Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.”  Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots.  She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.

I’ll never forget the day my “now-BF” and I decided to cook up a (rather complicated) Greek concoction for his mom and sister.  It was really the first time we “shared” the kitchen.

Before then, my O.C.D. chef often preferred the kitchen to himself, as he whipped up three-course meals that looked like they came out of a magazine. (I know, I’m a lucky girl.)

However, I wanted to prove I had some skills, so I took on what I thought was a safe job: peeling and dicing the potatoes. Just when I thought I couldn’t mess that up, I did, putting all the peels down his garbage disposal, clogging his sink.

To give myself a little credit, I admittedly have come a long way since then, and according to my other half, my domestic skills are constantly improving.

After laughing things off and promising I’d call a plumber, we finished preparing our meal and served quite a success.

I realize now we hit a milestone that almost disastrous day in the kitchen. The “now-BF” could have gotten mad at me for acting careless; therefore, ruining an experience that was meant to be enjoyable.  Instead, we affectionately dismissed the whole mishap, and worked as a team for the remainder of our time in the kitchen.

Turns out, that’s a good thing, because according to Relationship & Intimacy Counselor, Jennifer Gunsaullus, PhD, the kitchen and bedroom have quite a lot in common.

“It’s about playfulness and creativity, and the communication about that is building safety,” said Jennifer Gunsaullus, PhD.

On top of her free video pod-cast on love and sex, Gunsaullus, a.k.a., “Dr. Jenn,” recently released a DVD called, “Cooking Up Seduction,” available on her website, www.drjennsden.com. The DVD is a “how-to” kick things up in the bedroom by using your skills in the kitchen.

“To slow down and savor your food is the same thing as slowing down in the bedroom and being mindful and present with no end point,” she said.