By: Tracy Rapp There are many ways to plan menus.One way to plan a menu is to visualize the plate.A colorful plate is appetizing and pleasing to your diners - meat and/or chicken or fish, a brown/beige starch, a green vegetable, a red/orange side dish, a cold colorful side salad.When someone sees color popping off the plate in contrast with favorite dishes that are not necessarily colorful – it enhances the anticipation of the taste and flavors in store.I like to see a balance of color on a plate.There is nothing more unappetizing than a plate of brown, colorless dishes.The bad part is that often the dishes are delicious and tasty there is just no excitement in the visual part of the dish.
It is also nice to plan a menu by starting with a dish or two that one knows their guest likes.For example, if you are having adventurous eaters or traditional food eaters?Are there a lot of children or more sophisticated adult diners?And then from there either stay with that theme or go for contrasts.
My mom always starts with dessert!She is a great dessert maker and loves sweets!I always find this amusing and what makes us a good team – I usually run out of steam when I get to thinking about dessert!Not Mom – she thinks of a sweet treat that she is having a craving for!She even balances dessert – a chocolate and a fruit – something cold and some cake, a pickup cookie and a dessert treat.”
Other ideas to start a menu:
a spice
a seasonal ingredient
an ethnic dish
an exotic flavor
traditional for the time period
Most important aspect is balance!Wherever you begin – find balance and contrast either in the visual aspect, the ingredients, the textures or the favorites of your guests.
Comments
Mindy
11/02/2009 19:16:30
I don't want to plan any meals, I just want to attend meals that are planned by you, Tracy!!
Tracy Rapp
11/03/2009 04:10:24
I really love the site - just wish there were more pictures of those beautiful Rapp children on the school page link - they truly represent the school!
sandra osdoba
11/03/2009 16:31:21
I agree with Tracy-one of my biggest problems is that everything is always brown on my table. Matty always loved when the table was colorful-one of the reasons he loved eating with y'all!I can't wait to use all of the delicious recipes and add some pizzaz to my table!
Mindy
11/03/2009 16:36:06
You don't need pizzaz Sandra- you don't even need more than one dish! Just make about 4 pans of the brown potato kugel of yours and everyone will leave satisfied from your brown table!!
Lily
11/03/2009 16:44:11
THIS IS A TEST. I REPEAT THIS IS A TEST :)
sandra osdoba
11/03/2009 16:59:09
I was going to ask why my comment was the only one not in blue, but I see that Lily's is also white! Yay
Tania Blotner
11/10/2009 06:25:09
Excellent ideas tracy, now if only I wouldn't run out of steam after the main dish I could think more about those colorful sides!!! Oh and don't forget Sandra's awsome cholent!!!
Barbara R
11/15/2009 19:38:19
Great job ladies. We are so excited about this creative, wonderful new adventure!!
anise
11/16/2009 13:58:49
I can feel the love and laughter that went in to all of this! I have chills! I am excited to get my copy...and start cooking! Conngratulations! Tracy, is there anything you can't do?
Tracy Rapp
11/17/2009 15:18:45
Thanks Anise! We are very excited too - and everyone is going to love the cookbook! It's been a communal effort - so everyone should see themselves in every recipe!
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