Guys' Guide to Impressing Your Prom Date by Fixing Dinner - Even If You Can't Cook! (Part One - Salad)

Starting when he buys the tickets, prom season is an expensive time of year, particularly for a guy who has a special lady he wants to impress.

The tux needs to be paid for:
"She would have her heart set on the most expensive style they have!"

Then there's the cost of the flowers:
"The only flowers that match your dress are orchids that cost $50 apiece?!"

And don't forget transportation:
"Limo? I thought you said you were fine with my uncle's mother-in-law's Cadillac!"

When you add in the cost of dinner, it starts to look like you'll need to pawn your textbooks and your obnoxious little sister, just to cover expenses. But, wait! I have a solution for the dinner dilemma! Cook dinner for your date!

I heard what you said--"But I can't cook." Trust me, with this menu, you can.

MENU
"Berry-Nutty" Lettuce Salad
Chicken Cacciatore with Bowtie Pasta
Orange-Glazed Baby Carrots
Croissants with Butter/Margarine
Chocolate-Cherry Mini Trifles
Sparkling Juice

Sounds impressive, doesn't it? Looks pretty impressive, too, especially by candlelight! Intimidated? Not to worry. Can you do the following things?

scoop and sprinkle
open a can or bottle and pour
twist a dial
boil water
turn on the microwave
wrap an object with a paper towel
slice cake
stack things in layers
operate a spray can

Then you have the "special skills" it takes to create this lovely feast! We'll take the instructions one step at a time, with an article focusing on each course, and a final, sixth article that provides an overview of the plans, plus a schedule for preparing everything on the big day, as well as directions for how to set the table.

The first recipe will be for the "Berry-Nutty" Lettuce Salad.

Ingredients you will need:
8 ounce salad in a bag
small bag dried cranberries
2 ounces pecan pieces
4 ounces feta cheese - or other crumbly cheese
small bottle raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Supplies/equipment you will need:
tongs or very, very clean hands
medium size mixing bowl
mixing spoon
a spoon
two small, pretty plates or bowls
two salad (short) forks

HOW TO:
1. Open bag of salad and pour into strainer.
2. If you have no strainer, punch a few small holes in bottom of salad bag.
3. Run cold water from faucet through salad in strainer or bag. Shake gently to drain.
4. Place bag of salad in mixing bowl.
5. Add 1/4 cup dressing and stir.
6. When salad is evenly coated, place half on each of the two dishes.
7. Sprinkle with 1 spoonful cranberries, 3 spoonfuls feta cheese, and 1 spoonful pecans.
8. Your salad is ready to serve!

Next time: Part Two - Vegetable (Orange-Glazed Baby Carrots)

In the meantime, don't pawn your obnoxious little sister. With some good training and the proper incentive, you might be able to get her to work as a server for the dinner!