Imagine your home filling with the smell of delicious seasonings as you turn mere ingredients into a culinary masterpiece. There are pans simmering and steaming as flavors melt together. In the oven there’s bread warming. A decadent dessert is chilling in the fridge as the grand finale of your 5 course dinner.

Does your marriage need a little extra spice? One study revealed that 87% of couples believe cooking together would strengthen their relationship.

Before you think to yourself we cook together all the time, consider that you are usually cooking for your family. You’re cooking because it’s on your to-do list. But when you set aside time to celebrate your marriage… that changes things.

When we say cook we don’t mean your typical family dinner, either.

We mean a dinner worthy of date night – a 5 course meal that will tantalize all of your senses from start to finish.

Not to worry, there’s no need to be intimidated! Your gourmet dinner won’t take as much work as you think. We’ve collected all the best tips to help you enjoy a hot night in the kitchen.

Be Inspired.

Maybe you’ve never been to a “fancy” restaurant for a 5 course dinner. This idea sounds fabulous, but you wouldn’t even know where to begin. That’s OK! If you’re like most of us, you love food and that’s all you need for this date night.

For inspiration, look at menus online. As you’re checking out ideas, remember that you don’t have to stick to one single menu or culinary persuasion. This is about the two of you, so your options aren’t limited by any printed menu. And don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.

Try something new together, even if it’s just for one of the courses. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll be able to say you tried something new together. If it does… you can add the dish to your recipe book for the future.

Choose Your Courses

Usually, a 5 course dinner includes an appetizer, a soup, a salad, an entrée, and of course dessert. Choose a theme for the evening or just eat all of your favorite foods in one meal – there are no rules!

Since this 5 course meal is a little more work than your typical dinner, you’ll need to plan ahead, shop your pantry and create a grocery list. Organization is the key to making this date night enjoyable.

Keep in mind, you don’t both have to eat the exact same thing. If you were at a restaurant, your meals would likely be different anyway. You’re not a fan of red meat but your partner is? Make chicken for yourself instead. He can enjoy a steak.

To add a touch of elegance to your dinner, buy some sorbet and enjoy a few bites between courses. Sorbet cleanses your palate and will also encourage you to take the evening slow and enjoy each dish to the fullest.

Plan Ahead

You’ve chosen your courses, shopped your pantry and you have a grocery list. Now it’s time to prepare the setting of your date night – your kitchen. Tidy up your counter space and clean out the fridge if needed. Meals from the last couple of days may be taking up pots and pans that you’ll need.

If you have dishes in the sink, go ahead and get them in the dishwasher and out of the way. Locate your measuring cups/spoons, bowls, and any utensils you’ll need for your meal.

To maximize your effort, try to limit your recipes to two servings. This will eliminate extra cleanup when dinner is over. If dividing out your recipe is confusing, use this measurement conversion chart for a little help.

By doing these tasks in advance, your date night will be smooth sailing. It’s all about spending a relaxing evening together, so getting dinner ready shouldn’t be a chore. To make the night a little extra special set your table with a nice tablecloth, a vase of flowers, and candles.

Cook with Efficiency

Nothing will ruin an evening cooking together like feeling frazzled. If you have veggies or other ingredients to chop, do so all at once. If you have a course of your meal that’s cold, like salad or antipasto, prepare that first and put it in the fridge on dishes ready to be served.

Soup is easy to keep warm in a pot on the stove, so prepare it early as well. If your entrée takes longer to cook, it can be last so that as it’s cooking, you’re enjoying other courses. Then your entrée will be hot and fresh when you get to it.

And since you’ve cooked with such efficiency, you’ll have more time to display your food on plates like you might see by a chef. Maybe you can even have a fun competition to see who can make their plate look the most creative.

There is a mixture of ingredients that go into love. Why not add “cooking together” as an ingredient in your marriage?