if you had to make a meal to impress a date what would you cook?

Question

im fairly skilled at cooking but by no means a chef, and something reasonable, say with a budget of no more than $30 for both of us. thats without drinks. we are both beer drinkers so a fancy bottle of wine would be useless. but i mean the whole meal otherwise, appetizer, main course, side dishes and dessert. but i want to cook it myself to show her im not some lazy slob that cant do anything right. by the way im 40 and single so i am used to cooking alot for myself. but most of the things i make are just simple things like pot roast or casseroles. i want something a little more impressive than serving her meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

and i see alot of the prebreaded butterfly shrimp fairly reasonable in the frozen food section at the supermarket and some of it is actually pretty good. but it still is just heated up frozen food. i want it to be fresh and actually put some effort into making it the right way.

Answer 1

As a person who enjoys fresh food, but not cooking, I can tell you that any effort you make for another person re cooking is bound to be appreciated... and if like me you have a busy life (!) its ok to use some frozen/pre-prepared ingredients...just not the whole meal! Some random thoughts - the dinner presentation must be clean and simple, beer must be very very cold, beer goes well with seafood, and most asian cuisines. Try a different boutique beer with each course perhaps.... , . How about this for fresh and simple, quick to prepare & cook, and bound to impress? (Assuming you enjoy seafood...)
Entree - some freshy cooked peeled (tails on) king prawns tossed lightly (not cooked in) in a marinade of lemongrass, sweet chilli sauce, ginger, fish sauce & soy sauce : drain the prawns (reserve the marinade), serve on a bed of lettuce & bean sprouts in funky dishes or martini glasses, drizzle a small amount of the marinade lightly over the top, garnish with a couple of mint leaves.
Main course: Stir fry some fresh (or thawed) calamari, scallops, and fish pieces. Put aside & stir fry snow peas, red capsicum, bok choy, spring onions, bamboo shoots & baby corn, garlic, fish sauce, Kecap Manis (or standard soy sauce), & coriander. Put the seafood back in & lightly stir through all together.Serve in bowls over freshly cooked egg noodles (packet from fresh food section).
Dessert: Chocolate mousse (packet??) made up and chilled in individual dishes, served with chocolate wafer sticks and sliced strawberries. Dust with icing sugar & cocoa for extra effect.
Perhaps cappucino or espresso coffee for afterwards, if you have a coffee machine ? serve with tiny bickies on the side...
If you choose to serve different beers with each course, make sure you use a fresh glass for each type of beer. Set the table nicely using a crisp fresh tablecloth, and napkins, nice dinner ware and cutlery. Put a simple fresh flower from the garden in the centre of the table, or a bowl with fresh flowers floating in it, even a couple of small candles. If you serve the entree as above, put out a finger bowl with the first course (bowl of cold water with slices of lemon) to rinse the prawn smell off your fingers... take it away once the first course is finished. Re the budget - I'm assuming you'll have the sauces & spices in your cupboard - otherwise maybe buy them one week & then have them on hand for when you need them; For 2 people you should work on about 5 king prawns each for the entree - if you buy them fresh from a fish market this shouldn't be very expensive. Ditto for the calamari & scallops (work on about 5 rings & 5 scallops each as part of the stirfry )and again if you buy fresh you can ask for exactly the quantity you want. Fish can be bought as fillets (2 small-med)) then cut into smaller pieces for the stir fry. You only need a handful of snow peas, a little lemongrass, a grating of fresh ginger (or you can buy it in jars like garlic), a bunch of bok choy, small amount of lettuce, small sprouts & about 2 large spring onions... 1 small tin of bamboo shoots, and you can use either fresh or tinned baby corn, you only need about 6 bits... I reckon you could do it for around $30... good luck!

Answer 2

Hey, dude: I've lived with several women, been married twice - and my cooking was what impressed them most - and believe it or not, a simple meatloaf can make or break ya: it does take skill to do it well, as you oughta know! Pot roast does well, too. Gals like a guy who does not try to show off. Of course, there's the rest of the evening you'll need to occupy, and there's where ya wanna get creative. How about a moonlight cruise on the water? An evening at the Pops? What's in the theatres tonight - NOT the movie theater, the stage.

Answer 3

It depends on if you want fish or beef. Each of these 2 meals can be made at less than $20.00 if you shop right.

I would serve a nice salad with a red-wine vinegar/olive oil dressing for both of these meals.
--------------------------------
The Salmon I would serve with rice or rice pilaf (box = 2.19)
Serve with steamed broccoli or whatever your green vegetable of choice is.
For dessert, fresh strawberries with chocolate syrup decorating the plate is a nice presentation, inexpensive and "decadent".

╓ Salmon, poached in white wine sauce╓

2 fillets of salmon, approximately 3/4 pound each
4 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 cup white cooking wine
1/2 cup water
1 orange with peel, sliced thin, approximately 7 slices
2 tbsp. margarine
2 fresh basil leaves, torn or 1 tsp. dry basil
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Pinch or two of dry dill

Before beginning, generously pour some olive oil into a baking dish or large disposable foil pan. Add the wine and water. Wash the salmon fillets, pat dry with paper towel. Set the salmon in the liquids and marinate for approximately 1 hour, turning every so often.

In large skillet, melt the margarine, sauté the onions slightly, until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for only 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add the basil, salt and pepper.

Add the skillet mixture to the liquids and salmon and baste all together. Layer the orange slices over the salmon and sprinkle a small amount of dill on top. Cover with foil. Bake in 375° oven for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve over rice or with side of pasta.

For the garlic, you can use less, depending on your taste buds.

Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

~~~~~----------~~~~~---------~~~~---------~~~~~---------~~~~~~~

╓ Burgundy Beef╓

For this menu, I would suggest either a baked potato or mashed potatoes and your veggie of choice - steamed with lemon and pepper.
Again, the dessert can be fresh strawberries placed decoratively on a plate, then take chocolate syrup and swirl it around the strawberries making "squiggly" lines & circles. Very nice presentation - and takes yummy.

NOW, for the meat...either use a brisket, or a thick steak...(our preference is brisket or a nice roast - ask your butcher)
for 2 people, get approx 3/4 lb each or for brisket, 2½ lbs will work.

› 1/4 cup Olive Oil (extra virgin)
› 1/2 cup Burg. or Cabernet Sav. wine
› 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
› Fresh Basil - approx. 4 leaves, torn.
(You may use dried if no fresh available, approx. 1/4 tsp.)
› Garlic Salt
› Pepper (we use the montreal steak seasoning pepper)
› 2/3 cup duck sauce duck sauce (you can get this at any grocery store in the Ethnic aisle).

Again, let's start by putting the olive oil into a baking dish or large disposable foil pan. Add the wine and the duck sauce.

Add the garlic, seasonings. Stir and place the meat in this mixture (you now have a marinade).

Let marinate for several hours, turning every so often so both sides of the meat get incorporated into the marinade.

Now you are ready to cook. If steak, place on the BBQ and grill to your liking. We eat ours rare to med.-rare and that would be 7 minutes on 1 side, then turn over for approx. 5 min.
Done.


GOOD LUCK - SAVE ME A BITE!

Oh, if you have questions - or if you decide to choose my answer, I would be more than happy to give you variations.

Bye for now...

Answer 4

Pasta is your best choice for impressive, but inexpensive.
This is what I would do:
Appetizer - Roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto
Salad - Baby greens or arugula with a simple vinaigrette
Pasta - Fettuccine Alfredo
Basket of crusty bread or rolls
Bottle of wine
For dessert, I would keep it simple - a nice bowl of fresh berries with whipped cream is always delicious! Or chocolate dipped strawberries is great, also!

Here are some links:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_36421,00.html?rsrc=search
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_26988,00.html?rsrc=search
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_28078,00.html?rsrc=search

Have a fun night - I hope these help!

Answer 5

appetizer- teriyaki chicken skewers.
main course- herb grilled pork chops with twice baked potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, and a salad.
dessert- fresh strawberry pie with whipped cream.


recipes found at www.recipezaar.com (free, plentiful site)

Answer 6

Appetizer

Small skewers with pieces of smke sausage, pineapple and bell pepper on it. Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes and serve with small dish of honey mustard dressing in center of plate.

Main Dish
Garlic chicken breasts with potato
slices and carrots.

Take two large boneless chicken breasts. Wash. Place in baking pan.

Peel and slice into 1/4" slices 2 large potatoes. Place in pan around one side of the same pan.

Peel and cut 4 large carrots into 1/4" slices, and place around other side of pan.

Slice one onion and spread around pan.

Salt and pepper. Sprinkle generously with garlic powder.

Place about 10 pats of butter on chicken, potatoes and carrots.

Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, at 425 degrees, on each side.

Uncover and cook until brown. Place on plate with chicken in center and potatoes and carrots on each side. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve with dinner rolls.

Dessert---

Banana Parfait

Cook vanilla pudding per directions.
Slice one banana
alternate in parfait glasses and top with whipped cream and chocolate slivers

Answer 7

i'd probably go for mexican or italian food!
jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese to start
fajhitas for main
ice cream to finish :)
or
cheesy doughballs to start
pizza or spaghetti for main
tiramisu to finish
Good Luck xx

all are simple and quite cheap to make! recepies can be found online!

Answer 8

how about order take away and say that you cooked it? i did it once and got away with it