I need some good recipes for a romantic dinner!?

Question

Just a warning--this is a few questions combined in one! I saw a couple other questions similar to this but here is MY problem: I am not the best cook ever...so simple recipes with EASY-to-find ingredients are the best :) I want to make a main dish, side dish, and dessert. For the main course I think I want to make this http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/?q=recipes/drunken-pasta-with-beets-and-swiss-chard (if the link doesn't work it's called drunken pasta)-- do you think it looks too complicated? Anyways, I still need a side course (maybe a nice salad or something?) and a dessert. Any suggestions or website links would be helpful. Thanks guys!!

Answer 1

The Drunken Pasta looks great...I love beets, they're so good!... Try artichokes with dinner and lemon squares for dessert...YUM!

Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Lemon Butter

4 servings 35 min 10 min prep

4 fresh artichokes
1/4 cup olive oil
10 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup butter

Cut stems and top 1 1/2 inches from artichokes.
Cut away first outside row of artichoke leaves.
Using scissors, cut off pointed tips of leaves.
Place Artichokes in steamer.
Steam artichokes until knife pierces base easily, adding more water if necessary, about 25 minutes.
Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add garlic and thyme; cook 1 minute.
Add lemon juice and butter.
whisk until butter melts.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve artichokes warm with seasoned butter.
Dip leaves and pull off flesh with teeth and dunk heart when you reach it.

Lemon Square Bars

Original recipe yield:
1 - 9x13 inch pan

PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 50 Min
READY IN 1 Hr 10 Min
PHOTO BY: Allrecipes US METRIC

INGREDIENTS
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, melted

4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5/8 cup lemon juice

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups flour and confectioners' sugar. Blend in the melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Combine the sugar, baking powder and 1/4 cup of flour so there will be no flour lumps. Stir the sugar mixture into the eggs. Finally, stir in the lemon juice. Pour over the prepared crust and return to the oven.
Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until bars are set. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Answer 2

Here ya go hony....wow him!!!! You can do all of this!!!!!!! Good luck to you!!!!

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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

This is a good one and something my husband loves, were havign it Saturday and he doesn't know it yet.

First, for an appitizer chill some wine glasses in the freezer. Once they are chilled fill 3/4 of the way with crushed ice and then top the ice with cold cocktail sauce and then ring the glass with shrimp cocktail sized shrimp, and a lemon wedge. This is an AWESOME presentation and so much fun to eat. You could carry the glasses to the table on a plate lined with a linen napkin.

So, for the dinner, keep it simple.

Ingredients:

20 to 30 shrimp with no tails
1 bag of pre cooked grilled chicken stips cut into bite size pieces (don't buy the frozen, just grab the Tyson ones in the meat section)
Garlic
Olive oil
Butter, not the margerine, real butter
Salt/pepper
Linguini, cooked not rinsed
Fresh Parsley
Lemon
Artichokes, chopped
Capers
A cup of White Wine

In a large pan, heat oil and butter combo, about 4 tablespoons of each. Add the garlic and saute for a few minutes, not burning. Add the chicken and shrimp and cook until the shrimp is done. Add the rest of the ingredients (including the wine) and heat for about 5 minutes, let the alcohol burn off and reduce, then add the noodles that have been cooked and drained but not rinsed and mix it all up and top with fresh parsley and lemon juice when you plate it.

For Dessert you can make these ahead....

Chilled wine glasses
vanilla pudding
chocolate pudding
crushed oreos
cool whip

In the wine glasses, add a layer of vanilla pudding, then a layer of crushed oreos and then chocolate pudding and keep going until you top it with cool whip and more oreos!

You will win his heart with this meal!

Answer 3

The drunken pasta looks pretty good to me, and simple enough to make. Although here is what I would do if I were you, it's always a winner.

Make chicken parmesean as your main dish, ceaser salad as a side and good old fruits and whipped cream for dessert! You can have so much fun with fruit and whipped cream hehehe.

OK but to make the chicken parmesean, all you have to do is boil some chicken breasts until they are cooked. Drain. The put it baking dish, cover with your favourite spaghetti sauce and grate cheese on top. Also add some parmesean cheese and spices to your liking (cayenne peper and such) and then bake until the cheese is nice and bubbly. You could also serve this on a bed of noodles with some steamed brocolli and extre spaghetti sauce. Mmm mm..

Answer 4

Easy Recipes for a "romantic Dinner"...........

Salads
There are hundreds of salad recipes you can choose from. Try not to be overly experimental with your salads and go with the norms like green salads, mixed vegetables and the like. It would look nice if you can place your salads in “fruit” plates like the outer layer of avocados, papayas or coconuts.

Main Entrée
You can cook something new for your main dish. You can turn the usual chicken and pasta into something special by adding a different sauce or spice. Observe what your date usually get when you dine out and try to prepare his or her favorite restaurant dish.

Desserts
Strawberries and cherries topped with chocolate chunks is a good idea for a dessert. You can also bake simple cookies or cakes with red embellishments.

Preparing a romantic dinner can turn out to be quite pricey, but then again, it’s not something that you do everyday. Making this kind of effort can really add spice to your relationship and will leave a long lasting impression on your date.(http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Great-Ideas-for-a-Romantic-Dinner/108556)


http://www.grouprecipes.com/s/for-a-romantic-dinner/recipe/1/relevancy

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?q=easy+romantic+dinner+romantic

http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/romanticrecipe.htm

http://www.grouprecipes.com/s/romantic-dinner/recipe/1/relevancy

http://busycooks.about.com/od/valentinesday/a/cheesefondue.htm

http://www.askmen.com/fashion/wine_dine_60/82c_wine_dine.html

Answer 5

Try food network Valentine recipes.

Answer 6

Go to www.recipezaar.com then click Menus (from top tabs) and you will see Romantic Menu with great ideas (even one of my favorite from Olive Garden)
Sure would like to know how your night turns out :)