I need a good dish for a date, already used my “go to meal”; now I need to top it?
mу gο tο date meal іѕ a sauteed duck breast, lightly cooked swiss chard wіth balsamic vinegar, аnd roasted potatoes іn duck ѕtουt. followed bу chocolate mousse.
саn someone top thаt? I’m a awesome cook, bυt mοѕt οf mу dishes аrе “man food” οr a family dinner аnd nοt really well suited tο a date format.
Shrimp Scampi
Asparagus with garlic and butter
Artisan Bread
Salad
For dessert: cheesecake
This is an incredible meal that always gets rave reviews.
Broiled salmon that you top with a mix of butter, parsley, and lemon before cooking the fillets to your weakness under a high broiler. Serve with
NEW POTATOES IN BUTTER:
Ingredients
3/4 beat small new potatoes
1 or 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Wash new potatoes; cut a strip nearly center of each potato, if desired. Cover potatoes with water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover saucepan, and cook 15 to 20 summary or until done; drain. Cook butter, lemon juice, thyme, and in a saucepan until butter melts. Remove from heat; add potatoes, tossing to coat.
PEAS WITH MINT:
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 cups frozen green peas
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium meat. Add peas and cook 2 summary, until crisp-tender. Add salt and pepper and stir to coat. Remove from heat and stir in mint.
AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE FOR DESSERT:
1-1/3 cups fresh strawberries
1 tablespoon and 2-1/4 teaspoons white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/4 teaspoons white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon and 1/2 teaspoon shortening
1/4 egg
2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon milk
1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons whipped heavy cream
Directions
This recipe’s Ingredients were scaled to yield a new amount. The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield of 8 inch round cake.
Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 summary or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with left over strawberries and cover with the whipped cream.
All of these recipes should serve two. Have a excellent date night!
For the drink, make a white sangria:
Ingredients:
1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine, chilled
1/2 C. vodka, chilled
4 med. limes
1/2 C. sugar
1 lemon
tonic water, as needed
mint leaves, to garnish (optional)
Instructions: Juice two of the limes. Slice other two limes in thin slices. Slice lemon into thin slices.
Combine all ingredients (except for tonic) in a medium pitcher.
Chill for 1-2 hours.
Serve over ice cubes, topping off with desired quantity of tonic. Garnish with mint.
For appetizer go with a tangy & creamy Caesar Salad
Ingredients:
Salad:
1/2 head romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and torn
1 1/2 C. garlic-flavored croutons (large)
3 tbsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Dressing:
2 anchovy fillets
2 small cloves garlic
1 C. mayonnaise (low stout is okay)
1/4 C. half-and-half
1/3 C freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions: For Dressing: In a food PC or blender, mince anchovy and garlic together.
Add left over ingredients. Process/blend 30-45 seconds. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
If too thick, thin with a small amount of milk if desired (optional).
Chill at leat 3 hours.
Toss about half the dressing with lettuce and crutons. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper.
For your main dish, go with linguine with shrimp
Ingredients:
6 oz. linguine (fresh is best)
1 tbsp. butter
1/4 lb. fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 C. butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 oz. cream cheese (low-stout works fine)
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
3/4 tsp dried basil
salt, to taste
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/2 C. chicken broth, boiling
1/2 lb cooked shrimp
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions: Boil linguini in lightly salted water. Drain.
For sauce: Heat one tablespoon of butter in skillet over med-high heat. Add mushrooms. Saute until tender. Transfer mushrooms to a small plate and set aside.
Heat the 1/4 cup butter in skillet. Add the minced garlic, then stir in the cream cheese.
Allow cheese to melt, then add the parsley and basil. Let simmer five summary.
Add boiling (or very hot– the microwave works well for this) chicken broth til sauce is smooth (as needed). Add shrimp and mushrooms and heat through, about 2 summary.
Toss cooked pasta with sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve.
For dessert, serve Strawberry Tiramisu
Ingredients:
2 eggs, room temp, whites and yolks separated
1/4 C. caster sugar (superfine sugar– you can use powdered)
10.5 oz. mascarpone cheese
1/2 C. whipped cream
15 strawberries, hulled, cleaned, and quartered
1/3 C. strong coffee (espresso is best)
2 tbsp. añejo rum
14 ladyfingers
unsweetened cocoa, to garnish
Instructions: Beat egg yolks with sugar with electric mixer on med-high until yolks are pale and thick. Add marscarpone, beat til incorporated.
In seperate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold cream into cheese mixuture, then fold in eggwhites.
Fold in the strawberries.
In sm. bowl, combine rum and espresso. Dip seven of the ladyfingers into the coffe/rum mixture (don’t dip the entire ladyfinger, or it may fall apart), then place them in the underside of a serving dish.
Spread half the cheese/strawberry mixture over the ladyfingers.
Dip left over seven ladyfingers in coffee/rum, then place over cheese. Spread left over cheese over.
Chill four hours (or more), then sift cocoa over and serve. If desired, garnish each cut with half a strawberry.
Yum! Delight in!
Dinner
Truffle fried Beef Fillet with Leek and Chanterelle Duxelles and Port Wine Sauce
Balsamic Braised Pearl Onions
Autumn Vegetable Ragout
Baked Potato Rings with a Potato Parsnip Puree
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46480340@N06/4463869496/
Dessert
Individual Opera Cake
Layers of almond sponge cake, melted chocolate, coffee butter cream, and ganash
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46480340@N06/4463091465/
http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/category/salad-recipes/
you can look at this blog to help if you like
Chicken Italianio
3 lbs chicken breasts, cut up
3-6 tbsp salad oil
12 garlic cloves
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried rosemary leaves
1 medium-sized onion, sliced
4 medium-sized tomatoes, cute into wedges
1 8 oz pkg spaghetti
In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot salad oil, cook chicken and garlic until golden brown on all sides, about 20-25 summary. When done, add wine, salt, pepper, rosemary, onion and half the tomato wedges; over high heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 summary or until chicken is fork-tender. Skim stout from liquid in skillet (if there is any). Add left over tomatoes; heat through. While this is simmering, prepare spaghetti as mark direct.
To serve, drain spaghetti; place on large platter. Spoon chicken mixture on top of spaghetti.
Quick Banana Chocolate Chip Bars
1 Medium Ripe Banana, peeled
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
¾ Cup Brown Sugar, packed
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
¼ Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Olive or Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Egg
¼ Cup Chopped Nuts
½ Cup Chocolate Chips (or what feels excellent)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray small rectangular or 9×9 square baking pan with non-stab spray.
Chop or mash banana. Combine with flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, oil, milk, vanilla and egg in large bowl. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips to this mixture OR save them to add as topping, sprinkling on top of mixture after poured into the pan. Bake for 25-30 summary.
Jello-O Cheese Cake
1 8 oz pk of Lime Jell-O
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 pt whipping cream
1 8 oz pkg Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 Graham Cracker Crusts
Make Jell-O per directions on pkg and chill while preparing the rest of ingredients. Do NOT allow the Jell-O to set. Cream together cream cheese and sugar, add whipping cream. Add chilled Jell-O, whip together until smooth and pour into graham cracker scab. Chill until set.