Dinner Ideas?

Question

Saturday im going to make dinner for my boyfriend...
what should i make? anyone have any good recipes?

Answer 1

From a guy's perspective: meatloaf is one of my favorite dishes - served with mashed potatoes and whole green beans or steamed baby carrots. I also like cornish game hens, spaghetti or lasagna served with a salad and a good wine make for a romantic dinner for two. Don't forget dessert - something like cheesecake or a cobbler depending upon the main entree.

Meatloaf
3 pounds lean ground beef
3 large eggs
1/2 to 3/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1 packet Lipton's Onion or Beefy Onion Soup Mix
1 can sliced mushrooms - drained
1/2 cup sliced black olives
2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon A-1 sauce
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheese - I use a combination of Cheddar, Italian Blend and Pepper-Jack cheeses or whatever I have on hand

Mix all ingredients, form into a loaf in a loaf pan, bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours.
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Crimson Cherry-Glazed Holiday Hens
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Roast: 60 minutes

Ingredients
4 24-ounce Cornish game hens
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup sliced or chopped shallot
2 tablespoons butter
1 12-ounce jar red cherry preserves (with whole cherries)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut one of the cloves of garlic in half and rub the skin of each hen with cut side of garlic clove. Mince remaining garlic clove and set aside. Tie drumsticks to tail. Brush hens with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; twist wing tips under back (see photo 4). Roast, uncovered, for 60 to 75 minutes or until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh of each hen registers 180 degrees F. (The thermometer should not touch bone.)

2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan cook shallot and minced garlic in butter over medium heat about 3 minutes or until tender, stirring often. Stir in preserves, vinegar, allspice, and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until desired glazing consistency.

3. To serve, transfer hens to a serving platter. Spoon glaze over hens. Makes 4 servings.
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Spaghetti Sauce Italiano
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 8 to 10 hours (low) or 4 to 5 hours

Ingredients
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14-1/2-ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
2 4-ounce cans mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup chopped green sweet pepper (1 large)
12 to 16 ounces dried spaghetti, cooked and drained
Finely shredded or grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions
1. In a large skillet cook the sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.

2. Meanwhile, in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker stir together undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, mushrooms, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir in meat mixture.

3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Stir in sweet pepper. Discard bay leaf. Serve meat mixture over hot cooked spaghetti. If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

4. Spicy Tomato-Cream Sauce: Prepare as above, except use hot Italian sausage and stir 1/2 cup whipping cream into sauce just before serving.
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Chocolate-Irish Cream Cheesecake
Prep: 45 minutes
Chill: 6 to 24 hours
Bake: 50 minutes
Cool: 15 minutes + 30 minutes + 1 hour
Stand: 15 minutes + 30 minutes + 1 hour

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups finely crushed chocolate wafers (about 18 cookies)*
6 tablespoons butter, melted*
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 8-ounce package semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
3 eggs
1/2 cup Irish cream liqueur
2 tablespoons whipping cream or milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. For crust: In a medium bowl, combine crushed chocolate wafers, melted butter, and cinnamon; toss gently to mix. Press mixture onto the bottom and up the side of a 9- or 10-inch springform pan. Set aside.

2. For filling: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and melted chocolate. Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, stir in eggs just until combined. Stir in liqueur, whipping cream or milk, and vanilla.

3. Pour filling into the crust-lined pan. Place springform pan in shallow baking pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken.

4. Cool in springform pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Using a small sharp knife, loosen from side of pan. Cool for 30 minutes more. Remove side of springform pan. Cool for 1 hour. Cover and chill for at least 6 hours or up to 24 hours. Makes 16 servings.

5. *Note: If using a 10-inch springform pan, use 1-3/4 cups crushed chocolate wafers (about 21 cookies) and 7 tablespoons butter, melted, for the crust.

Answer 2

Guys tend to like comfort food that reminds them of home (providing that 'home' was filled with good food from mom!) Here are some ideas:

1. Meatloaf, sour cream mashed potatos, fresh green beans with onion and bacon.
2. Spaghetti and sausages and meatballs, hot french bread,
green salad
3. Lasagne, chopped salad, hot bread
4. Chili and corn bread, green salad
5. Stuffed porkchops with gravey and mashed potatos. Good with peas.

Great meatloaf:

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground turkey
1 T kosher salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
2 T worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp beau monde or bon appetit
2 eggs
1/2 - 3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

Mix the above together and set aside.

1/2 yellow onion, diced
5 slices platter bacon, peppered preferred, chopped
1 can diced tomatos

Saute onion with bacon until translucent. Add tomatos and simmer until slightly thickened. Add half of the mixture to the meatloaf. Mix well and form into a loaf. Place in baking dish.
To remaining tomato onion mixture add:

3 T brown sugar
1 T dijon or yellow mustard

Simmer until thickened and pour over top of meatloaf. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into it.

Answer 3

Make sauteed scallops wrapped in bacon, or prosciutto, along with risotto with wild mushrooms.

For dessert, just sit down with him and a can of whipping cream :)

Answer 4

Good old fashioned Pot Roast usually works pretty good on Men.