I love to cook with my boyfriend. On our second anniversary, we decided that we would try to cook more going into our third year of dating for the health and financial benefits and in order to grow closer as a couple. Here are five of the best things we’ve cooked together.
1. Gourmet Grilled Cheese
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Cut your favorite bread to the thickness of your liking. Butter both sides of the bread and add some gourmet cheese. We have used Munster, provolone, white American, and cheddar cheese.
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Heat up a cast iron pan, melt some butter in it, and place your sandwich in the pan. In order to ensure that the cheese melts properly, place a pot top over your sandwich.
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Once the cheese is melted to perfection and your bread is crispy, plate your grilled cheese and serve.
Tip: Eat your grilled cheese with some homemade tomato soup for a special treat.
2. Pizza
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Roll out some homemade or store bought dough, add some sauce, some fresh mozzarella cheese, and whatever toppings you’d like. My favorite is pepperoni while my boyfriend likes peppers, sausage, and onions.
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After you add the toppings, season your pizza to your liking with garlic powder, basil, or hot pepper flakes. Place in the oven for 25 minutes or until your pizza is crispy and browned and enjoy!
Tip: Leave your dough out in a bowl covered with plastic wrap so that it heats to room temperature. Your dough will roll out more easily.
3. Lettuce Wraps
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Heat a cast iron pan with oil in it and add your chicken to the pan. Cook the chicken halfway through then remove the chicken to the pan and cut it into small squares.
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Place the chicken back into the pan and cook thoroughly.
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Once you cook the chicken to completion, add Hoisin and Soy sauces. Mix until the chicken is properly marinated in the sauce.
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While your chicken cooks, chop your vegetables. We use red cabbage, red onions, and carrots but you can use any vegetable that will give you a refreshing crunch. These vegetables can also be sautéed in a pan.
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Place your chopped vegetables, chicken, lettuce, and other fixings (like fried noodles and bean sprouts) into separate bowls and viola!
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Set out some plates, construct your own lettuce wraps, add some sauce, and enjoy!
Tip: You can use Boston or iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuce gives an extra fresh crunch and a nice cooling sensation which Boston lettuce is a healthier option. Both come in really convenient cup shapes for easy consumption.
4. Stir Fry
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Cut your vegetables – the last time my boyfriend and I made this, we used broccoli, snow peas, peppers, garlic, and scallions.
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Pan sear your chicken and once it’s cooked, cut it into small squares.
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In another pan, fry two eggs and once they’re fried, cut them into smaller pieces.
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Take the vegetables, the egg, and squares of chicken and add soy sauce to the pan in order to coat them. Serve over white rice and enjoy.
Tip: This dish creates multiple servings! Be ready to eat stir fry for the next couple of days!
5. Dijon Garlic Rosemary Lemon Chicken
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Make a marinade of dijon mustard, diced garlic, diced fresh rosemary, and lemon juice. Season it to taste.
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Heat up your cast iron pan and cook your chicken halfway through. Put your chicken in the marinade and cover your chicken in it.
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Reheat your pan and cook your chicken until it browns. Once it cooks, serve your chicken with a starch like quinoa and a vegetable like broccoli rob or snow peas.
Tip: You can use this as a dipping sauce with browned garlic if you don’t want to use it as a marinade!