How to make your dinner a little nicer

These days we're always in a rush. Somewhere to be, someone to meet, something to do. But here's a quick tip that will make your rushed dinner seem a little nicer.

Presentation!

Presentation can or break your food. You can instantly make anything look more or less appetizing just by the way the food is arranged on the plate. The nicer it's arranged, the more likely you are to want to eat it.

This doesn't have to be over complicated, so don't panic. A quick thought into presentation, can take your dinner from 'boring Tuesday night' to 'maybe we'll open that bottle of wine.' Think about the picture above. Instead of throwing some cheese and crackers on the island while you're cooking dinner, take a moment to actually take those crackers out of the box (gasp), cut up some cheese, and arrange them on your favorite cutting board or plate. Notice I added some raspberries for color.



When it comes time to serve dinner, consider adding some parsley next to your meat for color, or chopped and spread around the edge of the pasta plate. Another easy way to make your main course look fancy is by stacking. The picture above is from Emeril's restaurant in Orlando, FL. It's not my favorite presentation, but notice how everything is stacked toward the center? You'll be surprised how these little tricks can really spruce up your food. And don't get frustrated if it doesn't work out well the first time. After some practice you'll find what works and what doesn't. Some foods stack well and some are just meant to be put on the plate with a little parsley.

A final note. If you have kids and you want them to eat something new, try a whimsical and creative presentation. If it's fun to eat, you're more likely to get them to at least try it.