Tell me your easy ways to make simple meals feel a bit fancier

[GemmeFatale]

For example I never peel potatoes for mash and instead chuck some robust leafy greens into the same pan for the last few minutes of cooking, drain, add plenty of cheese, milk and pepper before roughly mashing. Tastes better, looks like I’ve made some extra effort but it’s actually easier and is perfect with things like sausages or pork for a quick meal I don’t have to think about.

Yes to garnishes of fresh herbs, lemon, or chopped nuts to finish a meal.

Always dress a salad.

Marinate meat for a stir fry.

Add texture to very soft dishes, eg serve pannacotta with crisp shortbread biscuits

Add a tablespoon of branston pickle and a tablespoon of tomato purée to the meat part of a cottage pie whilst it is cooking. (Also some cinnamon and Worcestershire sauce and mixed herbs.) Transforms it.

When using parmesan on top of a pasta dish don't grate it, use a potato peeler to make curls of parmesan.

Second vote for the correct plate/bowl depending on the dish.

Pasta looks so much better in a pasta bowl

Cloth napkins - dark polycotton, no ironing or staining. Maybe a candle on the table.

@EgremontRusset which cloth napkins do you have and do they need ironing? I agree that cloth ones look and feel much nicer than paper ones and I assume are more eco friendly, but they do add hugely to the ironing pile and mine look horrendous unironed. I would love to find some that are no or low iron!

Love this discussion - I personally hate cooking, but do it everyday and a nice looking meal at the end of it de stresses me.

Linen napkins (costly if new, but last years and could be bought on eBay) look lovely even/especially when crumpled! I only buy plain neutral colours, so I don’t have to worry about matching anything.

In autumn/winter especially I put out candles (from just a couple of tealights for DS & me, to full blown 20 various ones for weekend meal). I will NOT splurge on these, they’re just plain candles - so put the Diptyque away, but everyone always comments on how nice it feels to have them.

I usually have lemon wedges in a little container in the fridge, a squeeze brightens up most meals and adds a bit of colour to a plate.

A glass/pottery jug, something you’ve seen and really love the shape of, for the table water. Ice cubes/lemon/mint if you wish.

I do sides or a small salad or nibbles, but don’t usually put out lots of dishes (unless it’s something like Indian/a special meal) because all the washing up after ruins it for me

We have just bought some new wider and shallower bowls.

I made DS some lunch yesterday, (just some tuna mayo, cheese, basic salad greens, tomatoes, cuc etc. and pitta sliced into sticks) and I put it into this bowl instead of the usual plate. It looked like a posh Buddha bowl instagramable thing.

thelight Polyester restaurant ones, as heavy weight as I could find. Never ironed.
I did have some eBay linen ones but they stained and I cba 🤷‍♀️