A lot of people don't give a lot of thought to the importance of making food attractive and having pleasant surroundings in which to dine. Believe it or not, it's a very important part of nutrition. Think about it for just one minute. When you dine at a really nice restaurant, the surroundings are entirely different from those of your local steakhouse, coffee shop, hamburger joint, and of course your fast-food places. At those kinds of eating establishments, one tends to chow down on their food like there's no tomorrow, and barely taste the food let alone digest it. In more formal surroundings, where the food preparation involves more artistry, and the atmosphere is slower and more relaxed, the tendency is not to rush through the meal, but to truly savor and enjoy it. This is far better for the digestive system as well as the psyche. But why spend big bucks to dine at your local French Gourmet restaurant, when you can just as easily create the same thing in your own home? It's not that difficult. It just takes a little innovation and interest.
It doesn't matter what you prepare in the way of food. You could be serving just a simple bowl of soup and some good gourmet bread and maybe a salad. Perhaps breakfast is nothing more than a bowl of cereal, a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee. The same rules apply....make it attractive! Put on some soft, relaxing music, have some fresh cut flowers on the table, put out your quilted place mats and cloth napkins, and light the candles! It's amazing to me that people will go to these lengths to impress their boss or someone they're interested in romantically, but not for the most important people in their lives....their family AND themselves! And this is one way especially to keep the romance alive in a marriage!
Now on to the recipes!
