You’re Having a Dinner Date and You’re Nervous About Cooking

It's the first time you're having that special someone over for dinner.

You want to cook something nice.

But you really don't want to be cooking in front of your date, because you just know you'll be so nervous that you'll mess something up.

The key to having a great first "at home dinner date" is to prepare something very tasty. 

After all, good food can be an aphrodisiac!  And being able to cook is hot!  

But at the same time it's also important to have a carefree evening, so that you don't let on how nervous you are.

And if you're not super comfortable in the kitchen quite yet, you'll want to pick something that uses a single pot, involves few ingredients, and cooks fast.

So when you type up that email saying "hey, why don't you come to dinner at my place this weekend," feel free to hit send with confidence.  You have the perfect recipe for an easy breezy dinner date, that's sure to be remembered for the good food and conversation, and not the "incident" that happened in the kitchen.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Shrimp Tortellini with Creamy Pesto

 

• 1 Pound Tortellini
• 1 Pound Whole Shrimp, Shelled and Deveined
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 3 Cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Stemmed
• 1/2 Cup Fresh Parsley, Chopped
• 3/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 Cup Toasted Pine Nuts
• 2 Cups Cream

Directions:

1. Toast pine nuts by tossing them in a dry skillet over medium heat until lightly browned and aromatic.
2. Combine basil, parsley, garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste.
3. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
4. When pasta have two minutes left to cook, add shrimp and cook 2 minutes more.
5. Drain the pasta and shrimp, and set aside.
6. After you've drained the pasta, spoon the pesto into the pot you used to cook the pasta, and lightly sauté over medium heat until aromatic.
7. Add cream and stir constantly until heated through and beginning to thicken, about 3 minutes.
8. Toss in drained pasta and shrimp and stir to coat through.

Tips:

1. Make the pesto ahead of time, and peel and devein the shrimp if they don't come that way.  That way when your date arrives, you only have to cook the main dish.

2.  If you're REALLY nervous, you can also buy prepared pesto.

3. To add some additional flavor and color, throw in some chopped sun-dried tomatoes and chopped yellow or orange peppers when you add the shrimp to the boiling water.

 

Have you tried this recipe? Do you have a question or comment for me?

I invite you to leave it as a comment below!