Romantic Rendezvous for Two

Not every man can cook well, not every man has a desire to cook well, and not every man has to. But what a true Big Man Trendsetter needs to realize is that cooking for a woman from time to time is a guaranteed way to impress her. This is why as a Trendsetter it is an important that every man be able to cook a few simple meals.

Deviled Eggs

10 large eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

Pinch of paprika

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Gently add the eggs and cook for 12 to 15 minutes over medium heat. Remove the eggs from the water and cool. Peel the eggs and cut them in half leastwise. Remove the cooked yolks to a small bowl and place the egg whites on a serving plate. Crush the yolks with a fork and stir the mayonnaise, mustard, and relish. Scoop a spoonful of the yolk mixture into each egg-white half. Sprinkle with paprika and serve.

Shrimp & Crab Salad

1 pound large shrimp

4 hard-cooked egg whites, diced

1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic

1 teaspoon onion salt

1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

1 teaspoon black pepper

8 ounces lump crabmeat

Cook shrimp in shells. When cool, peel, devein, and chop shrimp. Place in a large bowl. In the same bowl, add egg whites, mayonnaise, celery, onion, Italian seasoning garlic, onion salt, Old Bay seasoning, and pepper; mix together. Drain crabmeat and stir into shrimp mixture. Chill until ready to serve. Serve on a bed of lettuce

Garlic Shrimp

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
10 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon diced shallots

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat a saute pan for 2 minutes. Add the olive oil to the pan and wait 5 seconds. Add the cleaned shrimps. Saute over high heat for 30 seconds, then add the garlic. Saute until the garlic is just browned. Pour in the white wine while moving the shrimp around in the pan. As the wine reduces, remove the shrimp to a small bowl and set aside while you finish the sauce. Add the butter, parsley, shallots, and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes. Put the shrimp back in the pan on medium heat to finish cooking for another 4 minutes. Serve in a small bowl.

Setting the Mood

Champagne flutes, napkins, silverware, dishes, candles, and your favorite Slow Jams CD.

*Recipes from Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted by Mo'Nique