One of my greatest challenges is guest menus, especially for guests who plan to live with us for a few days. Even though I’m older and established and know how to cook, it’s always a challenge to try to match everything so that everyone has a good time, or provide alternatives so that the fish-phobes and vegans are comfortable.
Years ago I had a small apartment with zoned heating. I wanted to control heating costs so kept the apartment at 45 degrees so the pipes wouldn’t freeze and when I got home from work would turn the heat in the bedroom only to 55 degrees. That year, Santa bought me an arctic weight down comforter and I got cable. I was collecting cookbooks and planning dinner parties in my first solo apartment so would hole up on a Sunday morning under my comforter, wearing a sweater, and have books and magazines all around me to plan the perfect dinner.
Of course I had to take into account the small gas stove and I had some mistakes, like storing bacon in the bottom drawer while the oven was on up above to make a frittata.
I’m here in the hinterlands with no cookbooks. Looking online to remind me or spur me to something new is not as romantic as sitting on the bed with six cookbooks, magazines and a notebook planning a menu for family, friends or colleagues.
Way before I went to cooking school I thought of menus, pairings, flavor combinations and only hope that my guests enjoyed the experience and didn’t think they were guinea pigs for menu/recipe research. My education continues and I have to thank you for that. Each day I learn something new is a day well-spent. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 