Caprese

[cbayer]

My DH can cook (fix) only about four dishes, and he is oh so proud of those. One he loves is Caprese. I buy the best mozzarella I can find, tomatoes that I think will be rich and sweet and fresh basil. He will lovingly cut everything up and drizzle with olive oil. It is delicious, but......

I am oh so tired of it. When he makes it, he makes a huge platter just for the two of us and then anything I had planned for dinner is pretty much not needed.

Any suggestions for changing it up a bit, making a few small suggestions that he could incorporate? Something I could do to turn it into a more varied main dish?

I sometimes throw on some avocado pieces. Or drizzle a little balsamic when he isn't looking.

I was thinking of asking him to put the whole thing on some lettuce, then throwing some dried cranberries and nuts in after the cheese and tomatoes are gone and making it into a green salad.

:shrug:

BTW, the other things he makes are:

Grilled lamb chops
Toast
Poached eggs in this microwave container (I just can't eat this one)
Toasted bagels with lox
Dry cereal with yogurt and bananas
Boiled potatoes
Canned peas

He is English - 'nuf said. When he makes "grilled cheese", he toasts some bread, then puts cheddar cheese on it. I made grilled cheese today with goat gouda, tomatoes, and black forest ham on N'aan. He considers that pretty gourmet.

So, I don't want to discourage him from fixing the one thing that he can actually do for guests and that I really do like to eat.

[beac]

1. Add-ons to mix it up:

* Toasted capers: Drain a jar of capers. Heat skillet on med-high. Add a few tiny drops of olive oil (no oil needed for a non-stick pan) and capers. Shake and toss the capers once to distribute oil and then occasionally as capers dry out and "pop." The idea is to have them kind of crispy. Great in salads too.

* Kalamata or other briney olives

* Artichoke hearts

[cbayer]

2. He doesn't like capers, so that is out, but the olives and artichoke hearts are great ideas!

Also, he loves it when I fix artichokes, so I could serve fresh, steamed ones at the same time and we could dip the leaves and heart in the olive oil and balsalmic on the caprese plate.

Wonderful! These are great because they won't really mess up his creation, but will add to it!

:hi:

[Warpy]

3. Give that platter away or hide it in the garage

and buy a smaller one. That will cut down the massive quantity when he doesn't feel compelled to fill the big one up.

Scooping it up, putting it on a split piece of baguette and running it under the broiler will give you a wonderful variation.

Still, the one thing that will keep you from getting overstuffed and tired of it is a smaller plate.

[cbayer]

5. Great idea. Or I could suggest that he make the whole thing and that we will eat

it for two nights - once fresh, the second broiled on a baquette (yum!).

He has no sense of fullness, while I have an overdeveloped one, so the amount on the plate is a big issue around here. I do most of the cooking and serve him smaller portions than he would ever fix for himself, but when he is doing the fixing .......

:hi:

[grasswire]

4. invest in a couples cooking class

Maybe an international class, where several different sessions explore other cuisines. He could have some fun, and learn some new dishes too!

[cbayer]

6. If it was anything like the dancing classes we took, we will be laughing so hard

there will be tears in the food!

Unfortunately we are never in a place long enough to take a whole course, but I am going to see if I can find a one or two nighter somewhere where we go regularly.

I would love for him to do some cooking, but he doesn't even like to talk about food. What kind of person doesn't like to talk about food?!?!?

:rofl:

[cbayer]

7. Update on cooking class idea.

So, over dinner just now, I brought up the idea.

DH: You are trying to mess with my mind, aren't you?

Me; You cook some things so well. I thought we could expand your repertoire.

DH: I have a huge repertoire and I cook the things that I love to eat.

Me: Can you think of something you love that you don't know how to fix?

DH: Sushi.

Me: Perfect! I love sushi, too. We will find a sushi course.

DH: Ok. I still think you are trying to mess with my mind.

This is indeed perfect.! I have been trying to get him to fish more, but I like my fish raw. I just love it when you get to a win-win.

Thanks so much for this idea!

:hi:

[Tesha]

8. oh, thank you for the smiles...

English... hmmm sounds like he'd enjoy making things that only require a few ingredients ... and are kind of... pale...


If I make the bread, Mr Tesha loves to make Fondue - easy and always good
and if I make the crust he has a wonderful way with the toppings for pizza

[cbayer]

9. I like the pizza idea. While we were talking last night, I realized that a Margherita

pizza is basically a caprese pizza, so there is a great way to start expanding his horizons.

He called himself an "adventurous eater" last night. Now, this is a man that I could order for in pretty much any restaurant, as he will always order the same thing. So, I asked him to give me an example of being adventurous.

His answer? "I like all kinds of cereal - from granola to cheerios".

:rofl: