Cooking a meal for a special occasion can be a great way to show someone or a group of people that you care, but there are a few pointers you should probably stick to if you want your lunch or dinner to go smooth and easy. Below, you’ll find some foolproof tips and tricks for cooking the perfect meal for a special occasion.

Tips For Cooking The Perfect Meal For Any Special Occasion

Prepare What You Can In Advance

Try prepping what you can in advance so you’re not pressed for time--or, even better--purchase herbs and veggies that are already chopped and diced for you. You can find lots of little helpers in the veggie aisle at your grocery store, including baby potatoes ready to be steamed, cleaned, washed and ready to go salad starter kits and ready-made salsas, guacs and picos. If you don't like this idea, if you simply chop all of the vegetables in advance, it’ll help save on time.

Don't Cook Anything Too Complicated

Keeping your dish simple and scrumptious means that you'll spend less time in the kitchen and more time socializing with your company. Our suggestions?

A protein with a simple sauce, a veggie and a starch
A crockpot meal, like a hearty stew
A salad, such as Caesar's salad with chicken or shrimp
A rustic pasta dish, like pappardelle with a mushroom ragu

Try To Stick To A Meal You've Cooked Before

Preparing a delicious meal that you’ve made before will ensure that you know your way around the recipe. You'll want to impress with the dish you create, so don’t go overboard by trying your hand at a recipe you've never made before. Keep it simple, and opt for a dish you know is easy and delicious.

Pick The Right Drinks To Go With The Food

Having the right beverages on hand will enhance the flavor of your meal. If you're creating a chicken dish, for example, you'll want to consider wines that pair well with chicken. If you're unsure of what wine goes well with what food, check out this helpful blog post on wine pairings.

via winefolly.com

Take Dietary Restrictions Into Consideration

When planning your special meal, don’t forget to enquire about dietary requirements. Your friend or friends might have allergies that you don’t know about, such as a shellfish or nut allergy, or a gluten intolerance. If you're cooking for a crowd, be sure there's something for everyone, including your vegan and vegetarian friends. If you aren't sure, opt for wheat-free pasta with a simple tomato sauce, or create a yummy veggie pizza with a cauliflower crust, and pair with a nice red wine. Even the most die-hard meat eaters will enjoy a meatless meal such as these!

Cook With High Quality Ingredients

You don’t have to cook a complicated meal; just using high quality ingredients can ensure a delicious outcome. Buying the best cuts you can and the freshest herbs/vegetables really will make a huge difference to how your food looks and tastes, so don’t be afraid to splash out. One of our favorite dishes to cook is a simple steak: choose a really good cut of meat, season with salt and pepper, and sear over medium heat in a cast iron pan. Finish off in the oven topped with a compound butter of herbs and spices. Serve with a baked potato and a green vegetable. It doesn't get much easier, or tastier, than that!

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Invest In A Few Well-Made Gadgets

Although you don’t need fancy gadgets to cook a lovely meal, having a few decent, well-made items in your kitchen's arsenal can help you whip up something creative and delicious. Even if it's just a digital scale (perfect for measuring dry ingredients) and a decent set of knives could make your life in the kitchen simpler, and the prep and cooking time faster.

Remember: People Eat With Their Eyes Just As Much As Their Mouths

It’s a fact that people eat with their eyes just as much as their mouths. A meal should look delicious, and not just taste it. If the food looks like who done it and ran, they're going to think twice before putting it in their mouths. Making the food look appealing on the plate will make it more memorable, too. In general, a meal should be colorful, and should be placed onto a plate carefully. White plates often work best.

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