In the Kitchen with Jen

Ladies, it's true.

No matter how progressive or evolved your man is, or how much he enjoys the occasional “fine dining experience”, chances are, he loves the pampering provided by a home-cooked meal.

Don't believe me?

According to a recent survey on Family Feud, of 100 men, a good meal ranked among the top five things men look forward to coming home to---right up there with peace and a clean house.

Not only is this activity on many men's “wish list”, it's also recommended for health reasons. According to various studies, the excessive consumption of processed products and fast foods can lead to an increased risk of Cancer and other illnesses.

And let's face it; dating is pretty darn competitive these days. So any edge a girl can employ to creatively stand out, the better.

I for one love to cook!

Could be the nurturer in me, or it could be simply because I'm a foodie. :-)

Anyhow...

If you're a cutie who's “kitchen challenged”, don't be discouraged. I'm here to help.

Here are some tips, tools, and techniques for “steamy” dates!

Take tiny steps----If you're not ready to master a five-course meal, try purchasing a few kid's cookbooks. I kid you not, it will help you to learn some kitchen basics, and break things down in an easy to understand way. You'll find simple recipes on desserts, salads, and fun, no-fuss meals, along with photos and graphic illustrations. Dole produces a a great one that you should try.
Consider cook books designed for Crock Pots. With these cooking pots, you can't go wrong. Crock Pots allow you to put your food on in the morning and cook all day while you're at work. They're great for beans, stews, and meats. Additionally, they are ideal for healthy eating in that they don't require any cooking oil or many additives. CROCKERY COOKERY is a good book to try.
Looking for quick meals that can be made for one or for a couple? Don't discount your microwave. There are many microwave cook books with innovative recipes that you can whip up in less than 30 minutes. Try one or several!
If at first you don't succeed, try try again. Just like many things in life, practice makes perfect.
Give grandma a call and explore some of those family recipes that made her famous at reunions and family gatherings.
Don't make cooking a chore. Relax. Sip some wine. Listen to music. Whatever puts you in the mood.
Make it a couples' thing. Get your honey in the kitchen and make the night really sizzle!
Tune in to many of the TV cooking shows saturating the networks. My choices? Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Simply Ming, Katie Brown's Workshop. Once you get the basics down, you can modify meals to your particular taste and dietary needs.
Go online and check out the various sites for creative recipes and other culinary tips. Here are a few to get you started..

www.allrecipes.com
www. Foodnetwork.com
www.marthastewart.com
www.bettycrocker.com
www.recipezaar.com
www.epicurious.com
If the thought of cooking puts you in a sweat, also keep in mind the simplicity of back yard barbecues. It can be for just the two of you, or it can be made into an evening for couples with games for entertainment value.

Ladies, trust me on this....

These ten tips will help you to win favor with your fella' and make you feel more confident in the kitchen. And even if you can only come up with one meal that you make well, it will be endearing . Not to mention, it'll save him money from treating out to expensive meals all the time, and that in itself will make him smile.
Bon appetit!

Don't forget the high heels.:-)

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Jennifer's Gems is a weekly column written by award-winning poet and writer, Jennifer Brown Banks. It is published every Wednesday. Click here to read her welcome letter.