I'm on a really tight budget and need ideas for a romantic dinner?!
I'm on a really tight budget and need ideas for a romantic dinner?
Answers: A lot of people have offered some great ideas, but I wanted to share a really romantic idea that is similar to some that have already been listed - Whenever my husband and I want to do something romantic, we fix or buy the other's favorite meal - with my hubby, it's usually steak and taters, or chicken fettechini alfredo. For me it's stoeffers lasagna or chinese take-out. once the meal is decided on, then you need to set the mood -
Make sure the laundry is put away and the house is clean, put candles around the house and I always like fresh sheets on the bed. If you go with Dollar store candles, use an air freshener throughout the house - I like the fabreeze Vanilla Lavender. If you are planning on dinner when he gets home from work, make sure that you take a few extra minutes to dress as though you are going out - a nice outfit, fix your hair, freshen your make-up if you wear it etc...
After dinner, pick out a movie that he would enjoy and curl up together to watch it - still with the lights off, candles lit, and a bowl of popcorn for you to share. Weather permitting, we like to take a little walk around the neighborhood after dinner before the movie as well. Other times, we have driven to the park with a blanket and sat under the stars together.
Anything you like can be romantic - it's the little things that make it so. I'm sure he will appreciate the effort for anything you do. spaghetti and meatballs, with a bottle of wine and candles.
you can make anything romantic if you set the mood with wine candles and music.
or
steak, baked potato and salad
grilled chicken breast, smother with cheese and top with chopped tomatoes, serve with rice and a salad
grilled fish, rice and salad hey there!! ok the best thing you can do for a romantic dinner....you can go to a dollar store or anything of that type and get candles...wine glasses...nice plates (ECT) you can get stuff for a pasta dinner at the market for like 10$ and that like salad stuff, bread, past and the sauce. or even if you dont want to go itialin you can still find other stuff. just remember when you go to the market....stay with store brands like if you go to rainbow or cub stay with rainbow brands or cub brands...it's all really affordable : ) Go to the local dollar store and buy candles. Tea candles are very cheap and several come to a pack.
Make spaghetti. Very cheap meal. Do you have champagne flutes or whine glasses? Make some vanilla pudding and put a couple berries (I prefer raspberries, but this your dinner) on top for dessert.
Turn your radio on to a local classical station.
If this is a girl you're inviting over for dinner - hold her chair out for her. Don't sit down until she sits down. All the old school manners apply. Yeah, a little bit cheesy but very romantic. try a pasta dish. fettucine alfredo is quick and easy. the dish is rich and filling and is is very romantic that you cooked for yor loved one. The sauce tatstes like you have been SLAVING over the stove but it only take a couple of minutes
TRY this:
FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
( I recomend using the light cream)
1 lb fettucine
1/2 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 cups light cream or half and half
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon pepper
pinch of salt
Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt when water is boiling.
Add fettucine. Cook uncovered 10-12 minutes (or according to package directions). Drain; cover and set aside.
IN a large skillet, melt butter. Saute chopped garlic over medium heat for 1 minute.
Stir in 1 1/2 cups cream or half and half (half and half = half milk/half cream).
Cook over medium heat 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. When hot, stir in fettucine. Add remaining cream or half and half, Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Stir to mix well.
After 1-2 minutes, when pasta is hot, serve accompanied by extra cheese for sprinkling, if desired You could probably prepare a fancy pasta (lasagna or ravioli) which is not as expensive as buying steaks or so. A salad as a side dish would be ok and not as expensive. Also, buy a rather cheap white wine instead of red. Melt some semi bitter chocolate to make a fondue and buy some strawberries or your favorite fruit to dip in as a dessert. That should cover it..... hope it adjusts to your budget. Since you havent got a big budget why not go casual, spread a rug on the loungeroom floor, use picnic stuff,light candles and have continental finger food. By a large loaf of french or italian bread get Antipasto dishes(sundried tomatoes ,olives etc), make dolmatees,Grilled vegetables like zuccinni are cheap and go nicely with this. by some good quality olive oil put a small amount in a bowl with salt and pepper to dip the bread in. Or if the person likes more western foods why not make english style fish and chips .
you could eat it it naked or in your undies Have a Bistro dinner, compliments of Stouffers. A picnic in the park. A blanket to sit on, a basket with fried chicken, wine, cheese and crackers. A radio/cd player for some mood music. Maybe a game of cards or frisbee. Anything you can do as a couple. But if your intentions are to get more romantically involved....stay at home and do the pasta, candles, wine night. Or how about a candle-lit bubble bath? Or maybe rent some old movie like Casablanca. I hope my ideas inspire you. Have fun! cheap wine $5
caesar salad $5
london broil With bernaise sauce $8
couscous $2
total $20 for nice romantic dinner at home