The Romance of Cooking Together (Thanks to Leslie Wright for these great tips!)

Here are 6 tips for the couple who are cooking together for the first time.

1. Pick a Recipe Together

As you are going to work together, you will need to talk about the meal beforehand. So, the first thing you need to do is to decide what you can cook together. Of course, you may want to try something new. But, make sure you pick something up that both of you can cook. You can try to think of some new little twist on an old recipe that you both like. Your partner may enjoy cooking, and he may not be bad at it. However, unlike you, cooking skills may not come naturally to him. Or perhaps it is the other way. In any case, pick up a simple recipe that requires minimum preparation time and ingredients. You don’t want to spend all your evening cooking. After all, you need to reserve some energy to spend a romantic time together after the meal. But, make sure to pick up a recipe that you can enjoy with a glass of wine. Light fish dishes, cheesy recipes, sweet-spicy barbecue foods, and foods with earthy flavor are usually great for a variety of wines and champagnes. You can search the internet for a good recipe while sipping wine together. It’s just another excuse to spend more time together.

2. Shop Together

Once you have decided what you are going to cook, the next step is to buy the ingredients. Try to buy fresh ingredients as this is a special occasion. Of course, the latest trend is to buy all the stuff online and get it delivered at your doorstep. However, it is so much better to drive to the nearest supermarket and pick up everything you need together. That way you can spend more time together. Plus, you get to enjoy the thrill of doing something together as a couple. But, shopping together also means you can talk about your cook and the rest of the day and plan to be together. It also gives you the opportunity to discuss how much you can spend on the special cook, especially if some of the ingredients are more expensive than you imagined. Shopping together means you can keep track of how much you are spending on extras. And yes, apart from the grocery, don’t forget to pick up some flowers and scented candles.

3. Take the Lead According to Your Strengths

Cooking as a couple doesn’t necessarily mean you have to share all the responsibilities equally. It is highly unlikely that both of you will have the same set of culinary skills. While you both may love food and cooking, one of you is more comfortable with cooking meat while other can work wonders with veggies. One of you may be remarkably familiar with Asian spices and sauces while other is into deserts. So, find out your cooking strengths and weaknesses, and take the lead accordingly. It is better when one of you is in charge while the other is in a supporting role. For example, if your partner is a genius with fish, let him take the lead in preparing the salmon while you get busy making a salad or sides. Dividing your responsibilities beforehand will also help reduce the stress in the kitchen.

4. Include Finger Foods

You don’t have to plan a three-course meal, especially if you are looking for the first time together. However, do try to make a few nibbles or snacks beside the main dish. A plateful of finger food is easy to prepare and is less time-consuming. The notable advantage of finger food is that it allows you to stretch your romantic evening longer. You can share finger food while sipping your favorite wine and talking. Thus, it is the best accompaniment for a romantic dinner. You can also take a break after you have nibbled on the snacks, maybe try a few dance moves, and then go back to the main course. That’s certainly better than sitting down for a big meal that leaves little room for dining table romance.

5. Set the Mood

Cooking together is not just chopping veggies and boiling eggs together. It is all about setting up the romantic mood that encourages you to make a move. Sure, your kitchen is small and messy, and it is not the most romantic place in your house. But who says you need music, candles, lights, and flowers only when you are dining? You can line up these fantastic four while you are cooking right in your kitchen. You do not have to spend a fortune, only pick up a few flowers and scented candles. Turn your TV and laptops off (while you are at it keeping your mobiles switched off is also a great idea) and remove any other potential distractions. The purpose is to focus your and your partner’s full attention on the cooking and what comes after. Alternatively, you can also set up a table for two and adorn it with a beautiful tablecloth, flowers, and candles. Be sure to plan the romantic set up ahead of time so you can focus on cooking together. Remember, mood comes before food.

6. Avoid Heavy Meals

Do you want to finish off your first cooking experience together dozing in front of the TV instead of romantic time in your bed? If not, you should avoid cooking a heavy dish for such a special occasion. Heavy and greasy meals laden with butter, cream, sugar, and fat often make you drowsy. Unfortunately, buttery and fat rich food taste very good. So, you will end up eating and drinking too much, which doesn’t feel very sexy. Protein-rich meats such as pork and beef and dairy-based dinners won’t help your sex-drive. Instead, you should prepare light meals consisting of aphrodisiacs. Aphrodisiac foods increase your sex-drive. Some of them are asparagus, celery, watermelon, pomegranates, avocado, oysters, honey, chocolate, and spicy stuff such as chili peppers among others. These foods will definitely put you in the mood for lovemaking.

Parting Words

Cooking together is one of the best ways to spice up your romantic life. It’s the easiest way to feel connected emotionally as well as physically. Hopefully, these 6 tips will help you make your first ever cook as a couple more romantic than ever. However, to make all your efforts worth it, have fun while cooking, crack some jokes, flirt a little, and have a lovely night.