What is an easy (and kinda cheap) dinner I can make for when my boyfriend comes over?

Question

He's coming over tomorrow, and I feel kinda bad because he always does such sweet stuff for me, and I want to do something for him this time, so instead of microwaving leftovers I want to make something special. (But I'm a vegetarian and he's next best thing to a carnivore...so that's pretty much why I'm asking Yahoo answers.)

Answer 1

Make spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, & Ceaser salad Instead of putting your gound beef and sauce together, make the meatballs for him in a seperate container while adding spagetti sauce to it, cook the sauce into it.

Serve the noodles, sauce, and meatballs in sauce seperate. That way you can have noodles & sauce, salad, and garlic bread. He can have the same thing and have meatballs.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

If you live by a Trader Joe's go check one out because they have a ton of cheap and easy options.
Otherwise, heres some side options that are really good and cheap that you could find at your grocery store.

Sweet Potato Fries
- You need one or two sweet potato, yam, or regular potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 400*
- Chop the potatoes into 8 spears
- Toss in a bowl with olive oil until covered
- Place on a cookie sheet and cook 10 - 15 minutes on each side. Yams and Sweet Potatoes will take a LOT less time than the regular potatoes so keep an eye on them.
- Sprinkle with a little bit of salt

Grilled Asparagus
- Wash and snap off ends of asparagus
- Toss in a bowl with olive oil until covered
- Preheat oven to 350* (or work with the 400* as listed above)
- Place on a cookie sheet or flat pan for approx. 10 - 15 minutes total.
Pierce the bottom with a fork to make sure that it is done, but do NOT overcook. It should have a nice crunch to it!
- Sprinkle salt and pepper when done

Then for the "main part". Look for a meat that is on sale, maybe ground turkey for burgers or fresh chicken or pork that's easy enough to pop in the oven with a marinade. For yourself, maybe buy a portebello mushroom and marinate it with teriyaki sauce and roast that along with the asparagus.

Answer 3

Spaghetti and meatballs is a great idea but if you want to go a little fancier (or just look like you went fancier) try this recipe:

Penne Cardinale from http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/511/Buca_di_Beppo_Penne_Cardinale48948.shtml

It's soooo good and looks and tastes like you spent a lot more time on it. If it's just the two of you, you can easily half the recipe, get some terrific garlic bread and you'll be set. Have fun!

Answer 4

How about chicken quesadilla's? If she won't eat onions and peppers just make her's without them. just put the cheese and chicken between the two flour tortillas. If she will eat spinach or refried beens you can add that in too "incognito". If she will eat carrot sticks, celery etc...you can keep a plate of it available for her with a little bowl of ranch dressing or whatever for her to dip them. This is all i can skim right off the top of my head but I can say this. when my kids were little they were a bit picky too so I would keep healthy fun snacks around and sometimes even give them apple slices with peanut butter on them as a side dish to grilled cheese or burgers etc... My daughter used to love when we would make silly things like ants on a log etc. sometimes getting them involved in the preparation of the food does help. They feel "accomplished" and then want to try what they helped make. Good luck, but know she will grow out of it...my kids did. Now they eat everything and anything I put in front of them. ; )

Answer 5

Buy a box of Zatarains Jambalaya mix and don't add the meat to it. It is really good, but kinda spicy. It costs about $1.50 a box. No extra ingredients needed except water. Easy, fast, and delicious.

Answer 6

CHICKEN MARSALA - In first frying pan, Cut boneless chicken into chunks or strips, coat with flour and cook in butter until all sides just start to brown, set aside. In second frying pan, melt butter and add fresh sliced mushrooms (lots) and cook until they just start to soften, add generous amount of Marsala wine and a couple of finely diced garlic cloves and cook for three minutes. Add chicken from first pan and cook until sauce thickens (flour from chicken will thicken sauce), Add a small spritz more Marsala wine ( to refresh Marsala wine flavor) and serve immediately.

Answer 7

I am assuming that you probably eat fish. Try this.. tasty, cheap healthy.

1 lb white fish (sole is the cheapest)
cherry tomatoes cut in half
Fresh basil cut fine
salt /pepper
mozerella cheese cut in chunks
parmesean cheese
olive oil

Throw it all in a casserole dish. drizzle with the olive oil. serve with rice and a veggie. Works for me :)

Answer 8

It may be kinda ordinary, but how about spaghetti. He can have meatballs, you can have sauce, throw in a salad, some rolls, a good wine and candlelight, and you got an inexpensive, romantic date.

Answer 9

fix the following:
1. salad with dressing of choice
2. fettuccine Alfredo - grill and chop a blackened chicken breast and mix with his fettuccine Alfredo
3. Italian spinach or steamed asparagus topped with Parmesan cheese or steamed broccoli with melted cheese sauce
4. garlic bread or warm buttered french bread
5. strawberry shortcake or tiramusu for dessert
6. white wine, red wine, and ice tea to drink (don't forget the lemon, sugar, and sweet and low)
go to allrecipes.com
enjoy!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Chicken n mac n cheese. Or fry some porkchops w potatoes. My bf's not picky n thats good cause I can't cook.What ever u make he'll appreciate it.