Planning a Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner

Valentine's Day is coming up. If you're single and frustrated with the dating scene, you're probably dreading this lovey-dovey Hallmark holiday. But if you're dating or internet dating, you probably feel like the pressure's on. For some people --especially women-- how their new partner performs on Valentine's Day says a lot about how they'll be in the future.

Sound like a lot of pressure? Don't let it be. Just remember what Valentine's Day really means to you (which, apart for earning money for Hallmark, is a chance to show somebody how much you care for them), and act accordingly. The best way to show your best side on Valentine's Day (that is, if you're not still only internet dating)? Make a romantic dinner for two.

If you're an accomplished cook and generally feel comfortable in the kitchen, planning a romantic dinner for two probably seems like a no-brainer. But, if like most people, you're more comfortable ordering at the window than firing up the saute pan, cooking a nice dinner for two probably seems a little daunting. But it doesn't have to be. With a few good recipes and a bit of planning, you can bring off a perfect dinner without a hitch.

Plan ahead. When planning a romantic dinner for two, the whole point is to spend some quality romantic time with your partner. But if you're slaving in the kitchen all night, it can be pretty difficult to do that. The more you plan ahead --and the more dishes that can be made ahead-- the easier things will be on Valentine's. And the more time you'll get to spend with your sweetie.

Know your abilities. Know a chef's knife like the back of your hand? Then the sky's the limit when choosing recipes for Valentine's Day dinner. But if you're less comfortable in the kitchen, keep that in mind when you choose recipes. Remember, a fancy dinner isn't fancy if it's not prepared properly... it's a mess. You'll impress a lot more with a simple, well-prepared meal than with an ambitious disaster.

Think of your partner. Chances are, there are things that you love and things your partner loves... and that the two don't always go hand in hand. When cooking a special dinner, think of your partner first and foremost. While you don't want to make something you won't enjoy eating, your partner's tastes should definitely be the priority. Want to make things extra romantic? Think of a particularly memorable meal you had together (like your first date) and prepare your very own version of that.

Luxury, not complexity. Fortunately, when it comes to Valentine's Day dinner, complex dishes don't always win the day. But luxurious ones do. Don't feel like cooking? Splurge on cold items that you wouldn't normally eat, such as oysters, nice wines, or fancy French cheeses.

Go all out with decorations. A romantic dinner is more about ambiance, really, than it is about the food. Create that ambiance by going all out with your table decorations. Light plenty of candles, spread a layer of rose petals onto a white cloth table cloth, and watch your partner's eyes light up when they enter the room.

Put in the effort. Really want to impress your partner on Valentine's Day? Nothing works quite like a fancy-looking homemade dessert. One that always goes over well? Chocolate-covered strawberries. These little treats are elegant, delicious, inexpensive, and best of all... a lot easier to make than you might think. The recipe below is for about 24 strawberries.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:
1 lb. milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp. vegetable shortening
1 lb. fresh, ripe, organic strawberries with leaves

Instructions: 1. Insert a toothpick into the top of each strawberry.

2. In a double boiler or the microwave, melt together the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening til smooth. Stir often.

3. Using the toothpicks to hold them, dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate.

4. Turn strawberries upside down to set and cool. (Inserting the toothpicks into a length of Styrofoam works great!). Refrigerate 2 hours to set.

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.