double dinner date, im cooking, what to make?

Question

a couple we just met is coming for dinner this week. looking for something kind of basic, no onions, no grill.....

any suggestions?

ill probably fall back on spaghetti with a salad and bread.

Answer 1

Make carbonara. Basically spaghetti in a white sauce with bacon. Very good, and a little classier than spaghetti.

Answer 2

Spaghetti sounds good or for something really easy pick up a roasted chicken from the supermarket and some instant mashed potatoes. Make a pan gravy from the juices in the chicken and prepare a salad.

Answer 3

You cna do a fish dish with Orange Ruffy if you can find some, Jasmine rice and a veggie mix from the frozen food isle.

During the week, pasta works the best, it's quick and easy. Heat up the sauce in a pan, add some Nature's Seasoning seasoning blend, and a little extra virgin olive oil, simmer and stir often.

Add about 2-3 tbs butter to the noodles after cooking, let it melt in and mix around.

Desert? A decaf moca flavored coffee drink, coupled with a nice tiramasu, it's light and goes with the Italian theme.

Answer 4

How about pasta with shrimp and vegetables. Maybe you can use either alfredo or pesto sauce.

Make your salad and garlic bread and add a nice bottle of wine.

One reason why I don't like spaghetti on a dinner date is that the sauce can stain someones shirt or dress.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Rice:
1 1/3 cup uncooked white rice
2 2/3 cup water
3 chicken flavored bullion cubes
2 T garlic powder

Chicken and sauce:
4 cups orange juice
4 T soy sauce
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 2 lbs, sliced into thin strips (Easier if they are slightly frozen)

Vegetable:
1 pound fresh green beans (or other green vegetable)

Combine rice, water, bullion cubes and garlic powder in a covered 2 qt pot. Bring water to boil. As soon as water begins to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in deep skillet or wok, combine orange juice, ginger, salt & pepper. Bring to a low boil over medium heat. Add chicken and cover. Let cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Remove chicken from liquid. Bring liquid to boil on high heat. Stirring constantly, reduce to about 1-1 ½ cups.

Steam green beans about seven minutes. (Other vegetables cook at different times, just make sure they are still a little crisp, not musht.)

Place 1 cup of rice on each plate. Top each with one-fourth of the cooked chicken. Place ¼ green beans on each plate. Top all with orange glaze.

Serves 4.

This is a little spicy, not real hot, but a little kick. Omit the ginger if you don't want the heat at all.

If you don't like this, go to http://www.kraftfoods.com
They have some great, simple recipies.

Answer 6

Do something different with your spaghetti....you want basic so no fuss (that doesn't mean lazy) Try changing the kind of pasta...how about gnocci (sp?) instead...only need to cook in boiling water for a couple of minutes (but eat it right away) pick up a couple jars of different white sauces (to forgo any messes and stains). If you really want basic but a step up from sliced bread...pick up a couple bags of Crazy Bread from Little Cesaers Pizza ($1.50/bag + tax) and a bottle of inexpensive wine. Throw away the commercial packaging and it looks like you cooked it all yourself.

Answer 7

manacoti is always a crowd pleaser it goes great with garlic bread sticks and Cesar salad. if you want to give it a little extra flare add artichoke hearts and crab meat to the ricotta cheese and use a white sauce instead of a red. It is fun and not as involved as people will think.

Answer 8

Fried Calamari appetizer, Caesar Salad, Veal Piccata and Bananas Foster for dessert.

Answer 9

i always think spahetti is great with a salad also - but, why not add some chicken. you can bread and bake your chicken early in the day, when you are almost ready to serve dinner, put cooked breaded chicken cutlets in pan with gravy top with gravy and mozerella and grated cheese, baked in over until cheese melts and serve with your pasta and side salad and bread (make it garlic bread, just spread butter on italian bread and sprinkle with garlic powder and toss in broiler until lightly brown and crusty). whatever you decide have a great dinner date!

Answer 10

Chicken parmesan, or eggplant parmesan if you think they might be "vegs". Easy as hell, and usually always a hit. Everyone likes Italian. Salad, garlic bread or bruschetta...check some food websites. And get a good red wine for it. Cabernet, Merlot, etc.