Serving Suggestions - Chris's Favorite Recipes

Chris's Favorite Recipes

Serving Suggestions

My Mom says you eat first with your eyes. It took me a long time to understand, but it means that food should look good as well as taste good.

I really enjoy garnishing, making food look pretty. Sometimes you can rescue a cooking mistake that way -- the trick is never, ever explain or complain. Just accept compliments graciously!

Chris

Serving Suggestions: Try to arrange food nicely on the plates. Food is more appetizing if it looks yummy and artful. You can garnish with a lemon slice, a cherry or a bit of parsley. It doesn't have to be difficult. Use pretty china and crystal often. Just be careful with it!

If someone in your family does not like cooked veggies, serve raw carrots, celery or cucumber sticks. When vegetables are as attractive as those at right, arrange them as a centerpiece for your table.

GREEN makes all food look more appetizing. You often see parsley, herbs or lettuce used as a decoration in restaurants. The green rule applies to everything except desserts. Fudge garnished with parsley is just gross!

See how a few simple fruits dress up this cake. You don't have to use special tools or techniques. Be creative! The garnish on the side is just toasted coconut. Looks great, and it's easy to do! Stick the coconut on the icing on the side of the cake with your hands. When you top ice cream with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry, it becomes a sundae -- it's that easy!

Even a simple cup of hot cocoa can be garnished with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Looks just like a cappuccino to me! Of course, it's a classic garnish to melt marshmallows on top of a cup of hot chocolate.

How to set the table: Arrange the tablecloth or place mats. Fold the napkins in half if they do not come already folded. The napkin goes on the left side of the place mat, touching the bottom. The fork goes to the left of the plate. Sometimes you will find the napkin is placed under the fork. The spoon and knife go on the right side of the place mat. Spoon is the most right; knife goes next to it. The blade of the knife should point to the left, towards the plate. The spoon for dessert is placed above the plate. Notice how the bowl of the spoon faces away from the spoon beside the plate. If you are serving a dessert that requires a fork, place the fork above the plate, with the prongs facing away from the prongs of the fork beside the plate. It's okay to have both a fork and spoon for dessert. They just face opposite directions! The water glass goes above the knife and spoon. If you serve a salad, that plate or bowl goes above the fork.

Here's a final tip: When you set a cup and saucer on the table, arrange the cup so the handle is on the right. The cup and saucer are placed to the right of or above the spoon. Never pour a hot beverage into a cup that is set on the table! Hold the cup and saucer in your hand while you pour -- and hold everything well away from the person seated at the table.