I have always believed that if you can read, you can cook. With a good recipe and the right ingredients you should not have any trouble creating a delicious and simple meal. A quick rule for beginners: Don’t try to over-do it! You don’t have to make a difficult or complicated meal to impress a date. Choose something easy and nail it. Don’t worry, as your experience and confidence grows, so will the complexity of your cooking.
For those of you who may be beginners – and we were all there at one time – I have chosen a dish that involves common ingredients you may already have in your kitchen and that does not call for any unusual cookware. Serve with a chilled bottle of your favorite white wine and you’ll impress not only your date, but yourself.
Pan Sautéed Chicken Breasts with White Wine Sauce
- 2 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup white wine
Heat the frying pan to medium-high on the stove. While the pan is heating, lay the chicken breast on a cutting board on its side and slice it into two even halves keeping the knife parallel to your cutting board. Once your pan is heated, add the olive oil, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Next, lay each piece of chicken on the pan so that they are each touching the pan’s cooking surface.
Cook the chicken on each side for five to seven minutes until the outsides turn a light golden-brown. When you think the chicken is done, slice it half way through at its thickest point to ensure it is cooked (white in the center, not pink). Once the chicken is finished, remove it from the pan. With the pan still warm, add the wine and stir for two minutes. This allows the wine to reduce to a thin delicious sauce while taking on the flavors of the dish from the pan. Remove the pan and wine sauce from the heat and set aside for now.
Tip: You’ve got a piece of chicken with an unsightly slice in it. Serve the chicken with the sliced side down so it appears that you knew exactly what you were doing. Spoon the wine sauce over the chicken right before serving.
Home-style Potatoes
- 2 large baking potatoes
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Chop the potatoes into one-inch cubes, then put the cubes in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for five minutes. Pour the diced onion, olive oil and garlic powder over the cubes and stir to spread evenly. Transfer the potatoes to a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper before placing them in the oven. Stir the cooking potatoes every 10 to 15 minutes to make sure each side gets to a golden-brown color.
Steamed Green Beans
- ½ pound of fresh green beans
- 1 cup water
After rinsing the green beans, chop the ends off each side and place them in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add water to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. With a knife, poke a few holes in the plastic wrap before placing it in the microwave. Cook on high for four minutes. Test the beans to make sure they are firm, but cooked. Recover and return beans to the microwave for another minute if necessary.
Extra Points: When at the store, pick up a loaf of crusty bread. Instead of putting butter on the table, combine a few simple spices for a restaurant-style flavored olive oil for dipping. In a small bowl, add ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder and ¼ cup of olive oil.
Don’t Forget Dessert...
Chocolate Mousse
- 1 packet instant chocolate mousse
- 1 cup milk (confirm with mousse packet recipe)
- 1 cup whipped topping
- 1 large chocolate bar
Tip: It’s all about presentation. While this delicious dessert only looks complicated, some simple tricks will make it impress anyone. Cook the instant chocolate mousse and milk as directed on the packet. Once cooked, pour chocolate mixture into martini glasses for each of you, then put the glasses in the refrigerator to chill as directed (in a pinch, wine glasses will also work). Before serving, grate chocolate bar with a cheese grater. If you do not have a cheese grater, chopping it with a knife into very small pieces will also work. Cover the chilled mousse with whipped topping then your chocolate shavings for the perfect presentation.
Have fun making your dinner and date a success. Enjoy!
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