Ever have trouble trying to get friends together for a nice meal? It seems these days, someone’s either too broke to go out, couples require a 3-month notice to fit you into their schedule, or no one wants to single-handedly host a full dinner party for good reason: it’s simply too expensive and time consuming to cook a decent meal for that many people.
Cookbook clubs are a great way to regularly get together over a good meal and try new recipes without breaking the bank. They are an updated version of the “potluck” and are popping up in the workplace, at home and even online in different formats. Start one to lively up lunch at work, make new friends, or spice up brunch/dinner with old friends. Whichever form your cookbook club takes, you’ll sharpen your kitchen skills so dust off those pans and just get cooking!
Step 1: Gather a group of friends, colleagues, or strangers. About 4-6 is a good start.
Step 2: Decide how often you want to meet and pick the first date that works for everyone. Try something like “every first Monday of the month” to make it a regular event everyone can mark in their calendars.
Step 3: For each meeting date, a different person 강남달토셔츠룸 selects a cookbook. For beginners, Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything and any Barefoot Contessa cookbook would be great because they are so well-tested. As you become more advanced, try to challenge yourself with something like Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. You can also make it an option to choose a cooking magazine or select a Food Network chef to cook from.
Step 4:Sign up! Have each person choose a recipe from the cookbook. Try to complement what other people select so you have a complete meal or start a course rotation so everyone gets the opportunity to cook a different course and you don’t end up with 5 desserts and no main course. If one person is particularly busy, he or she can bring the wine!
Step 5: Everyone cooks and brings their dish to the party. Some dishes may require some last-minute preparation so plan accordingly.
Step 6: Eat & enjoy! Have each person introduce their dish. Often times there are stories or disclaimers to share about “the making of…” Make sure everyone gets a taste of everything.
Step 7: Rate & review! While everyone is recovering from the food coma that will surely ensue, discuss hits, misses, questions and adjustments that can be made to make a recipe better.