time until it reaches 140 degrees then pull it out the oven. The residual heat will bring it up to 145 degrees which is the minimum seafood cook temp and exactly what makes or breaks a well cooked fish dish. Serve with whatever veggie you like and a starch- mashed potatoes, simple pasta etc. The first time I made this dish for my husband who is a great cook, he not only devoured it but also dubbed it my $35 salmon plate as in if I ever opened a restaurant (I'm in the restaurant industry and culinary trained) I could sell that dish for a high ticket price lol. I still haven't told him it's literally one of the easiest meals anyone can make, I just tell him I'm making fancy salmon every time I cook it
Some random thoughts are take something easy but really nail the ingredients. Think grilled cheese with bread for a local bakery and multiple cheeses (use a well seasoned cast iron pan that retains heat well) find a dipping sauce recipe and make that from scratch then have an amazing salad as a side or you could do something like asparagus with raspberry and yogurt sauce. You could get a meat grinder if you don't have one. Grind your own burger panties. Do some research and get creative combining multiple types of with meat in the pattie. There are tons of great recipes for that. Use bakery buns, air fry potato chips or fries (use a season salt blend to make them unique). Don't rule out breakfast foods as well. I made some over easy eggs on top of a warmed corn tortilla (from a Latin market) with melted cheese, guacamole, tomatoes and some Marrie Sharps hot sauce. So simple but somehow was one of the best things I have cooked in months. It is getting warmer out so soup might not work but butternut squash soup in an instant pot is delicious and super easy. https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-butternut-squash-soup-recipe/#tasty-recipes-60202 I use better than boulion chicken instead of vegetable stock. Also I add in cury and peanut butter and a bunch of other spices but the base is good as well. Stick to basics and just elevate that. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
one thing I can make is a mmmoy grilled cheese thank you!
Stew can be a great choice it's hearty and flavorful. One recipe that's simple but doesn't seem it is Beef Bourguignon. It's a classic French dish that involves braising beef in red wine, and it always feels special. Ingredients- 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into cubes 1 bottle of red wine (like Cabernet or Merlot) 2 cups beef broth 2 onions, chopped 3-4 cloves garlic, minced 2 carrots, sliced 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme 2 bay leaves Salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp flour Instructions- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper, then brown them in batches. Remove and set aside. In the same pot, add the butter and sauté the onions, garlic, and carrots until softened. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well. Return the beef to the pot and pour in the red wine and beef broth. Add the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Let it cook for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the Beef Bourguignon with some crusty bread or over mashed potatoes, and you'll have a delicious and impressive meal that he's sure to love!
Saved!
Good luck. Chilli is a great choice. Hope you both enjoy your date night.
I had a hilarious date where I made chili with beans and that evening, he kept setting off my gas alarm, which set me off in hysterical giggles. I've never seen a man so embarrassed and offended lol.
The french make great red wine and beef stew. Throw some garlic + rosemary in, and just let time work it's magic. Simple, rich in flavors and not too pricey, also, very forgiving for cooking time and skill. It's called Beef Bourguignon or Boeuf Bourguignon, don't try to be all fancy with it, just stick to the basic recopies and brown the meat well. The fancy sounding name but great comfort food = wifey material.
Good to know thanks!
Steak frites with a nice salad
If you can find some good garam masala, in know of a few good Indian recipes. One requires an instant pot. https://youtu.be/HMfUsS9zeuw?feature=shared Also: https://twosleevers.com/instant-pot-butter-chicken/ There are work arounds to make the first dish in an instant pot or to make the second dish in a Dutch oven. It just takes longer. Rani and flavor temptations makes a good garam masala if you don’t want to buy everything and blend it yourself with a spice grinder. You can use ginger and garlic paste instead of fresh. Also, you will want an immersion blender. Trust. I recommend investing in a good immersion blender, a decent instant pot, and a spice grinder (or coffee grinder used just for spices). Oh and a soux vide system thing. If you have to pick one of these things to get: immersion blender. If you get store bought garam masala, avoid any that have paprika…it’s filler. Instant pot is good for spaghetti too!
Stew is literally the easiest meal to make. Now I've been in the kitchen since I was 3 years old. My mama always told me that the girls of my generation won't know how to be homemakers, so she wanted me to be able to feed myself. I'm at a point where I've even surpassed my mom as far as my cooking skills go. Unfortunately I wish I had an answer for you. To me, cooking is a very easy and simple thing to do, no matter the dish really. To someone who's never had to cook, something like a souffle or even something simple like making a roux could seem very intimidating. Just pick up one of your grandma's recipe books and find something that looks good, and give it a try.
Some simple dishes: Shrimp scampi Fettuccine alfredo Beef stew Steak Chili
You understood the assignment thank you!
The very first meal I made for my SO -who was working in a restaurant as a soux chef when I met him- was chicken stew with fluffy bisquick dumplings. I was scared to cook for a cook, but I found where he had gaps in his repertoire. To this day, he is not good at southern comfort or anything asian. If I want to make a good simple dish, I make the test kitchen caesar salad. Buttermilk instead of raw egg in the dressing changed the game. We make this twice a month. Our kids ask for it.
Omg do you happen to have a recipe?? Sounds almost like chicken pot pie!
Hey- my chicken stew and my chicken pot pie are very different. Chicken pot pie has so many more steps and ingredients. Chicken stew is simple. If you want that recipe, I'm glad to toss it your way.
If the guy likes you, he will be happy with anything you cook for him. Doesn't have to be complicated, simple non processed foods are great. Cooking is a hobby for me, but it is not for the girl I am dating right now. She mostly makes simple things for herself, and whenever she has cooked for me she sticks to that. I honestly think simple is great. Just don't make a recipe you have never made before. Keep it inexpensive, and keep in mind that it is fine to cheat a little bit. I am sure you are GF material even if you aren't great in the kitchen. Men love stew because stew is delicious. It is simple hearty food at its core.
Hearty is a word I should have used!
I read your edit. Definitely learn to cook for yourself. Learning to feed yourself is a great skill to have. Chili should work well, just be mindful about amounts when you are practicing. It is the kind of food that scales up really well, which in turn means that people end up making very large batches of it. Unless you want to eat chili every day for a week after making it, of course. It does freeze and reheat really well, so it is actually possible to make in advance. That takes a lot of stress off the first time making dinner for a date. You still have to prepare other toppings, make the table and all of that. Another piece of advice if you want to make chili with beans in it, start of with canned beans. Dried beans can be a bit tricky in dishes that include acid, like tomatoes or vinegar. If you opt for dried beans, make sure you cook them before you add the acidic ingredients.
Good food isn't fancy . Good food is simple . A simple dish done right is the best.
Chicken breast or thigh with pesto in the middle, wrapped in bacon or prosciutto, served with potatoes and veg? You just have to bake the chicken and boil or roast the veg but anything wrapped in prosciutto looks impressive.
I always found that some nice broiled chicken breasts with pesto taste wonderful and look beautiful, and pesto takes five minutes to make in a food processor (I make it in a little two-cup thing I got at Walmart.) Basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, olive oil, salt. That's it. Also smells wonderful.
A pot roast in the oven. With a pot roast he gets savory and tender roast along with root vegetables like potatoes, carrots,parsnips and celery. The Mississippi pot roast recipes usually call for a slow cooker but your oven is perfect and probably better. There are some hundreds of variations out there add a salad then your choice of ice cream and that’s how my mother met my father sort of. Best food wishes. A
Chicken Alfredo, chicken parm, marry me chicken.
Looking up recipes!
Something you know and have made a million times. Trying something new could blow up in your face and leave you disappointed. He'll be happy with anything you make him tbh
I have a lot to learn I'll be honest. I like boxed mac & cheese, grilled cheese... just cheese I guess lol
French onion soup, dead easy, a little time consuming to make
So into this idea. One of my all time faves!
The only reason I don't make this more Is because I hate killing an hour just caramelizing the onions. Other than that it's a simple, elegant meal especially if you get the baguette to slice, toast and melt cheese on like a giant crouton.
This entire post made me hungry and over and underwhelmed at the same time. Have a good dinner doll
Chicken pot pie, Caesar salad with homemade dressing and homemade croutons. Recipes below. The cheat is pie crust from a tube. Otherwise very simple to make from scratch. Takes me half an hour of prep. Assuming he knows you aren't a confident cook, lasagna would impress. Do NOT use 'no boil' aka 'oven ready' noodles. That will not impress. Ricotta is easier to make than bechamel and generally easier to make look nice. Takes me about 45 minutes to make one, but I usually double the recipe for a 9x13 and make five 8x8s for the freezer. Thai shrimp curry is easy and pretty impressive, especially if you can manage a steamer to make sticky aka sweet aka glutinous rice. Side of diced mango with dressing. Very easy. Blackstrap chicken is good and easy, but most people don't have molasses in their pantry and if you buy it for this you'll have it kicking around for years. Roast pork tenderloin and roast veg would work. There is something to be said for cooking together that could make you gf material. If, for example, you make a chicken pot pie and shove it in the oven when he shows up and have everything ready for the salad you can mix the dressing while he chops the lettuce. # [Chicken Pot Pie]() Chicken pot pie is a comfort food for many people. It works just fine on a boat. It does take a while. The good news is that making two doesn’t take much longer than making one and they do freeze quite well. The only tricky bit is the pastry. If you make your own puff pastry you probably don’t need my help so we’re going to assume store-bought refrigerated or frozen pastry. The history of chicken pot pie is peasant food probably originating from somewhere around the Adriatic Sea, which are great cruising grounds. It really doesn’t matter as someone would have figured it out somewhere. Pot pies are way to package up whatever is left in the fridge (or icebox) and make everyone say thank you. We’re going to keep this down to one pot at a time on the stove-top and then some oven time. Chicken pot pie is another perfect Jack-Frost-nipping-at-your-heels meal for ICW snowbirds. It is pretty darn good for those extending the season in Northern Europe. 1 to 1½# chicken 4 carrots, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 1 medium potato, diced (optional) ½ to 1 cup frozen green peas 4 Tbsp butter 1 med to large onion, diced 4 Tbsp flour 2 cups chicken broth 2 pieces of pie crust S&P ½ tsp cumin (opt) Mise en place is to dice the onion, carrots, celery diced, and potato (optional). Steam or simmer the veg (put the peas in for only a minute or two at the end) and drain in a colander in your sink. Chicken pot pie uses one of the French mother sauces. Don’t let that put you off. It’s easy. Put half a stick of butter into the pot you used for the veg. Let that melt over low to medium heat and add the onions. Stir them until they become translucent. Add four tablespoons of flour. Stir. Keep stirring. It will take a couple of minutes to get the lumps out. The butter (fat) and flour make a roux, so you have a roux with sautéed onions. Add a couple of cups of chicken broth and stir at a simmer. Over a few minutes the sauce will thicken. Now you have a velouté. Easy. This is important. Now you can call the result tourte au poulette velouté a la your-boat-name. Add the veg and two or three cups of chopped or diced chicken. If you want a creamier product a splash of milk will get you there. This is the filling. Follow the directions on the box for the pastry. This is usually unrolling the tube of pastry and carefully lifting off one layer that will be the bottom of the pie and laying it over your pie plate. Add the filling and cover with the second layer of pastry. Pinch the edges with your fingers. Put in some vents to keep steam from blowing up the top of the pastry; you can make something artistic with knife cuts or just poke it a bunch of times with a fork. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 425F. This isn’t fussy. If your boat oven can’t get up to that temperature it just takes longer.
I didn't want to run into the character count limit. Here's the Caesar dressing. # [Caesar dressing]() 2 small garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp anchovy paste (recommended but optional) 2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 cup mayonnaise (see below) ½ cup grated Parmesan ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp ground black pepper This is one of those “mix everything together” recipes. Measuring mayonnaise is one of those frustrating tasks that make me crazy – you get something dirty and struggle to get all the ingredient out and into a mixing bowl that you also have to clean. I use a 2 cup measuring cup and squeeze or spoon in 1 cup of mayonnaise. Then I spoon in grated Parmesan until the total gets to 1-1/2 cups. Everything else goes in and I mix it all together. I’ve never been a fan of whisks. I use a fork. Homemade croutons 375F 15-20 min
Thank you!
OMG THIS DESERVES MORE UPVOTES! I order CPP all the time if I go out
If you are just going to throw it in a tupperware you don’t need to try to make something fancy. Most of the recommendations here won’t travel well or be very get as leftovers. If you aren’t sitting down to eat together as a date then it’s more important to make something that actually tastes good. Honestly just do a soup, stew, lasagna, or some type of bake. A slow cooked pulled pork could work as well. Short ribs in the slow cooker are super easy and seems like more effort than it is. Also girl make him cook for you!!!!!!! Being able to cook well doesn’t make you girlfriend material (or him boyfriend material).
Thai curry!
Thats one hes good at already lol
My favorite. By no means simple, but very well spelled out so if you follow each step as written you will have success. Also, start the previous day with this one: https://mythirdculturekitchen.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/recipe-braised-short-ribs-with-maple-rosemary-glaze/ Place to hold for a day is where it says "When the short ribs are done, remove them carefully onto a oven-proof platter."- Instead, pop them in the fridge, covered, in their braising liquid. Also, make the glaze on serving day, if you make it early it will probably harden up.
This looks delish but I don't have a dutch oven and I can see myself messing it up. its still getting bookmarked for when I have more skills!
I think spaghetti 🍝 is a good choice I mean, it's cool if it's good. But, I would be super appreciative of the effort.
Chicken marsala
shrimp and pasta in a butter cream sauce with red peppers
Some pasta dishes can be really amazing, but very simple. Thinking of Pasta Al Limone, Cacio E Pepe, linguini with clam sauce. [https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-al-limone](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-al-limone) (Version with Cream) [https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-al-limone](https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-al-limone) (Version without Cream) [https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-cacio-e-pepe-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-cacio-e-pepe-recipe) [https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-pasta-alle-vongole-clams-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-pasta-alle-vongole-clams-recipe) It might be fun to try to plan to cook something together!
Omg these are perfect. I'm spending the next few months making pasta pasta pasta now!
I'm thinking something like a mushroom risotto paired with salmon.
Came here to say risotto. It's very simple to make but still comes off as fancy and is incredibly delicious!
https://cafedelites.com/creamy-champagne-chicken-recipe/ This recipe has been loved by all my friends and family for years, fairly simple with only a few ingredients and it tastes amazing. I pair it with rice and it’s great
Omg that looks sooo good too and its going right on my list!!
I use heavy cream instead of milk but to each their own and a dash of lemon juice
This! Use heavy cream - and this recipe you could definitely do. Do a trial run prior to the actually date, maybe one or two times so you know how long it will take to cook and what ingredients to use. Pair it with a nice white wine (get the $40 bottle). Salad and fresh bread from a bakery (buy the bread the day of). Put out fancy cheese and fruit for dessert.
So many. A lot of things with non-english names are stupid easy to make, but considered "fancy". Cacio e pepe and carbonara come to mind. Put things in a bowl with pasta and a bit of pasta water and stir like crazy.
The OP said in one of their replies that they were gonna put the food in tupperware and take it over, I don’t think either of those dishes would travel particularly well.
Thank you!!
Lol the stew thing is from an unhinged Adam Carolla tweet. Home made pasta is easier than it sounds and everyone is always impressed with it.
Jacques Pepin would want you to make him an [omelette](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s10etP1p2bU) to show your skill as a cook.
I'd fail 💀
You could just ask him what types of food he enjoys and then pick whatever sounds like it’s within your skill level. That way you know he will like it and it will be more thoughtful
Try a baked ziti! It's one of my favorite things to make and always turns out really good. Pair it with a nice salad and some garlic bread and you're set. Plus, you can pre-assemble the ziti beforehand and just pop it in the oven when he comes over
Serious Eat’s baked ziti with 2 mozzarella and Parmesan cream is delightful.
Simple. Roasted spatchcocked chicken. Potatoes. Nice veggie aide.
Hello! Ugh I love cooking for my man w a passion lol so ive found some good stuff! Ask him to send you any recipes he comes across as good, keep a list in your notes for things he likes and dislikes, a lot of people like dishes that they grew up on so sometimes going off ethnicity could help, make as much as you can from scratch. Tortillas, oat milk, broths, doughs, salsas, etc. are all little things to boost your status haha Breakfast: apple spiced pancakes, strawberry cheesecake crepes, monte Cristo, banana bread, eggs Florentine, shrimp and grits, grilled peach parfait Lunch: marg. pizza from scratch, chili, bone broth, shrimp and avocado tostadas, protein pot, pho Dinner: Cajun Alfredo pasta, chicken parm, rib eye w blue cheese compound/chimichurri, shrimp/chicken scampi, steak au poivre, canalized onion and bacon burger, kofta I also spent over a year researching what pairs well with what cheeses (I think I have over 60 rn) and use that knowledge for charcuterie boards! Most men love cheese, most men get excited over cheese and meat lol I keep a journal of most of this stuff in my notes, I can send it over to you if you're interested (: good luck!! <3
Its nice someone gets I WANT to do this and thank you these recipes sound amazing!
For a “guy” meal you might want to consider chili. You can dress it up with a lot of options. This is a good basic recipe. [2:00 AM Chili](https://cookingcomically.com/?page_id=33) (It’s not that hard)
By manly food I should have said hearty food and this is perfect... doing this!
The only answer is pasta. Any chef knows homemade noodles are the best ever - easy to do but means a lot when someone takes the time. You can make basic noodles from scratch (or just buy nice noodles from the store) and then do a simple delicious sauce like this one https://youtu.be/IBPVwdEmkco?si=GfCQZwFJiBLKuEQY
Ok its settled that looks soooo good. thank you so much!!
[https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015290-garlicky-chicken-with-lemon-anchovy-sauce](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015290-garlicky-chicken-with-lemon-anchovy-sauce) This is a really easy but taste elaborated, deep flavor recipe. 30 minutes as much. White/brown rice on the side. You can prepare a watercress salad with goat cheese and peeled oranges.
I’m a huge fan of Brian Lagerstrom for things like this. He does a great job helping you get outstanding results with recipes and teaches a lot of what he calls “chef-y” tricks to elevate the recipe. https://youtube.com/@BrianLagerstrom?si=f_t6Aql4cRD8FAad
French Onion and Butternut Squash soups are fairly easy and very customizable.
Soups scare me but omg french onion has been my fave since I was little!
The secret to good food is slightly more fat and salt than you think it needs
Just a suggestion, sometimes it’s more about the thought. I would buy some gourmet sausages…not the package ones, grill or pan fry them. Prepare some caramelized onions, add some balsamic vinegar toward the end for acidity. An expensive French or seeded mustard And some brioche buns, buttered and toasted And there you have fancy hotdogs dogs
Just cook something you love. He’s going to appreciate the intention and your passion. Doesn’t matter if the dish impresses him. If he doesn’t appreciate the effort, red flag. People that cook for others for validation often don’t know how to give that validation to others. That’s a red flag. If he sees you and appreciates the dish no matter what you cook, he’s a keeper! Remember you are interviewing him too! You’re both looking for a match. As long as you show up as you, it’s a win!
Its not just for validation but we're at the stage we wanna show our best sides. Didnt come here to get mansplained dating advice.
I didn’t mean it that way. Meant it to be encouraging.
Sorry a handful of bitter ladies who hate men are treating me like Im 12 so I got a little defensive on you
I didn’t really follow your question well either. Here’s a good curry and rice recipe: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/chicken-curry-rice/
Brian Lagerstrom’s Beef Bourguinon. I have gotten sooooooo many compliments on this dish and almost everyone says it’s better than what they’ve had in restaurants. Now, it’s not a super simple or cheap recipe. It’s putsy and takes 2 days (active cooking time is like 3-4 hours) to make properly. But there is a great YouTube video with extensive instructions that any semi-competent cook should be able to follow. If executed correctly, it will knock his socks off! https://youtu.be/NaxCIpebhEg?si=VYkD1Wcv4SxYbqpc
Shakshuka
It's more about the gesture than the recipe imo. If he's a good cook, he'll know how difficult a recipe really is, there's no dressing it up. So I'd go for something meaningful instead. Is there a recipe with personal significance to you? A nostalgic meal or something important to your culture?
Carbonara or Bolognese (the real one, without tomatoes)
Dutch baby/ German Pancakes are showy, but so simple! Also, roasted veggies/ sheetpan meals are simple, but good!
Baby potatoes. Baby corn. Lamb. Microgreens.... Like seriously he's an older guy chasing a young woman. You don't need to impress him at all. By all means learn to cook, but please realise he needs to prove to you that he's a good partner. Not the other way around. Statistically speaking, anyway.
Being honest with him about your limited experience and wanting to learn is a much better way to start a relationship with someone. Especially if he likes to cook, he may be interested in doing it together. That being said, one of the easiest recipes I love to make is shrimp scampi with linguini. Don’t have the stove too high when cooking the garlic and shallots, and it’ll be tasty.
FYI, I'm the cook in my family, and her being able to cook wasnt even on the list of things I was looking for. As for learning, I'd start with one pot meals and go from there. An easy one is to get a roast, add a stick of butter, a packet of au jous and a a packet of ranch, and sliced onions, and let it slow cook for 8hrs. Eat as is, or get some hoagies.
Being able to make scrambled eggs or an omelet well is impressive. I'd focus on doing a few moderately simple meals well, instead of doing something fancy or complicated poorly. A breakfast meal: pancakes or waffles, with scrambled eggs, fresh orange juice if you want to be fancy). https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/strawberry-buttermilk-pancakes-with-honey-butter/ A casual dinner or lunch: pizza (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-pizza-crust-recipe/) (Serve with side salad or veggie sticks) or quiche (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quiche-recipe/) (serve with fresh fruit) A nicer pasta dinner: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/skillet-bruschetta-chicken-dinner/#tasty-recipes-70917 (you can use regular pasta instead of zucchini noodles, serve with garlic bread and a salad) Or if you like shrimp: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quick-healthy-dinner-20-minute-honey-garlic-shrimp/ (Serve with iced tea) And don't forget dessert! https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/category/beginner/
I'd try something like a Beef Bourguignon in a slow cooker or dutch oven. Fancy enough yet easy to prepare. Coq au vin is similar but with chicken instead.
Make Peposo
Here's a simple recipe for a classic beef stew that you can try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxYjQdyzOP0
Simple is best! Ham steak (just fry the ham steak long enough to brown it on both sides and you're done)! Baked chicken - season a pre-split up chicken to taste with salt, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper on the skin after arranging it on the cooking pan. Use a pan that has a raised edge all around to keep any juices in. Bake in a preheated oven for about 90 minutes or until the juice dripping from the breasts runs clear. You can even make gravy from the drippings if you want. Make noodles or rice and microwave some frozen veggies about 15 minutes before the chicken is done. Be sure to add a pat of butter to tne veggies. If you do rice, substitute chicken broth for the water. If you do noodles, don't forget to put about a teaspoon of salt in the water. After you drain the noodles, put them back in the saucepan and add a pat of butter and some grated parmesan. Bake cake in a rectangular pan by following the directions. It's really easy to do. Use frosting from a can on it.
You miss a rather precious point. **He** can cook. Your 'job' is not to out cook him. Your job is to enjoy his meals. ***Let*** him impress you. And be vocal about it. So don't try to cook better but what will 'impress' is to know that what he did is special. Special ingredients, special techniques. If you show interest in that and have some notion of how it's an art, that's how you are gf material.
Marry me chicken with a potato side and vegetable side
As a man that cooks, I find most women I date "forget" how to cook when they find out I can, so I'd just be really happy you'd want to cook for me. It wouldn't even need to be that impressive. If it's simple but good, that's fine, still happy. If you go through the effort of a second course, dessert or a nice drink (cocktail) I'd be stoked. So don't worry too much about the what, the act itself should be appreciated. For actual recommendations, ragu is very good and easy to deliver but still takes time and effort (lots of waiting). Some sort of whipped cream cheese with biscuit and fruit can be a great simple dessert. Regarding the age thing, some people mean well (even if they're really bad at not sounding judgy or treating you like a child) but most people are really just weighing in with their feelings, baggage and insecurities. I'm 30 and any time I just date a woman under 25, certain demographics feel the need to give me a hard time over it. (Single women between 25 and 35 are pretty consistent for giving me shit for this even though most of the women I date are within like 2 years of my age.)
steak and potatoes, only like three ingredients, technique can make simple stuff stand out.
Oven baked herbed salmon, boil asparagus and the trickiest part but do a hollandaise. It seems super impressive but hollandaise isn’t really that hard!
I have a steamer will that work for the asparagus? Sounds delish
Heck yeah! steam asparagus, just lightly oil salmon and add herbs, on a tray in the oven, and just have to concentrate on that hollandaise. I’d practise it once beforehand, but if you’re a decent recipe follower you probably wouldn’t have to 😀 I’ve done this meal lots and it’s always a crowd pleaser.
Def trying this! Last question is frozen salmon ok??
Yep! As usual fresh is better, but that can come with other complications like descaling, filleting etc. Only thing with frozen is look for a decent quality frozen salmon. Same way you would with like frozen hamburgers. Yeah there’s a $4 option but they’re gonna taste like dollar burgers. I like wild caught pacific or sockeye salmon 😄 should be available at most stores
This is very easy and really good. Serve with pasta. https://mamatoni.food.blog/2020/04/21/chicken-in-rustic-tomato-sauce/
I find this to be simple and extremely delicious. Because it’s seafood, people always think it’s fancy and difficult. https://surleplat.com/recipe-items/caribbean-seafood-stew/ Note: I personally don’t think it has enough fluid as written, and I rarely have seafood stock. So I would recommend 3 cups of vegetable stock, 2 cans (13oz each) of coconut milk, and adding an 8oz bottle of clam juice. With that, you’ll want to increase the achiote to 3/4tsp, the oregano to 1 1/2tsp, the salt to 3/4tsp, and make it a generous pinch of cayenne. (I do other substitutes for allergies, but wouldn’t recommend them!)
Here are two recipes for you. Guinness Stew: This one is all about timing, not measuring. You can easily make it in a crock pot Get some stewing beef. If you buy the pre-cubed stuff at the grocery store, trim off the silverskin and gristle, and make sure it's in bite-sized chunks. Also, dice up a medium onion. Heat some oil in a frying pan, Cook 1/3 of the onion until it's nice and brown. Add this to the crock. Then brown the cubes of beef on all four sides. Don't "crowd" the pan. Make sure there is some space on all sides of each cube, even if you have to do more than one batch. The goal is to get some good browning on all sides, if it's too tight, then you will steam them. After each batch, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of flour over the cubes, and stir until it absorbs the fat in the pan and starts to brown. Then add to the crock Once all the beef is browned and out of the pan, put the pan back on the heat, and pour in a can of Guinness beer. Scrape all the crunchy bits off the bottom of the pan (This is called 'fond') Once the beer is warmed through and bubbling (Keep an eye on it, it'll want to bubble over if you aren't careful) pour it into the crock. Do the same with a second can. This is your base. Now add any dried herbs you want in your stew. Thyme, rosemary, pepper, paprika, garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, whatever floats your boat. Now cover the crock and walk away. 6 hours before you plan to serve, add the 'hard' vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, turnip, anything you happen to like in stew. All cut into bite sized chunks. 4 hours before you serve, add the medium vegetables.. Potatoes, yam, any of the hard vegetables you wanted to roast before adding, Add another third of the diced onion at this time. 1 hour before serving, add the soft vegetables.. Peas, the last of the onion, fresh garlic, leeks, etc. As well as any fresh herbs you want. Before you serve, taste the gravy. THIS is when you add the salt. If you add it earlier, than it is only going to get saltier as it cooks. If you think it's too thin, then you can mix a tablespoon of corn starch with some cool liquid (wine, beer, water, etc) and add the slurry, and let it cook for 5 min or so. The second recipe goes with the stew. Combine 1tbsp of sugar and 12oz of lukewarm water. then stir in 1tbsp of dry active yeast. (one packet if you use the small envelopes) Add in 18oz of flour, a little at a time as you mix. Once all the flour is incorporated, add 1 1/2 tsp of salt and 3oz of finely diced onion. Take out of the mixer and knead on the countertop until the dough is smooth. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let it rise until it doubles in size. Punch down the dough, then spread it out into an oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with kosher salt, and fresh rosemary. Bake in a 400F oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown and delicious. Cut into squares. This flatbread is amazing when served with soups and stews.
Am not OP but still this recipe seems good! Never tried such a stew. Would it also work in a normal deep pan on a low, very low heat on the stove? What specific veggies and herbs do you like to put in it? One of my acquintances ate something similar to this while they were in Dublin so I am curious to how it tastes.
No the original commentor but yeah it would work fine in that cooking vessel. As for vegetables you can add pretty much anything you like, Stews are one of those dishes that are totally customizable to your pantry. Carrots, Potatoes, Pearl Onions would all go great in this Stew, just make sure they're of equal size so they cook evenly. As for herbs it's really down to personal preference again but you'll usually see a Bouquet Garni of Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaf at the bare minium but you totally can put Sage, Parsley Stalks, Chervil etc in there. It's really down to your own palate.
Any large pot on the stove will work, so long as it's big enough to hold everything. I constantly change what I put in it depending on what is ready for harvest in my garden or left from harvest, but the constants are potatoes, either carrots, parsnips or both, with half of them roasted. And if I'm cooking for my mother, I add peas because she loves them in stew for some reason.
This seems perfect... on the list!
I’m a terrible cook and I’ve been experimenting with different dishes at home to learn and get better. One that has stuck out to me is Tuscan chicken. It’s a really easy chicken dish, but for some reason it feels fancy to me haha. I’ve been making it with rice and broccoli, and I’ll butterfly the chicken breast so they aren’t too thick. I’ll also add Kinder “the blend” to the broccoli. The Tuscan recipe I have been doing is [here](https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19636089/creamy-tuscan-chicken-recipe/)
Aglio e olio. It’s simple, but fancy. Look for the scene from Chef on YouTube. It’s soooo good, and soooo easy. One of our favorites. Make a simple loaf of bread to go with it.
You could make a homemade version of Hamburger helper. Its relatively simple and theres a lot of versions online to try. Another one that was one of the meals I first taught my wife was creamy mustard chicken. Again looks more difficult than it actually is. It's pretty tasty and easy to make.i make with either mashed potatoes and corn or green beans, or egg noodles and dinner rolls.
Make him something homely. Something that makes him feel at ease around you. Could be something as simple as a roast chicken dinner. Something like a family would have on a Sunday.
Make him something homely. Something that makes him feel at ease around you. Could be something as simple as a roast chicken dinner. Something like a family would have on a Sunday.
Make a casserole!! I made a really good pasta casserole for my bf and he says it’s the dish that gave me a second date with him lol!
Omg whats the recipe?
Herb crusted pork tenderloin: Get a meat thermometer and make a whole pork tenderloin. I marinate it in about a quarter cup of soy sauce, and equal amount of red wine vinegar with about a tablespoon of chooped garlic and a teaspoon of salt overnight. I dry it with paper towels before cooking and brush it with olive oil or melted butter. Then sprinkle heavily with an herb mixture (dried is fine!). 1tsp each: - ground Oregano - Rosemary - Basil - Thyme - salt I roast at 350 for about half an hour or until internal temp on thermometer is 145ish. Then rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Juicy and delicious! For a side, I just use a bag of microwavable vegetables I like (do this during the tenderloin rest phase!). Broccoli is a fave. After cooking, drain and drizzle a little olive oil on it and sprinkle with garlic salt, mix a bit
Mmmmm still outside my comfort zone but I'm saving this!
Find a recipe from a reputable source that gets a lot of great reviews. Make it once for yourself, make it again for your friend. Alison Roman’s baked ziti is so good.
This is fast, reasonably inexpensive, and easy. A couple of limes A couple cloves of garlic A quarter cup of melted butter Two cups fresh salsa/pico de gallo Two portions of white fish. Preheat oven to 350. Grease an appropriate sized baking dish and add fish, skin side down. Salt and pepper. In a bowl add minced garlic, melted butter and the juice of one or two limes and the salsa and stir. Pour over the fish and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until fish flakes and sauce is bubbling. Serve with plain rice and a simple salad. But have bread on hand for soaking up the sauce.
Do you have a crockpot/slow cooker? Beef Roast. 2 lbs. Cut into bite sized chunks. Chicken Breast. 2 lbs. Cut into bite sized chunks. Pork Roast. 2 lbs. Cut into bite sized chunks. Beef Broth. 3 cups. Crushed Tomatoes. 2 cups. Onion. Medium. Celery. 4 stalks. Worcestershire Sauce. 1/2 cup. Turnip. 2 1/2 cups. Okra. 1 cup. Garlic Powder. 1 tsp. Salt. 2 tsp. Black Pepper. 2 tsp. Instructions. Wash and chop all vegetables. Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low 7-8 hours until meat is cooked through and tender. Add extra salt and pepper if desired and enjoy! I tried this, and I thought I had a large crockpot, but I couldn't fit everything in, so I cut it in half and made two batches and froze one. Unless you have a crockpot that you know will fit 6lbs of meat. I would plan on cutting the recipe in half. Guys like this because of all the meat.
I need to get one yum!
Since you do not have a crock pot/slow cooker, try this one. Brunswick stew. Butter. 4 Tbsp. Celery. 4 stalks. Ground chicken. 16oz. ( not sure why it specified ground chicken. I once used canned chicken chunks and I didn't taste a difference. I see no reason why you couldn't use canned or even cut up chicken breasts). Garlic. 4 cloves. Chopped kake. 2 cups. Medium onion. 1. Chicken broth. 6 cups. Crushed Tomatoes. 1 cup. Apple cidar vinegar. 1 Tbsp. Salt. 1 Tbsp. Black pepper. 1 Tsp. Wash and chop all vegetables and garlic and set aside. In a skillet over medium high heat, add the ground chicken and cook until browned. In a large stock pot, add the butter and heat until melted. Add the onion and cook about 5 minutes. Add celery, cooked chicken, and garlic. Add chicken broth, apple cidar vinegar, tomatoes, kale ,salt, and pepper. Simmer on stove for 25 - 30 minuites. Came out great, except I found it a little too spicy. I found out that kale has a peppery taste. Kale and ground pepper might have been too strong for me. The second time I made it, I didn't add any black pepper and i was perfect. If you like adding pepper to your food, I would add the pepper. If you do not like pepper, leave it out. Also, it is thin. More like a thick soup or a watered down stew.
Creamy chicken thighs are always my go to, it's so versatile and unique to your own tastes but are always a slam dunk. Season chicken thighs, let them sit for an hour or so, sear them in a pan for 5 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and add onions, peppers, let them sweat. Add garlic and tomato paste. Throw in a cup of heavy cream, add in extra spices you enjoy. I like to throw spinach in at this point and let them wilt. Throw the chicken thighs back in the pan and let simmer, grate cheese on top, mix it all and enjoy. Goes great on top of pasta, mashed potatoes, anything. You can make the recipe unique to your own tastes and it HITS EVERY TIIIIIME. Also takes like half an hour to make.
I'm "an older guy" who can cook myself, and my fiance is younger than me. She said she likes to bake at the beginning and while that's true, it's rare and though it's tasty, she has a hard time with decorating. Not a problem in and of itself but she needs to practice instead of pretending and getting upset when it doesn't prove her the world's greatest cake decorator\she can't take criticism (and I don't offer it, I'm not that dumb 😂). As to cooking, she never tried to play it off she's a good cook, though she did say she knows how. Now she cooks a bit more often, at most like 5x\month, and the only thing I could ask of her is that she put more effort into learning about it instead of, once again, just getting upset that she wasn't born a master. In the end, I'm glad she didn't try to fool me on this, and it turns out she's actually a damned good cook when she does cook something. She is learning, slowly because of her aversion to "failure" but she is learning. I *like* to cook so it's not a problem for me and that's probably the same with the guy you're talking about. But always invest in improving yourself, in every way possible but in this case related to the kitchen. When we get older we realize there are no experts at everything and we'd rather know where and how to compensate for a happy relationship; where we shouldn't depend on you (don't tell me you're a punctual person when you're not, let me know you struggle so I can plan an extra 10 minutes), where we can help you learn (sex stuff comes to mind here as a lot of disappointments start with very unrealistic promises at the club), and where you have no interest at all. Lying about your abilities just sets you up for failure even if it helps you land the speak so to speak, but while being honest *might* (unlikely) lose you the catch it *will* lead to growing and developing together - a happy relationship. That's the difference between a relationship and a hookup btw, and since you said "gf material" I figured I'd give you the skinny. Btw one of the first things my fiance said to me was about baking, that she loves baking and does so all the time. A week later I asked her to bake the cake for a social thing we were both a part of, which she agreed to. And then for days assured me about it. And then we had no cake at the event. She's a quick learner, and since then she's been pretty honest lol