No time in life is as exciting and new, and yes, sometimes as challenging as your first year of marriage. While the wedding bells may have stopped ringing, your hearts are beating loudly with love and romance as you start this journey together.
It is a time of sharing new experiences, building memories that will last a lifetime, and establishing sacred traditions. It is a year of leisurely weekends built around busy evenings that are so much sweeter since you share them with the love of your life. It is a year of many firsts—first holidays, first dinner parties, first visits from your in-laws, and even your first anniversary.
It is also a time for building routines and carving out habits that will define your life as a couple. The kitchen is no longer the wife’s domain. Instead, it is a shared sanctuary, where you start your day and where you seek refuge after a busy day. It is where you will grow and learn, and soon you will discover together why the kitchen is the heart of the home.
Rules no longer apply—and that is what makes it so fun. The kitchen, your cooking style, and the menu plans are yours for you to create together. Discover if casual or elegant, traditional or adventuresome, mild or spicy, or some fun combination of all of these is your style. Blend your tastes and approaches together so they define you as a couple and lead you to a happy, healthy lifestyle.
Your gifts and the wedding registry you created are a reflection of the two of you. Gone are the days of registering for fine china, sterling silver candlesticks, and chafing dishes; no longer do couples register just for classic (while sometimes useless) pieces or for what the bride or her mom thought should be included. Today’s couples together select functional and colorful dishes and appliances that are an expression of their lifestyle. Colorful, casual dinnerware; wine, beer, or cocktail glasses; heavy-duty stand mixers, food processors, espresso makers, waffle makers, and ice cream makers; top-quality cutlery; professional-quality blenders; and deluxe slow cookers are just a few of the items that today’s couples want. All of those dishes, utensils, and equipment will make the cooking easier and more fun. The food you create will taste better and be more attractive to serve for years to come.
Turn to the back of this cookbook for helpful kitchen tips that will make cooking easier and an indispensable guide to organizing the kitchen, grocery shopping, and stocking the pantry. You will also learn how to select and use the pots, pans, bakeware, utensils, and appliances that will make your kitchen a dream come true.
Now, it is time to cook together and build a lifetime of love and good eating.
