It goes without saying that all good dinner parties should be accompanied by good tunes. With the right music melting effortlessly into the din of clinking silverware, rattling ice cubes, and excited conversation, even a microwave dinner can become an exotic culinary experience. Here at LD we believe strongly in the correlation between great music and productivity, so why wait until dinner is served to turn up the volume? Cooking in the right auditory ambiance is just as crucial as it is to dine in one. Here’s a menu of some of our hottest recipes with the perfect musical accompaniment to spice up the cooking process.
Appetizer: Fresh Salsa (Made from Leftover Ingredients)
The music you need: The fun of this recipe is that it involves a hodge-podge of ingredients and no measuring whatsoever. While gathering ingredients from your fridge or pantry, let loose and shimmy across your kitchen to Shakira’s “Whenever Wherever” and “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” or Edward Maya’s “Stereo Love.”
Entree: Honey-Lime Chicken Enchiladas
The music you need: This recipe involves a little more prep time than the salsa and you’ll want to remain focused on the measurements and textures. Now that you’ve warmed up with some Latin-American pop, switch over to something a little more mellow—music that you can hum along to without getting too carried away with crazy dance moves. This dish pairs perfectly with acoustic jams like Rusted Root’s “Send Me on My Way,” “Fake Palindromes” from Andrew Bird, and “Until You’re Gone” by Grayson Kessenich.
Dessert: Strawberry Sangria Popsicles
The music you need: This recipe requires a few hours of freezing and if, as the recipe recommends, you’re putting the popsicles in the freezer the night before your big party it’s perfectly reasonable that you’d steal a sip or two of that moscato before/while adding it to the recipe. You deserve it—after all, you’re the hostess! Have some fun with this one and enjoy the upbeat rhythms of Matt Kearny’s “Hey Mama,” Plastic Bertrand’s “Ca Plane Pour Moi”, and, my personal favorite, ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” When served the following evening, this dessert is the perfect way to cool off after a long day of cooking—but if you’re being honest, did you ever really stop dancing?
Happy cooking!
What do you like to listen to while cooking? Let us know in the comments below or tweet @LitDarling!
