The Cooking Couple's Ten Tips for Romance
© copyright 2000

Get Cooking
Food, sex and romance have been linked for centuries. Every meal is a chance to cherish your mate and express your sensuality. Cooking is a lot like making love. You use all of the same senses: smell, touch, taste and sight. Cooking and eating, like making love, are pleasurable, fun experiences that ignite the flame of romance. When you cook for someone you are nurturing them at their most basic level; you are providing sustenance for their body. When you make love the two of you are providing sustenance for your souls. Couple's who cook together stay together. Candlelight, romantic music and good food always add up to amour.

Appreciate Each Other
Appreciating your partner makes both of you feel good about each other and your relationship. Appreciation can take many forms, from a phone call or compliment to a gift of flowers or a love note in your lover's lunch box. Do something every day that you know your partner will appreciate.

Get Away!
Whether it's for a week, weekend, day or a couple of hours, plan a special mini retreat with your lover. Be bold and creative. Play hooky from work. Pretend you're on a first date or complete strangers. Change your looks, your setting or activities. Kidnap your partner and take them on a romantic adventure they will never forget!

Explore Aphrodisiacs
Many foods have developed a reputation as aphrodisiacs over the centuries. Our favorite love foods include: chocolate, basil, oysters, shrimp, honey, donuts, black licorice and champagne. Blindfold your partner, feed them tidbits and discover what foods really turn the two of you on. For a complete list, check out the only Aphrodisiac Dictionary on the web at cookingcouple.com.

Have Fun
Romance and sex are fun!!! Why do you think they call it "Fore-Play."? Duh! Do something zany together. Visit an amusement park, arcade or carnival, without the kids! Play charades, strip poker or Trivial Pursuits. Go ballroom dancing or serenade her under moonlight. Go for a canoe ride. Romance is another word for "Adult Play." Loosen up, be creative, remember the fun and passion you had when you first started dating? Well do it again!

Fulfill His/Her Fantasy
Don't be embarrassed, we all have fantasies. Find out what turns your lover on and fulfill his/her desires. (If a barnyard animal is part of the scenario we recommend contacting a good attorney.) Arrange that weekend away. Greet him/her at the door in in a new (sexy) outfit or in no outfit at all. Rent a costume. (Be a nurse, hooker, policeman, fireman, doctor or Indian chief.) Give a fabulous back rub followed by a bubble bath and his/her favorite meal.

Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary
Transform everyday events into mini-celebrations. Eat dinner by candle light. Enjoy breakfast or diner in bed. Take a shower together using special soap. Give him a six pack of his favorite beer for fixing the fence or doing the grocery shopping. Then share the beer...

Be Prepared
Always have on hand: champagne, candles, romantic music, massage oil, some of his/her favorite foods, great lingerie, small gifts, romantic cards, tickets to a special event and take-out menus for when you'd rather "get cooking" then cook dinner.

Cultivate a Romantic Psyche
Romance is a state of mind, an attitude. Romance is the art (not science) of expressing your love. It starts by thinking of yourselves as a couple first and second as individuals. It's not just what you do, but how your do it that counts. Lots of little gestures and words really are the glue that holds couples together. Romance is not logical or predictable so loosen up, get creative and have some fun. You're never too old to go a little crazy.

Get Rid of the Kids
Send them to Grandma and Grandpas, summer camp, their best friend, Hebrew/Catholic/Boarding/Reform School, the mall or the movies. Pay the babysitter to take them out for the afternoon. If all else fails: send them to bed early or place them in front of their favorite video with plenty of popcorn. Then hang a "Do not disturb sign!" on your bedroom door and pop your own corn.

Suggested Recipe:     Chocolate Dipped Strawberries