How Does She Do That?

Any old maid can invite guests over for dinner, serve them well, and bit them adieu happy and well fed. But it's a TWT's job to leave them mesmerized and muttering "I had no idea that ___'s wife was such a good cook! We simply must visit again soon." If you are feeling especially confident in your recipes and are well practiced in the art of the dinner party, then it's time to drop in a bit of something special; literally. Aftelier Perfumes, created by "recognized perfume authority" Mandy Aftel, is the creator of such fascinating products like "Chef Essential Oils," essential oils meant to be infused in homemade dishes. The delicious flavors/scents include: sweet basil. bergamot, celery seed, cinnamon, coffee, cognac, fresh ginger, pink grapefruit, geranium, coriander leaf, lime, bitter orange, juniper berry, wild sweet orange, black pepper, pink pepper, peppermint, spearmint, terragon, and many more to fit your taste. According to the directions,

"Start with a drop, then taste to see how many more drops to add. First, dilute the essence in a small amount of the liquid you want to season -- butter, oil, sauce, vinaigrette, soup, stew, etc. -- then add the seasoned liquid back into the larger amount. Chef's essences should be added as close to the end of cooking as possible, to preserve the volatile components of their scent."

Think of these flavor oils like they are little pieces of diamond jewlery; something that adds a touch of sparkle to an otherwise boring outfit.

The Breakfast Every TWT Should Know How to Make..

Few things are more important than a TWT (Trophy Wife in Training) who can cook. Of course, when you become a true Trophy Wife, the possibility of a chef or cook may present itself, but until that time, it's very important to have good kitchen skills. You will need to not only know the basics of culinary information, but the ability to present food in an impressive manner. The time will come when your SO (signifigant other) needs to host a dinner for somebody important at your home. Naturally it would be easier to just pop on by to Dean and Deluca and pick up a few cheese trays with a nice bottle of wine...but your true skills are being tested. A TWT should be able to create a sophiscated menu, and execute it perfectly, meanwhile being a great host and staying fresh and coiffed. This can all be very daunting, but I promise that with the right organizational skills and time, it should be no problem at all (maybe even enjoyable, especially if you have a friend who volunteers to help cook in trade for a glass of vino.) I am going to start off our cooking section with the first meal of the day; breakfast. Now the chances of you having SO's boss over for breakfast is very low, however, being able to prepare a gorgeous breakfast for SO while he sleeps is a huge accomplishment. Anybody can fry up some pancakes and slop on some maple syrup, but not everybody can whip up Eggs Benedict first thing in the A.M. Here is a recipe (but feel free to add smoked salmon or bacon to it):

Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce

ingredients (serves 6) :

3 egg yolks
1 tbsp cream
250g unsalted butter (i used only 1/2), diced
1 tbsp lemon juice or white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
dash of cayenne pepper
directions :
1. place egg yolks and cream in double boiler or set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water and whisk lightly with a wire whisk until the yolks are thickened with the consistency of cream.
2. add the butter bit by bit and stir until well corporated.
3. add the lemon juice or vinegar a drop at a time and remove from heat. add in salt & cayenne pepper.