Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas

Valentine's Day Tradition: A Home Cooked Meal

My husband has everything and is difficult to buy for. So, on Valentine's Day every year, I make him a fancy, multi-course meal that I research a couple weeks ahead of time. I create a festive menu on my word processor complete with cupid clip-art and fancy fonts one week before V-Day. Then, I post the menu in an highly visible location on the wall.

Having the menu posted builds anticipation and reminds us of the special night as it grows near. Every year I'm surprised how this ritual never grows old, and I'm just as excited to prepare it as he is to eat it. This is undoubtedly is more special than any bottle of after-shave, neck tie or wallet.

By Sara from Cape Cod, MA

Heart Shaped Meat Loaf

For Valentine's Day, I make a heart shaped meat loaf. You can add ketchup or any tomato based sauce that you prefer on top. If you have a heart shaped cake pan you can use that or just shape the meat yourself.

By Diane from Paradise PA

Valentine's Dinner For Two

When was the last time that you used your wedding china? Still packed in the garage? Yeah, well now is the time to pull out that china and make a wonderful fancy dinner for that man of yours. Don't have wedding china? With a quick trip to the thrift store, you will be in like Flynn. Two, just two, fancy plates with a couple of matching champagne flutes and you now have the start of your own romantic dinner for two. Where I shop, you know that has to be one of my local thrifty stores, you can always find a least a couple of matching plates and I have seen beautiful champagne flutes that were only two or three left in the set. With plates around $1.50 and flutes about 99 cents, for about $5, you can have a set of dishes just for yourself and him that can become a time honored tradition. As time goes on, you can add or replace.

Now get out some candles and a small table. This is not the time to be sitting at your big dinning room table. You want a space that will be small, cozy and intimate. Cover the table with a table cloth. Don't have a table cloth? Well, try a lace curtain. If it puddles at the bottom, so what? That is all the rage right now. Now that you have your table set, what are you going to serve? Being that this is a thrifty and romantic dinner, I have come up with some recipes that ought to set you on the right road.

For your main course, I would make something that is special not something that you make everyday. If his favorite is meatloaf, make individual meatloaves that are heart shaped. If you are willing to try something different, here is a burger steak that will melt his heart, especially if he likes ham and cheese. For those of you on the run, this should only take about 30 minutes to 1 hour to get on the table, depending how much prep you can do this week. The baked potatoes can be started in your microwave in the morning and finished in the oven in the evening so that they don't take so long to cook. Burgers likewise could be made ahead and cooked that evening. Buy a store bought cake with fresh or frozen straw berries and whipped cream, it will take no time to throw together. Make the salad ahead of time. Now you have time for a bubble bath and time to get ready for your special date.

The Menu

• Cordon Blu Burgers
• Baked Potatoes with fixings
• Steamed vegetables
• Fresh greens salad
• Sparkling grape or white grape or apple cider or your favorite alcoholic beverage
• Angel Food Cake and Strawberries or other fresh fruit

Now go to your printer and open up Word or similar word processing program. Go to file and then page set up. Set up your page so that you have a column down the center. Now type out your menu. You can type out the menu just once on the left hand side and copy and paste it to the right side to save time. Put some pretty paper in your printer. Print out your menu. When setting the table, lay the menu down across your plates if you are going to serve, or on the table where the plate would go if you are going to serve from the kitchen.

Cordon Blu Burgers

Ingredients

• 4 extra large hamburger patties
• 2 oz. extra lean deli sliced ham
• 2 oz. of cheddar cheese
• One can of mushroom or beef gravy

Directions

Lay out burgers on plate. In center of first burger, layer in ham and cheese. Top with second patty and firmly pinch edges closed. Cook in hot skillet until it is done to your liking. Heat gravy in small saucepan and when warm, cover your burger.

The rest is pretty straight forward. You will need to bake a couple of potatoes in the oven. Wash the potatoes and prick with a fork and bake at 350 degrees F until, with an oven mitt, you can gently squeeze them. While they are in the oven, steam fresh vegetables of your choice. You can even buy vegetables in microwave bags or you can even buy bags from Ziploc now that you can steam vegetables in if you don't like the pre made packages. Throw to together a small salad together for each of you with your favorite salad greens and tomatoes and you are all set. My hubby loves corn on the cob so I will be serving him corn on the cob that I will steam in one of the new Ziploc bags, they work great! When slicing up your strawberries or other fresh fruit and assembling your dessert, throw a few M and M's or candy hearts or one chocolate kiss or the tiny mini chocolate chips on top for a pretty finish.

Happy Valentine's Day!

By Debra Frick

How to Make a Romantic Dinner for Two

Javier Quiroga of To Your Taste Catering takes you through making a fabulous Valentine's dinner for tow that is sure to impress. Be sure to watch the related videos for additional steps and information about making your romantic dinner.

Recipes For Valentine's Day Dinner

I would like to know some simple quick recipes for food for Valentine's Day for a dinner meal.

Ann

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