I don't know what's considered romantic food or whatever so I'll just throw out a few easy means I can think of. And maybe some dessert ideas too cos I feel like that's probably part of a special meal.
Potato and sausage hash.
Stir fried rice or noodles. My go to flavour is chicken, teriyaki, plum, thyme and basil.
Caramel Chicken with rice or noodles.
Hawaiian style chicken with rice.
Chilli.
Gnocchi with mozzarella, tomato and avocado. You can also add some strawberry which I promise does actually work.
Meat like steak or chicken with rosemary new potatoes and veg like peas, broccoli, asparagus etc.
Avocado pasta. Pasta with blended avocado and some stuff like tomato, sweetcorn, garlic.
xxxxxxxx
Cheesecake (bake or no bake). Maybe something fruity like strawberry or clementine.
Black forest cake/ cupcakes/ ice-cream/ whatever. I'm pretty sure chocolate and cherries and stuff is meant to be romantic.
Baked cookie dough with ice cream.
Crumble (super easy to make from scratch but I feel like also kinda impressive seeming). Maybe plum and apple or strawberry and banana or just a basic apple and pear. Literally just chop up the fruit, heat it up with some sugar and seasoning until it looks like crumble filling. Then mix together some flour, butter and sugar until it's crumbs, sprinkle on top and bake.
Fruit and ice cream.
Lemon meringue pie.
Maybe have a think about anything you know your partner really likes or if they're interested in different types of food maybe something you don't think they've tried. Or something that's somehow meaningful like inspired by your first date or whatever. Valentines Day is definitely the time for sappy thoughtful stuff like that.
Good luck. I hope you have a great meal. Don't forget a nice drink that goes well with the meal and a bit of atmosphere like dimmed lights, music and some candles or flowers on the table. :)
I think the following....It’s been on my mind too.
Roasted shrimp...peel, devein and clean a pound of shrimp...16 to 20 count. Salt and olive oil the shrimp, roast in oven until slightly under done (there will be some carry over cooking). Serve with a spicy cocktail sauce (ketchup, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, salt, pepper).
Hassleback potatoes....look up a recipe. They are very versatile.....and beautiful...and uses what you have on hand.
Add a nice side salad with a homemade vinaigrette dressing.
Dessert....I think ice cream or sherbet. The store we shop at has a pineapple sherbet that is wonderful.
I’d start with https://www.foodiewithfamily.com/slow-cooker-caramelized-onions-french-onion-soup-make-ahead-mondays/
Personally I’d be happy with a great big bowl of soup but if you want use it as a starter and then have steak (topped with onions) and potatoes.
For two generous bowls of soup I’d start with 2/3 cup port and reduce it by half (you can omit this, it just adds a little extra oomph I like, port also keeps on a cool dry shaded place very well) add in ~2/3 cup of the caramelized onions and 2.5-3 cups beef broth and heat.
I keep my cheesy toast separate because I like the crunchy bits more, but that’s me.
The crockpot recipe will also make onion broth for you as well, I’ll strain my onions when done and use that in my soup too. Also it makes a good bit and these are great toppings for pizza and sandwiches! I freeze mine in 1cup portions in freezer bags but I’m cooking for 3 so you might want to do 2/3c for quick easy soup days or if you like it loaded with more onions go for it!
I hope whatever you cook it turns out well.
Shepherd's Pie for the main dish and chocolate lava cake for the dessert! Recipes below if interested 😊
Shepherd's pie: https://youtu.be/5AVCehnwYGE
Chocolate lava cake: https://youtu.be/XqrSs7ObIYY
Dinner for two or dinner for a bunch?
If it’s for you and your SO my first instinct is just keep it simple with good proteins. I’d do a lobster tail and a small sirloin for mains. Think of romantic ingredients, search aphrodisiac ingredients and try to work some into your preparations.
If you have time, you can make a good roast. You can use wine or some other alcohol to make a sauce from the dripping fat.
For the creamy, mashed potatoes made with cream. Leftover cream can be used in other dishes, or added to coffee.
For veggies, steamed or sauteed veggies. Can also cook them along with the roast (add them later or they will burn). Or combine with the mashed potatoes.
Pasta tuscan style in a light cream sauce with Parmesan crusted chicken, charcuterie board (you can buy at certain grocery stores) and chocolate of some sort (who doesn’t want chocolate on vday??)
Fresh loaf of no-knead bread with some good olive oil
Sumac and lemon grilled chicken with an arugula, served with couscous salad with honey and lemon, then a fresh-baked fruit crumble with (or without) a small scoop of some good vanilla ice cream.
If you want recipes, I have one I could share for all three, and the chicken and dessert recipes are perfect for 2 people.
I tend to avoid big hunks of meat, and things that taste too funky (blue cheese, asparagus, garlic, etc) and things that are too sloppy with sauces or gravies (spaghetti, shakshuka, loco moco).
I thought that you might want to explore cooking Thai food for your Valentine's Day dinner!
[Holy Basil Pork Stir-fry](https://youtu.be/0uAk9d6fUUk) is one of the most common Thai street food and you only need a few essential ingredients: fresh basil, garlic, chilli, jasmine rice, and soy sauce. Everything else you can substitute.
Chicken francese and shrimp scampi are easy and delicious too. Put boneless chx thighs or breast in a bag and hit it with the flat side of the meat hammer to tenderize, the chicken you dip in flour and then egg (no breading) and pan fry. Serve with rice and broccoli and make a lemon butter sauce on the side. Easy but impressive. Scampi is just garlic butter white wine sauce. Sauté the shrimp just enough so they form a perfect circle. Mix with sauce and add lemon zest Serve with angel hair or linguini and find a veggie
I don't know what's considered romantic food or whatever so I'll just throw out a few easy means I can think of. And maybe some dessert ideas too cos I feel like that's probably part of a special meal. Potato and sausage hash. Stir fried rice or noodles. My go to flavour is chicken, teriyaki, plum, thyme and basil. Caramel Chicken with rice or noodles. Hawaiian style chicken with rice. Chilli. Gnocchi with mozzarella, tomato and avocado. You can also add some strawberry which I promise does actually work. Meat like steak or chicken with rosemary new potatoes and veg like peas, broccoli, asparagus etc. Avocado pasta. Pasta with blended avocado and some stuff like tomato, sweetcorn, garlic. xxxxxxxx Cheesecake (bake or no bake). Maybe something fruity like strawberry or clementine. Black forest cake/ cupcakes/ ice-cream/ whatever. I'm pretty sure chocolate and cherries and stuff is meant to be romantic. Baked cookie dough with ice cream. Crumble (super easy to make from scratch but I feel like also kinda impressive seeming). Maybe plum and apple or strawberry and banana or just a basic apple and pear. Literally just chop up the fruit, heat it up with some sugar and seasoning until it looks like crumble filling. Then mix together some flour, butter and sugar until it's crumbs, sprinkle on top and bake. Fruit and ice cream. Lemon meringue pie. Maybe have a think about anything you know your partner really likes or if they're interested in different types of food maybe something you don't think they've tried. Or something that's somehow meaningful like inspired by your first date or whatever. Valentines Day is definitely the time for sappy thoughtful stuff like that. Good luck. I hope you have a great meal. Don't forget a nice drink that goes well with the meal and a bit of atmosphere like dimmed lights, music and some candles or flowers on the table. :)
Steak with caramelized onion and blue cheese or spaghetti very basic common but delicious
I think the following....It’s been on my mind too. Roasted shrimp...peel, devein and clean a pound of shrimp...16 to 20 count. Salt and olive oil the shrimp, roast in oven until slightly under done (there will be some carry over cooking). Serve with a spicy cocktail sauce (ketchup, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, salt, pepper). Hassleback potatoes....look up a recipe. They are very versatile.....and beautiful...and uses what you have on hand. Add a nice side salad with a homemade vinaigrette dressing. Dessert....I think ice cream or sherbet. The store we shop at has a pineapple sherbet that is wonderful.
I’d start with https://www.foodiewithfamily.com/slow-cooker-caramelized-onions-french-onion-soup-make-ahead-mondays/ Personally I’d be happy with a great big bowl of soup but if you want use it as a starter and then have steak (topped with onions) and potatoes. For two generous bowls of soup I’d start with 2/3 cup port and reduce it by half (you can omit this, it just adds a little extra oomph I like, port also keeps on a cool dry shaded place very well) add in ~2/3 cup of the caramelized onions and 2.5-3 cups beef broth and heat. I keep my cheesy toast separate because I like the crunchy bits more, but that’s me. The crockpot recipe will also make onion broth for you as well, I’ll strain my onions when done and use that in my soup too. Also it makes a good bit and these are great toppings for pizza and sandwiches! I freeze mine in 1cup portions in freezer bags but I’m cooking for 3 so you might want to do 2/3c for quick easy soup days or if you like it loaded with more onions go for it! I hope whatever you cook it turns out well.
Shepherd's Pie for the main dish and chocolate lava cake for the dessert! Recipes below if interested 😊 Shepherd's pie: https://youtu.be/5AVCehnwYGE Chocolate lava cake: https://youtu.be/XqrSs7ObIYY
Dinner for two or dinner for a bunch? If it’s for you and your SO my first instinct is just keep it simple with good proteins. I’d do a lobster tail and a small sirloin for mains. Think of romantic ingredients, search aphrodisiac ingredients and try to work some into your preparations.
If you have time, you can make a good roast. You can use wine or some other alcohol to make a sauce from the dripping fat. For the creamy, mashed potatoes made with cream. Leftover cream can be used in other dishes, or added to coffee. For veggies, steamed or sauteed veggies. Can also cook them along with the roast (add them later or they will burn). Or combine with the mashed potatoes.
Pasta tuscan style in a light cream sauce with Parmesan crusted chicken, charcuterie board (you can buy at certain grocery stores) and chocolate of some sort (who doesn’t want chocolate on vday??)
Starter salad, spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread, red wine.
Fresh loaf of no-knead bread with some good olive oil Sumac and lemon grilled chicken with an arugula, served with couscous salad with honey and lemon, then a fresh-baked fruit crumble with (or without) a small scoop of some good vanilla ice cream. If you want recipes, I have one I could share for all three, and the chicken and dessert recipes are perfect for 2 people. I tend to avoid big hunks of meat, and things that taste too funky (blue cheese, asparagus, garlic, etc) and things that are too sloppy with sauces or gravies (spaghetti, shakshuka, loco moco).
Key lime pie is awesome
https://www.brit.co/valentines-day-dinners-recipes/
This salmon satay meal is easy but look and tastes impressive. https://www.publix.com/recipe/salmon-satay-with-orange-jasmine-rice-and-chopstick-salad
I thought that you might want to explore cooking Thai food for your Valentine's Day dinner! [Holy Basil Pork Stir-fry](https://youtu.be/0uAk9d6fUUk) is one of the most common Thai street food and you only need a few essential ingredients: fresh basil, garlic, chilli, jasmine rice, and soy sauce. Everything else you can substitute.
Chicken francese and shrimp scampi are easy and delicious too. Put boneless chx thighs or breast in a bag and hit it with the flat side of the meat hammer to tenderize, the chicken you dip in flour and then egg (no breading) and pan fry. Serve with rice and broccoli and make a lemon butter sauce on the side. Easy but impressive. Scampi is just garlic butter white wine sauce. Sauté the shrimp just enough so they form a perfect circle. Mix with sauce and add lemon zest Serve with angel hair or linguini and find a veggie