What's cooking in American homes? Sometimes, not much. Americans buy an average of 202 meals per year at restaurants-that's nearly four nights a week. The eating-out-of-home trend goes one step further with large national restaurants offering to-go meals straight from their popular dine-in menus. Case in point: Take-out sales for Outback Steakhouse nearly doubled while those for Applebee's more than doubled.

So with 34 percent of American adults considering take-out "essential" to their way of life, spending 25 percent of their income on out-of-home meals, why not make the take-out experience a little more special? Try these tips for getting more out of your meal:

Set The Mood

Try dressing up the meal by swapping plasticware and cardboard containers with real spoons and plates. (Read: the kind you don't throw away.) Or, if you think take-out should mean no dishwashing, keep the containers and plastic, play some music, break out a tablecloth and enjoy.

Wine Time

You might be surprised to learn that plenty of wines pair perfectly with take-out meals and don't break the bank. For instance, try a white wine such as Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($5.99) with Asian cuisine like Chinese, Thai and Japanese as well as barbecue and salads. Or you can try a Twin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with chicken wings, Mexican, and Italian sub sandwiches. For desserts, go with a Twin Valley Moscato. It can be perfectly paired with creamy desserts or simply poured over fresh fruit. You can also use the Moscato to add flavor to some classic take-out sauces. Try these ideas:

• Asian Soy Sauce: Five ounces of the Moscato will add some gusto to your favorite Asian dipping sauce recipes.

• Italian Puttanesca: Three ounces of the Moscato will enhance the flavor in this classic favorite.

• Salsa Verde: Adding two ounces of Twin Valley Moscato softens the spiciness, making it more palate friendly. The Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley line offers each type priced at $5.99, less than the average take-out meal.

For more information, visit www.ejgtwinvalley.com. Take-Out Is In-Pairing take-out with the right beverages can add to the eat-at-home experience.

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

Other articles from Food & Beverage...
31.  Avoid Food Fiascos During Your Festivities: Tips for Entertaining by Stacey Moore
32.  Top Ten Tips For Holiday Food Safety by Stacey Moore
33.  Drinking Tea by Kadence Buchanan
34.  Put Pasta Back On The Table by Kadence Buchanan
35.  Finding The Best Espresso Machine For You by Richard Brown
36.  Dream In Chocolate: How Much People Love Natural Chocolate by Fred Goldman
37.  Minimize The Risk Of Additives With Homemade Energy Drink by Low Jeremy
38.  Beers of the World Featuring: The much loved “Lambic” by Matt Tremblay
39.  Hot Sauce Collection – An Anthology Of Delight by Chris McCarthy
40.  Finding the Best Green Tea to Drink by Tom G.Antion