Can anyone recommend a fairly easy....?!
Answers: Valentines day meal? Starter, main course, dessert....I'm not a great cook but I want to impress my boyfriend. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly apprectiated! Thanks?
I would suggest a bruchetta for starter. You can prepare most of this ahead, go with a pasta dish for main course with side salad, and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. You can make these ahead.
I would check some cookbooks for the recipes and keep it simple. Look for a simple sauce, something with light sauce so you aren't so full from say a cream sauce. Also take into account his likes. Pair a wine with this and you have an awesome romantic meal not too expensive.
as long as he receive a descent meal he won't complain
steak is always nice with a side of seasoned potato
Starter: Caeser Salad
Romaine lettuce
Caesar Dressing
Fresh grated Parmesan
Anchovies (if you like them)
Croutons
Main Course: Heart shaped calzones
Buy refrigerated pizza dough. Divide into 2 pieces, roll out like you're making a pizza. Place sauteed chicken, peppers & onion, a little salt, and a mix of shredded cheeses (pizza mix is good) on top. Fold over and pinch, and form into heart shape. Bake at 350 or so until golden (1/2+ hours)
Dessert: Creme Broulee
2 1/3 c. heavy cream
2/3 c. milk
1/4 c. granulated sugar
3 whole eggs
3 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. light brown sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Heat cream, milk, sugar in a heavy saucepan to almost boiling. In a separate bowl beat whole eggs and extra egg yolks together well.
Gradually whisk the heated mixture into the eggs, then return mixture to the saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard coats the back of the spoon (3 to 4 minutes); remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.
Pour custard into 6 individual custard dishes or into 1 shallow baking dish about 9 inches across. Set dish or dishes in a large pan and place on the middle rack of the oven. Pour hot water into the outer pan to come level with custard. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until center is set.
When done, remove custard from water bath and cool. Cover and chill. A few hours before serving, preheat broiler. Sift brown sugar over top of custard. Set custard under broiler as close to heat as possible. Broil until browned about 1 1/2 minutes. Watch closely. Remove and chill.
Makes 6 portions.
You can buy some frozen appetizers. Then make a nice spaghetti dinner with garlic bread. And purchase a nice dessert. He would be happy with that!
You could do steak and baked potato. and Salad. and for desert you could buy or bake a cake. or brownies with whipped cream and ice cream, yummm!
Great Starter is Thai Beef Salad, got a nice kick and you can share it on one plate and use chopsticks so get closer
Thinly slice some beef (sirloin or fillet) griddle to your liking
Make a marinade of soy sauce, fresh chopped chilli, a pinch of sugar and a few drops of seasame oil.
arrange on a plate, fresh beansprouts, corriander leafs, sliced raw mange tout, and salad leaves
arrange the cooked steak over the top and pour over the dressing, you can use as much dressing as you want really so keep tasting it while making it to check it's not too salty or hot
Main course
Basil and Balsamic Chicken
In a roasting tray lay out chicken breasts or drumticks in, pout over some olive oil, the juice of 1.5 lemons, a good splash of balsamic vinegar salt, pepper and a whole bunch of torn up basil, cook in a hot oven until cooked and serve with new pots and your fav veg
Puddings, buy some body paint chocolate and enjoy lol
You could just buy frozen appetizers quiche, cheese stuffed breadsticks etc. Spaghetti! It's super easy to make.. here's instructions if you need them: http://www.tripoint.org/kevtris/Stupid/g...
and for desert strawberry shortcake:
3/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 shortbread cookies
16 strawberries, hulled and quartered
1. Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
2. Place two shortbread cookies on individual serving plates. Top cookies with whipped cream and strawberries. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.
http://www.cooksrecipes.com/dessert/easy...
if you want to make it all from scratch i would suggest using google to find recipes or foodnetwork.com.. you could do a salad for the app or soup (a crock pot will be your best friend for this one) or maybe some beef tips with peppercorn demi glaze on a puff pastry with onions and mushrooms sliced thin.. for dinner hmm i would go with meat loaf mased potatoes and green beans.. for the meat loaf
1 lrg egg lightly beaten
3 tbsp grated fresh onion
1 (10oz) can diced tomatoes w/ green chilies undrained
1 (1.1 oz) package fiesta ranch-style dip mix
1 (8.75 oz) can whole corn drained
1/s tsp pepper
1tsp Worcestershire suace
1 onion chopped
1 1/2 lb ground sirloin
1/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
tomato paste and ketchup
cooking spray
combine all ingredients (except tomato paste and ketchup and cooking spray) your hand work best!
shape the beef into a 8x4 in load pan make sure u coat with cooking spray first.. mix tomato past and ketchup and put on the top...bake at 350 for 1 hour (should be 160)