Any tips on what to cook for Valentines day?!
Answers: Im 24, never really cooked a meal for another person in my life. well i know how to make chinese fried rice, eggs and bacon but i would really love to cook a decent meal for my girlfriend this feb14th. any ideas on how i can accomplish this without having her to suffer from food poisoning? I was thinking pasta with red wine. I would appreciate someone with an idea of a simple dish which is easy to cook yet delicious. I wish there was a cooking for dummies book.
why only pasta and red wine?! you forgot a bouquet of flowers!
Fry up some chicken breast in a pan and throw in some raspberry preserves let them melt..maybe add a bit of butter even a spash of wine...serve with steamed or roasted veggies...very pretty for valentines seeing the raspberry preserves are such a lovely pink/red really simple not to mention u can find millions of versions of this recipe on the web
boil spaghetti bite it in half or throw it at the wall to see when it done add sauce
i like garlic bread with mine
as far as the wine i cant help
I say go with your strengths. Make a shrimp scampi (peeled shrimp baked in garlic-lemon-butter) and your fried rice.
But... This chicken picatta recipe is really easy, looks fancy, and great served w/ linguine (boil for time stated on box) that is tossed in the sauce. Serve w/ a big green salad and chocolate fondue for dessert.
CHICKEN PICCATA
2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups all purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
In a large 10 or 12-inch skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.
Reduce heat to medium low and add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.
-- Giada De Laurentiis, FoodTV
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Chocolate Fondue
It's important to maintain moderately low heat (no more than 120°F) under your fondue pot so the chocolate stays melted and just warm to the touch. Too much heat can ruin the chocolate.
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz. semisweet chocolate, chips or finely chopped bar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pound cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 pints strawberries, rinsed and hulled
Fill the fondue pot with 2 cups warm water and place the pot on the stand. Fill the fuel burner with oil according to the manufacturer's instructions and set it on the stand.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the cream until steam begins to rise, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the chocolate, and stir until melted, smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and stir until blended. Pour the chocolate sauce into the porcelain insert and place the insert in the fondue pot. Set the splatter guard on the top.
Set the fondue pot on the table and light the fuel burner, following the manufacturers instructions. Serve with pound cake, strawberries and individually marked fondue forks for dipping. Serves 6.
--Williams-Sonoma
If it's for you significant other try steak (either on the grill or broiled) with a boiled lobster tail. Their not hard to make and fairly cheap. Hope that helps
There are cooking for dummies cookbooks, lol, but here are some simple ideas for you:
Pasta:
Fresh garlic (don't be afraid of it because it's valentine's)
Fresh Parmesan and Romano cheese
Olive oil
Boil pasta until it is done but not soft. Drain. Stir in minced garlic. Add Olive oil. Add cheese.
Salad:
Fresh spinach (from a package)
One love apple (avocado) sliced
One can of mandarin oranges
Wash spinach and roll up in a hand towel. Stick in fridge until ready to serve. This will keep it crisp and drain it at the same time. Slice avocado lengthwise. Brush with lemon juice to keep it nice and green. Drain mandarin oranges. Place both on same plate and refrigerate. When ready to serve, arrange avocado and oranges on plate in a spiral. Drizzle with your favorite light dressing.
Boneless chicken breasts:
Wash thoroughly and dry. Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle with Lawry's seasoned salt. Bake at 350 degrees until done. Don't overcook but under-cooking is worse. When tested, it will come away from the bone easily. Or just use drumsticks or boneless thigh meat.
For dessert:
One bottle of chilled economy champagne (Trader Joe's has a great almond champagne under $5.00)
One quart of lemon sorbet or strawberry sorbet
Spoon three to four large tablespoons of sorbet into wine or champagne glasses. Fill with champagne. Serve immediately, preferably with a rose in one hand. This will also take care of the garlic in the pasta.
Start with really good food, you can find that at the specialty gourmet food store. Don't forget the spices, Thyme and oregano are my favorites. Since you are new, find a recipe online. Watch the cooking channel on cable tv, pay attention to what they do and why they do it (they tell you) Howbout sauted bay scallops with linguine in a red wine sauce? What you need is practice, and a freind who knows how to cook to tell you the finer parts of regulating the heat on the stove and working with the timeing. 'Cooking for dummies' is a book that will explain some of this stuff too. Part of good cooking is intuition, and practice. From now until Valantines day you should cook a really good meal for yourself every night. Above all don't be afraid to fail, because when you fail you've just found out something that does not work, and you
will be less likely to make the same mistake again (it's how experts become experts).
Have you considered surprising her with breakfast in bed...or if things have not advanced to that point...a surprise brunch for two? Do you have a local Atlanta Bread Company? You could hit a home run there with all of the pastries and muffins they sell. Take advantage of items already prepared for you.
For instance:
Ice-chilled Champagne in a bucket with two crystal flutes
Freshly-squeezed Orange or Apple Juice
Freshly baked Crumb-topped Blueberry muffins and Orange marmalade
Strawberries with Framboise Creme Parfait.
You don't have to cook or bake to impress her. All of the above items are at Publix too.
The tray is decorated with a beautiful linen napkin, rosebud in vase and a newspaper for both of you to do the crossword, read the comics and laugh at your horoscopes.
Eggs benedict are my favorite, but very tricky to make. You could go with french toast dusted with powdered sugar in the shape of a heart or through a doily.
Of course, you have your omelettes. The two of you could have fun making your own together.
I hope you and your love have a romantic and memorable evening!