Problem: Article: Once you have picked out the dishes you will be preparing, go shopping for supplies. The ingredients you select should be good quality and fresh. For example, if you are planning on cooking beef, select a nice cut. If possible, go shopping a day or two before your romantic meal. Remember that the freshness of your ingredients could change the flavor of your meal, so always try to pick out the freshest items. Your goal is to have everything ready at the same time. Try to aim for everything being ready to be put on the table about five minutes before you plan to eat.  For example, if the rice needs to cook for an hour but the chicken only bakes for fifteen minutes, you'll need to start them at different times. To help plan out your cooking schedule:  Write down how long everything takes to cook and then begin cooking them in the order from longest time to shortest time. If you need to boil something, don’t forget to factor in the time it will take for the water to heat up to a boil (generally around 10 minutes). The same goes for heating up the oven (this will depend on your oven and the temperature you are heating it to). If your timing is slightly off and one dish is done before the rest,  try to keep it warm by placing the food in a covered container. You can also keep things warm by sticking them in the oven on a low temperature, but do not keep dishes in the oven for too long or they could dry out. You can also keep items you cooked on the stovetop warm by turning the heat to low. Try to avoid relying on the microwave to warm things up if you can help it. Everyone has a different opinion about how much salt is too much salt. Try to err on the side of too little salt, as this can always be remedied by adding more. Place a salt shaker on the table so that your partner can choose to add salt if he or she feels like it. If you the food you are cooking is hot, consider putting it in serving dishes that will keep it warm until you are ready to eat. On the other hand, if your appetizers, or even your main dish, are cold, consider arranging them so that they look beautiful on the plate. You could even put a flower on the plate next to the food to give the arrangement an extra touch. Once you have finished cooking and everything is being kept warm or is already plated, try to wash up the dishes and kitchen as much as possible. If you don’t have time, fill the sink with hot water after the scraping the plates and put the dishes in so that they will be easy to clean the next day.
Summary: Pick out quality ingredients. Estimate how long it will take you to prepare each dish. Keep the courses warm. Limit the amount of salt you use. Arrange the food on the plate or place the food in serving dishes. Try to clean up as much as you can before your partner arrives.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: For a fancier touch, you can crop or round the corners, but not by much. Use the same color as you did for the border pieces. You'll be using these un-scored ends to attach the handles to the bag. It will also mimic the look of a real bag. Draw a line of glue to one side of the score, then fold the handle in half. Leave the 1½-inch (3.81 centimeters) bit at each end un-folded and un-glued. The handles will be flat and skinny along the middle, with curved "cups" at each end.  The smooth part of the cups will be on the front/outside of the handles. The curved, "V" part of the cups will be on the back/inside of the handles. Place the flat, folded part of the handle on the edge of a bone folder. Place your thumb on top of the paper. Use your free hand to pull the paper downward, between your thumb and the bone folder. Repeat this step for the other handle.  This is the same technique used for curling ribbon. Set the handles aside when you are done.

SUMMARY: Cut two 1 by 11-inch (2.54 by 27.94 centimeters) strips of solid-colored scrapbook paper for the handles. Score both strips vertically down the center, lengthwise, but leave 1½-inch (3.81 centimeters) at each end un-scored. Glue the handles along the fold, but leave the un-scored parts alone. Curl the handles using a bone folder to give them some shape.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Making contact with your loved one is an important part of making amends. Don’t wait around for your loved one to reach out or for it to happen naturally. When your loved one is ill and dying, make it your first priority to get back into his or her life.  Try making a phone call, sending a letter, or stopping by to see your loved one. There is no right way to make contact, so choose most comfortable option for you. Keep in mind that it might be difficult to reach out, especially if it has been a while since you last talked. When your loved one is dying, there may be times when he or she is not feeling well or is out of it because of medications. These might not be the best times to try to make amends. Instead, pick a time when your loved one is awake and alert enough to listen and understand you. Try asking your loved one’s caregiver about the best time to stop by or call. When you make amends with your loved one, you may want to ensure that you will have some privacy to talk. It might be hard to express your feelings with other friends or family members around. Your loved one may also be less likely to want to talk to you or listen to what you have to say if other people are around. Try requesting privacy with your loved one by saying something like, “I was hoping just the two of us could talk for a while. Would that be okay?” If your loved one agrees, then the other people in the room might just leave. If not, then try saying, “Could you please excuse us for a few minutes?” When you are trying to make amends with your dying loved one, try to do it as soon as possible. If you know that your loved one is going to die but hasn't died yet, you have the time to make amends. This will help you avoid the guilt and regret of your loved one passing before you made amends. Even if your loved one's doctor has given your loved one a certain number of months to live, you should not wait. The sooner you make amends, the more time you will have with your loved one to repair your relationship before they die.
Summary:
Make the connection. Pick the right time to reconnect. Request a private conversation. Don't put it off.