Cooking a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for two is one of the best ways to spend Valentine's Day. I’ve put together some of my favorite Valentine’s Day recipes, along with 6 romantic dinner tips to ensure a night filled with love, laughter and delicious food.
Keep the menu simple and easy to prepare. A great way to do this is to rely on great ingredients. Buy the best and freshest ingredients you can find. This is the time to ask the butcher for a hand cut steak, or stop by the bakery for a crusty loaf of bread. French cheeses, artisanal pasta and farm-fresh vegetables don’t need a lot of preparation to taste amazing. Spend your time flirting instead of cooking.
Gazing into each other’s eyes while you fork food into your mouth is great, but feeding each other is better (even if you are just buttering their bread). When you have something to do with your hands; eating is more fun. That’s why fondue is such a romantic dish. If you don't have a fondue set (and don't mind getting messy), a pile of King or Snow crab is a fun meal to tackle, For the more reserved, a simple plate full of sliced prosciutto, cheeses, olives and figs is a great choice for an easy appetizer. The more you use your fingers, the better.
You can take this a step further by cooking together. Turn on some mood music, pour two glasses of wine and get busy in the kitchen. This is a great way to get comfortable with someone.
Prosciutto, Burrata cheese and fig crostini
Black olive & anchovy tapenade
Shrimp cocktail with Sriracha Lime Cocktail Sauce from Alaska from Scratch
Mushroom Pate from My Custard Pie
Endive with Smoked Salmon and Boursin Cheese from Gluten Free Blondie
If you are cooking an entree, don’t make a heavy meal. The last thing you want is to fall into a food coma when you are shooting for an evening of romance. Stay away from huge steaks, casseroles and heavy pasta. If you do make a steak, keep portion size small and steer away from starchy sides.
London Broil with wild mushroom sauce
London Broil with wild mushroom sauce
London Broil with Wild Mushroom Sauce
Salmon with Dill Sauce, Beluga Lentils, Sauteed Leeks
Asparagus and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast from The Organic Kitchen
Try something you haven’t had before. Experiencing things together is bonding, and sexy--even if you spit it out! Cook something daring or try a favorite food in a new way. Do you love going out for ceviche or sushi? You can make them easily at home.
Ceviche recipe | Cherry tomato and white fish
Cherry tomato and white fish ceviche
Ahi Tuna Ceviche with Sesame and Mint
Salmon Poke from Recipe Paiges
Duck fat confit of garlic and mushrooms
Salmon Nigiri from Manu's Menu
Just the thought of eating food considered an aphrodisiac is sexy. Pull out all the stops by serving a full meal consisting of aphrodisiacs. It gives your meal a theme, and pretty much ensures a romantic evening.
Some top aphrodisiacs:
Strawberry mousse in chocolate cups
Strawberry Mousse in Chocolate Cups
Oysters on Ice with Shallots, Red Wine Vinegar and Lemon from Cooking Melangery
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus from Rotin Rice
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Hi Hat Cupcakes from Pineapple & Coconut
Red Velvet Sandwich Heart Cookies from Jen's Favorite Cookies
A Valentine’s Day Menu + 6 Romantic Dinner Tips
With my spread out family, we often end up having three or four Christmas celebrations (especially now that a little one is in the mix). It’s a very rare year where we all sit down for one meal. This year, we have a pre-Christmas with my mother, who is visiting for Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, we head up to my father’s house for another round of festivities. To follow it all up, we have a post-Christmas get-together with my husband’s side of the family. I have some pretty good cooks in my family, so there’s a lot to look forward to. Of course, I will be making my own contributions, since I’m the one with the food blog (lots of pressure there).
I’ve put together some of my favorite recipes for a delicious Christmas dinner inspiration menu. Most of these recipes come together quickly and easily, and I’ve included a bonus recipe for the ambitious cook.
Duck Fat Roasted Cashews with Rosemary
Prosciutto, Burrata cheese and fig crostini
Soup
Main
Roasted Pork Loin with shallot and tarragon sauce
Side
Artichoke and mushroom casserole
Balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts
Dessert
Nutmeg and yogurt panna cotta, cranberry coulis
Apple Cake with whipped cream frosting
For the ambitious: Chocolate pumpkin cake
A lot of these recipes can be made ahead of time. Keep in mind that many of these recipes (like the pork loin) will need to be doubled or tripled depending on how many guests you are serving. I’ll be available to answer any questions if you have them. From my family to yours, have a loving (and delicious) holiday!
Christmas dinner menu 2013
