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5 ideas to make everyday dinner feel special
Why save a party for the weekend, a birthday or anniversary? Turn every meal into a special occasion! The recipe for success? Involve family and friends, choose simple ingredients with easy instructions, and set the table with stylish tableware that’s easy to stack, and safe for microwave and dishwasher use.
Set the mood before cooking begins
It doesn’t take much to change the atmosphere in your home from stressful to pleasant, even after a hectic day. Serve small bowls of snacks to satisfy rumbling tummies waiting for food, light some candles and turn on your favourite music to create a welcoming air. When everyone’s been lured into the kitchen, they can help lay the table and prepare the ingredients, making the acutal cooking a breeze.
Serve vegetables in an appetising way
We eat with our eyes first, so the way you arrange the food makes a real difference for the overall dinner experience. Cut veggies into bite-sized sticks and serve them in glasses for a colourful and appetite-tempting display. A lazy Susan makes sure that they’re within easy reach for everyone at the table.
Be inspired by easy plating ideas for everyday luxury
Presentation is everything, and that’s one of the reasons why food in magazines or cooking shows often look so much yummier than the meals you serve at home. But you don’t have to be a professional chef to take your dinner from looking nice to mouth-wateringly delicious. Leave the pots and pans in the kitchen and serve the food directly on the plates, like in a real restaurant kitchen. Some garnish on top, a textile napkin on the side, and water served in a glass with a stem add an extra feel of refinery.
Choose family style plating for a boisterous get-together
Enjoying a meal with your nearest and dearest is fun and doesn’t have to take half a day to prepare. Uncomplicate things by serving ingredients in bowls that can be passed around. Making your own taco, for example, is a wholesome activity that can turn everyday dinner into a party, and perfect if there are fussy eaters at the table, or people with specific dietary preferences. Did you cook too much food? No problem — just cover the bowls, put them in the fridge, and have the leftovers for lunch the next day.
Indulge in a dessert
Nothing says celebration like a tasty treat! And it doesn’t have to contain tons of sugar — you can meet the cravings of anyone with a sweet tooth with colourful berries or pieces of fruit. Served in tall glasses to make them even more scrumptious, this is a great way to add extra vitamins to any meal. For a more festive look, put the glasses on plates with easy-to-wash cloth napkins (this trick will also keep your dinner table less messy, when the family digs in).
