hey ladies i have a little problem its kinda funny its my hubbys birthday and i have planned to bake him a cake and cook him some nice food but the issue is that i only know how to make pasta and a few simple things:( please suggest me what all can i cook and guide me with a home cook meal for 2 and yes the cake.
Re: Ideas
Pasta is such a comforting dish and even several well-made "simple dishes" can come to make a very put-together meal.
Plus, tackling a new dish that you're not comfortable with....especially last minute......might go awry.
If you're comfortable with pasta, then how about a pasta casserole? Such as lasagna? If you usually use marinara or tomato sauce...............how about making pasta with a creamy Alfredo sauce or even Pomodoro sauce. You could even add some cream to the tomato sauce to give it a richer taster.....similar to Pomodoro sauce.
How about using a different variety of pasta? Such as fettuccine? Or bow tie? How about ravioli?
You can still make a pasta dish "different" for the birthday by varying the ingredients. For example, if you typically don't use mushrooms, then try that. Mushrooms and butter are a match made in heaven. The butter lends such a rich flavor to the mushrooms. You can choose any variety of mushrooms (I've used white mushrooms). Clean the mushrooms well.......chop them in smaller pieces.............and then saute them in a pan with a few table spoons of butter, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic. I estimate it would take between 15-30 minutes. You can add pieces of boneless chicken to the mixture. Add Alfredo sauce. And then add fettuccine noodles to it.
^Just add variation with ingredients you typically don't use. It could be mushrooms, eggplant, peppers. Change the sauce or seasoning. For example, you can make Chinese noodles.
Re: Ideas
You can divide the birthday celebration into appetizers, main course, and dessert. Here’s an example:
**Appetizers **can include:
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flat bread (small pieces of thin crust pizza)
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garlic bread
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cheese fondue with dippers such as bread and veggies
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pastries stuffed with either cheese or meet
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If you enjoy seafood, how about fried shrimp or shrimp cocktail?
Main course:
1) Caprese salad. Very easy to make. Cut round slices of a firm ripe tomato. Cut round slices of a good quality mozzarella cheese (buffalo mozzarella is often used). You’ll need basil leaves. On a platter…arrange these three ingredients in a pattern. For example…put one tomato slice, followed by a basil leaf, followed by a cheese slice…tomato, basil, cheese…repeat. Sprinkle cracked pepper on top of the ingredients. Sprinkle some salt on the tomatoes to enhance their flavor. Mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar…and drizzle this dressing over the the cheese, tomatoes, and basil. You’re done.
looks like this: Google Image Result for http://www.theolivebranchinc.com/images/recipes-caprese-
salad.jpg
2) You can also include garlic roasted potatoes. Quarter some potatoes, keep the skin on…brush them with olive oil…sprinkle salt and pepper on them. Place them to roast in the oven with the skin side facing outward for about 20 minutes at 425 F…or until the skin is golden and crispy. Test one to see if they’re done. Take them out…microwave about 2-3 cloves of garlic for about 15-20 seconds. This makes the garlic really soft…mince and mash the garlic…mix this with the potato wedges while they’re still warm. The heat from the potatoes will cook the garlic.
**3) **Soup? I posted a recipe for cream of roasted red pepper soup in a past thread if you’re interested:
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/household-affairs-cuisine-corner/350425-your-favoriate-soup.html
4) A pasta dish of your choice (noodles, fettucine, alfredo, spaghetti, ziti, ravioli, etc etc).
****** That takes care of the main course. A salad, potato wedges, and pasta dish are very filling. Or you can even exclude the potato wedges…and just serve salad and soup in the beginning…followed by just the pasta dish.
**Dessert:
**1) The birthday cake ! 
And you could even compliment it with his favorite ice cream.
Re: Ideas
Hello jee,
There r lots of things u can make. Unfortunately for me it is far too early in the morning to be thinking of which, exactly.
However, I would like to support RV's advice on dividing the meal into appetizers, main and dessert.
Now I have just thought of something REALLY simple. Include in your appetizers some sliced mushrooms that have been fried in butter with a tiny bit of mashed garlic. Fry until all the liquid has evaporated and serve as an accompaniment with the flat bred or bread stick cut in slices. Warm the bread in the oven first.
Have u ever tried to cook rice before?
Re: Ideas
omg RV and RH i wish you guys were my next door neighbours i am so xcited now i will try all this on monday just a testing as i dont even know the ABC of food and then post you guys about how it is so i can practice be4 the bDay u guys dis sounds so good thankx n yea RV could you please explain me the way ov making a shrimp cocktail:( im so sori for dis but i really wana learn :)
Re: Ideas
I wish I lived next door to RV too... Never mind, we must make do with what we got!
U r showing good spirit Mehroze, if u start with the basics u will gradually learn to cook more n more things. Hope it goes well.
Re: Ideas
^ Dude, I just suggested shrimp cocktail......I don't know how to make it. Sorry for the let down........but it'd be cheese n crackers for me too.