Each of us lives on our own, oftena rather tight schedule - this applies to both adults and children. Therefore, even people living under the same roof do not always have the opportunity to gather for lunch or dinner more than once or twice a week. In the meantime, according to the attractiveness, there is little that can be compared with a leisurely and pacifying joint meal: in a relaxed and relaxed atmosphere, we can discuss with loved ones everything that we had so much lack of time during the working week, and enjoying delicious food would smooth out many sharp corners. in relationship.
Photo:GettyTo fully experience the difference between this measured action and everyday quick snacks, both the dishes and the table setting should be appropriate. By laying a tablecloth, putting candles and replacing paper napkins with cloth ones, we will create a special aura of warmth and comfort at the table. And some simple techniques will allow us not to stand all Sunday morning at the stove and will turn preparation for a family meal into pleasure and a way to relax the soul.
Spinach cream soup with garlic croutons
Photo: Getty For 6 people. Cooking time: 30 minutes.
- 0.5 kg of potatoes
- 1 large leek stem (white part)
- 3 large buns of fresh spinach
- 500 ml low-fat cream
For croutons:
- 9 slices of yesterday's white bread (cut the crust)
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic
Potatoes and leek put in a pan, pour 2liters of water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat until soft. Washed spinach coarsely chopped and, removing hard petioles, add to potatoes and onions. After a minute, remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly. Using a blender, beat the vegetables and decoction into mashed potatoes, season with cream, add salt, warm up, not boiling, and immediately serve to the table along with croutons. Croutons can be cooked the day before. To do this, crush the garlic with the flat side of a knife and fry in a frying pan with a removable handle until golden brown in olive oil. After removing the garlic (it will not be needed anymore), pour the bread cubes into the frying pan and stir them so that they absorb all the oil. Then transfer the pan to the oven preheated to 150 ° C for 15–20 minutes.
To make a plan
A large dinner consists of several courses, howevernot all of them make sense to cook right before serving. Try to plan the menu so that only one dish is prepared immediately before the family gathers, the rest can be prepared in advance or at least reduce the time for their preparation by doing all the preliminary actions the day before or several days in advance. For example, if you plan to serve steaks as a main course, which are good hot off the stove, they will be perfectly complemented by marinated vegetables or mushrooms, prepared in advance. And a rich borscht will go well with a salad of fresh vegetables, which, as is known, reaches the peak of its taste the day after cooking.
Fish with vegetables in parchment
Photo: Getty For 6 people. Preparation time: 30 minutes + 25 minutes for baking.
- 6 portion fillets of white fish (200–250 g each)
- 3 large potatoes
- 3 medium carrots
- 1 leek stem (white and light green parts)
- 1 large zucchini
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 18 champignons
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- 1 large bunch of dill
- salt
- white pepper
- 6 squares of parchment size 30x30 cm
Lightly pepper the fish, tomatoes and mushroomsCut in half, chop the leek into rings, peel the vegetables and use a vegetable peeler to cut them into thin strips. Place a mound of potatoes, carrots and zucchini in the center of each sheet of parchment (try to distribute all the ingredients evenly between the portions), put the fish on top, then the mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Sprinkle everything with chopped dill and lemon zest, add salt and carefully fold the envelope, tucking the edges twice for greater reliability. In this form, the envelopes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days, and they should be baked in an oven preheated to 180 ° C immediately before serving.
Together with home
Don't try to cook everything yourself:Invite your family (especially children) to participate in your culinary experiments. This way, you will not only create an atmosphere of unity and community, but also relieve yourself of some of the burden.
Pannacotta with Berry Sauce
Photo: GettyOn 6 servings. Preparation time: 20 minutes + 4 hours for freezing.
- 500 ml of medium fat cream (20%)
- 300 ml of milk
- 1 vanilla pod
- 250 g sugar
- 1 tablespoon gelatin
For sauce:
- 750 g of frozen berries (cherry, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry or their mixture)
- 200 g of sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pour 5 tablespoons of water over the gelatin.Cut the vanilla pod lengthwise and scrape out the contents with a knife. Mix the milk with the cream, add sugar and vanilla and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and cool slightly. Dissolve the gelatin and whisk into the creamy mixture. Pour into molds and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Place the berries for the sauce in a saucepan, sprinkle with sugar and place on low heat. When the berries release their juice, add cinnamon, then bring to a boil, remove from heat and cool. Before serving, dip the panna cotta molds in hot water for a few seconds, then turn them over onto a plate and serve, pouring warm berry sauce over them.
Easier to treat
No matter how hard we try to please our loved onesexquisite cuisine, do not confuse a family dinner with a formal one. There is no reason to be upset if you only have enough time and energy for one dish prepared with your own hands; let it be impeccable and carry the living warmth of your home, and store-bought desserts or salads will serve as an excellent frame for this masterpiece. In the end, a shared meal is not an end in itself, but only a convenient and comfortable form of organizing full-fledged family communication.
