Maris Callahan
	Writer In Good Taste

When you want to show your special someone a night on the town without breaking the bank, look to your very own kitchen. We all know that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so a cozy, candlelit dinner at home can be the ultimate date night. Whether you want to invite a new honey over for some romance or reignite a flame with your hubby, you can strut your stuff in the kitchen without spending the day slaving over the stove. To allow yourself more me time and take the stress out of being the hostess with the mostess, try these quick tips to wow him off his feet.

Plan, plan, plan ahead – Women today are busy. Between juggling jobs, children, blackberries and a social life, there aren’t enough hours in the day for the modern woman to check off every item on the to-do list and take some me time for her. Plan the menu for your mini-soiree a few days in advance so that you can shop for ingredients in multiple trips, leaving yourself a few moments at the end of the day to take a deep breath and put your feet up.

Shop online – Rather than spending time wandering from aisle to aisle debating between Shiraz and Pinot Noir, Wine.com, the #1 online wine store, as ranked by Internet Retailer Magazine, will do the thinking for you. With shipping available to 26 U.S. States, you can order your favorite wine for delivery right to your door – and learn about the history of its variety and origin for dinner table fodder.

Put your best foot forward – Don’t get so wrapped up in the detail that you forget to set aside some me time for one of the best parts of the night – getting glam before your date arrives.  While the wine is chilling or the oven preheats, pamper your tootsies with a quick pedicure. Take ten to place your feet in plastic bowl of warm water with a few drops of essential oils: chamomile will soften and lavender rejuvenates so you can start your evening feeling calm and pampered.

Keep It Simple – We all want to go above and beyond when we’re entertaining, but by keeping the menu basic and the dishes simple you can slash hours off your prep time. Stick with a simple one-dish meal such as AOL Slashfood’s Chicken Pasta Parmigiana, alongside a simple green salad and crusty Italian bread paired with extra virgin olive oil for dipping.

Make enough for leftovers – If you’re cooking for two, make enough dinner for four. Refrigerate the two extra portions and you’ll have lunch for the next day as well, saving yourself a step from the morning rat race. And maybe you’ll even have enough to send your sweetie off with a doggie bag!

It’s Your Party and You’ll Cry If You Want To
Don’t forget that even though you’re doing the cooking and prep, you’re there to enjoy the evening also. Let him do the dishes if he offers – while you sit back and enjoy the much coveted me time with a second glass of vino.

Maris Callahan: Since graduating from Susquehanna University in 2006, Maris has worked in the world of PR. While she began her career in the fashion/beauty industry, she now works in the consumer sector. She maintains a personal blog, In Good Taste, primarily about cooking, food and life. In her “me” time she enjoys running, knitting, yoga and a good latte.