Planning A Romantic Dinner For Valentine's Day
Written by Heather Matthews - Saturday, 13 December 2008
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 In our troubled economy, an expensive night out at a romantic restaurant may not make financial sense. You can still create a beautiful meal at home, if you take the time to ensure the atmosphere is dreamy, and sets the mood perfectly.
We’ve put together a menu that will allow to you recreate the beauty of an elegant restaurant - right in your own home.
Staying in and serving a lovely meal in your own environment will save you money, and it will allow you to cuddle up afterwards, and really be close to one another on Valentine’s Day.
Here is our recipe for the perfect evening:
Setting The Stage: It’s not necessary to spend a lot of money in order to create a romantic atmosphere. You can go to the dollar store and stock up on balloons in pink, red, and silver, and place them around your home. You can also buy little tea lights and votives, and light red and white candles to place on the table. Just taking the time to make things fun and festive will earn you accolades from your partner. Remember, lighting is very important: keep the room dimly lit, and use candles for a romantic feel. You don’t need to spend a fortune on red roses or gourmet food to make the meal memorable: just be sure that you decorate the table and surrounding area to make your partner feel special!
Menu:
Drinks: A good bottle of wine, red or white, will be as impressive as champagne, if you’ve set the stage properly. If you don’t drink, consider fresh juices, and serve them in pretty cocktail glasses so that you can toast one another in style. Exotic juices such as pomegranate will fit in with the color scheme, and they will be fun to try!
Appetizers: There is no need to break the bank on pate or oysters to impress the one you love: bruschetta is easy and inexpensive to make, and the bright red topping will work with your Valentine décor.
Recipe for Bruschetta:
- 1 loaf crusty bread, cut in 1 inch slices
- 1/3 cup good olive oil
- 2 large tomatoes (peel, seed and dice)
- 2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped fine
- a few basil leaves, torn into small pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced lengthwise
- salt and pepper
Preparation
Toast bread over a grill: brown both sides. Brush bread with olive oil. In a bowl, mix tomato and herbs. Place garlic in separate container. Rub cloves on warm bread, top with mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Main Course: Consider roasting a chicken, stuffing the cavity with a halved lemon, herbs, a little garlic, and salt and pepper. Brush the chicken with olive oil, and roast according to weight. The scent of a roasting chicken is heavenly, and you can present it beautifully on a large platter.
Side Dishes: Baby carrots, boiled until they are tender-crisp, and drizzled with butter, will look wonderful around your roasted chicken, and they are so easy to make!
Wild Rice: Wild rice packets are already pre-seasoned, and almost foolproof. Fluffy rice will be the perfect complement to your meal: serve it in a pretty ceramic bowl. This inexpensive side dish still feels luxe!
Dessert: There is no need to spend a fortune on dessert, in order to create something romantic for your partner. Simply melt some dark chocolate in a double boiler, and dip in whole, clean strawberries (dry them first) just halfway. Leave them to harden on wax paper, and present them on little plates with paper doilies.
This meal will save you a fortune on restaurant bills, and will leave you feeling wonderful. You can make this meal for about forty dollars, and this includes a decent bottle of wine! Then, the two of you can curl up together, perhaps with a romantic film, such as Casablanca, and enjoy some quality time as a couple.
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How to have a better valentine's day
- Try something different and unexpected.
- Remind each other why you fell in love.
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