Romantic Dinner Ideas?

[Skinsfan55]

Anyone out there cook? You know, besides just for tailgating?

I usually do a pretty good job in the kitchen. I'm not great (since I don't practice much) but I have a couple dishes I do very well IMO.

One of those dishes I do well is Chicken Parmasean, and I made it for my girlfriend on our one year anniversary and on last valentines day. I need to show her that I am not a one trick pony... so I was wondering if anyone had some ideas for desserts or main courses or perhaps some appetizers and maybe a fancy salad or something.

I'm looking around google too, but it's always nice to actually hear how REAL people do stuff, instead of just professional chefs, haha.

[Skinsfan55]

PS- She is not at all fussy, and likes her veggies... but she doesn't like chocolate for some reason. I think her tastebuds are defective.

[1niksder]

You might want to holla at RiC.

[Justice Hog]

Something very easy and very tastey!

Go to the store and buy those little carrots. Cut them in half length wise. Saute them in butter and after they cook for a little bit, add a little sweet vermouth.

Another main course I like:

Chicken thighs - pound them thin. Wrap them with ham and shredded swiss cheese and tie them together. Cook them in butter to brown the chicken and then add some white wine. Good stuff.

[Redskin in Canada]

This is a tough one because it is a function of your cooking skills and her eating habits and preferences. I do not know either.

Things to avoid at all costs:

1) a heavy of fat meal that destroys the rest of the celebration;

2) a meal so complicated that it takes too long to prepare;

3) the wrong combination or quantity of aperitifs, wine and main dishes.

What do you want to achieve?

Is it sophistication? Is it to say you love her? or Is it both?

OK, here is -my- idea of a romantic evening at your age:

1) flowers. They do not have to be expensive or extravagant. In fact a single beautiful red rose will do.

2) candles and music (any candles will do but the music has to be chosen carefully).

3) table setup (only two chairs preferably on a small intimate table -with- a tablecloth). Dishware should be kept simple as in everyday student life.

4) apperitiff to start (a glass of white wine may do, perhaps a Chardonnay) but you can try a glass of Noilly Pratt previously poured on a glass and kept in the fridge an hour in advance (She will like the attention to advance planning).

Choose the main meal here:

http://www.epicurean.com/

It has a thousand option from among to choose from according to her tastes and your abilities.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

SF55 - Personally, I like to whip up a quick dish for me and my wife, and it's not hard at all.

Here's my feeble attempt to explain it:

Ingredients:

- Whole wheat ravioli
- Mediterranean spread
- Romano or Pamesan block of cheese
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Hot pepper, if desired.

1) Take one package of whole wheat Chicken, cheese and vegetable ravioli from COSTCO. Boil until done.

2) Mix some olive oil, italian seasoning, and a little hot pepper (cayenne, or crushed red pepper -- if desired), i na small dish. (use ingredients in moderation)

3) Drizzle oil mixture over ravioli and make sure it spreads over the ravioli.

4) Serve on plates, and use a nice mediterranean spread (also from COSTCO), and place next to (or on top) of Ravioli.

5) Take some fresh romano cheese and grate it over the ravioli.

6) Accompany it with your favorite beverage (table wine works well), and set the romantic mood with plenty of candles.

7) Enjoy the meal.


As a side note, (this goes out to maried folk), if you wanna have romance but don't wanna break the bank, I recommend this resource:

http://www.familylife.com/1-800-358-632 ... 2&p=&c=&g=

I gave it as an anniversary gift to some friends of ours, who are on a single income, and they've loved it.

Thanks for your time!

- RS

[Chris Luva Luva]

thighs - pound them...Good stuff.

See the subliminal message in his post?

[Skinsfan55]

All those are great ideas... I'm steering away from Italian though, because it seems like it's all I ever make for her, lol.

I've all but decided on this:

Tomato and Basil Soup
Caesar Salad
London Broil w/ twice baked potatoes and veggies
German Chocolate Cake

The only difficult part will be making the main course. I went with a Campbells Select Soup and bag salad with a bakery cake for the rest of dinner. It's not just because I'm lazy, and I could probably make all those things, I just want more time to spend with her at the table.

I figure the twice baked potatoes and the london broil will pretty much be taking care of itself by the time she arrives.

Speaking of the london broil, here was my idea for that. It's not specifically made like london broil, it's just these Big Sam steaks from Schwans. They are pretty versitile, and you can use them easily, and for just about anything. I'm going to marinade them all day in the fridge starting on Tuesday and then broil them as we are eating our soup and salad. Then while they are settling I can bring the used marinade to a boil and re-use it as a sauce once I cut the meat into London Broil-like strips.

Pretty much most of my culinary experience is making Italian, so it will be a little different to plan this dinner out, even though I am taking some shortcuts... but I love these suggestions, and am writting them all down.

[DEHog]

Go with fondue...great fun to cook your own meal...works great with Veggie and chocolate!!

[Irn-Bru]

If you have a good 'feel' for cooking, SF55, I would recommend doing some exploration in the land of curry and other Indian or southeast Asian cuisine.

Here's a recipe that I pull out quite a bit, it was always good for impressing the ladies:


Ingredients:
Coconut milk (NOT coconut cream!)
Chicken
Basil (fresh makes all the difference)
Red or green curry paste*

Vegetables. Any combination of:
baby corn
green/Red (my favorite)/Yellow pepper
mushrooms
roma tomatoes
(fresh) green beans, whole or halved
eggplant
zucchini
bamboo shoots
etc. etc. almost anything works well, so just pick out some of your favorite vegetables and add them

[Not essential, but great if you can get:
Kaffir Lime Leaves
Lemongrass
(The combination of these is killer)]


To cook:

Heat some oil in a good-sized pot. Add approximately 1-2 TBSP. green curry paste and heat/fry in oil for a minute or so -- be careful not to burn. (The spices are fried first to release their maximum flavor, which really enhances the dish).

Add 2 cans of coconut milk; whisk together curry/oil with the coconut milk while over medium heat. The mixture should be a light red or green color.

Add chicken cut up in small pieces (raw), and simmer for about 10 minutes before adding the lime leaves, lemongrass, and whatever vegetables you have. Cook until chicken is done and veggies are soft (12-25 minutes). Add basil (chopped or even whole leaf) for the last few minutes and serve over rice.

More curry paste can be added at any point to make it more spicy.

Basmati rice works great with this, but any rice will do.


This dish is great because you can modify it a hundred different ways and to your taste. Beer is the best with it (if you don't mind going a little barbarian on your date), but certain wines also do well (mostly whites).


* You can generally find a suitable curry paste in your grocery store, probably in the 'international foods' section. I've used Patak's brand red curry paste and have found it very flavorful and spicy enough. I highly recommend it. (I also recommend their ready-made curry sauces, which is an easier way to make curry that is also very popular with the ladies).

[Skinsfan55]

dinner went off without a hitch even though I was battling a cold, blech.