Valentine's Day Dinner Suggestions
TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 January:
Valentine's Day Dinner Suggestions
Sweetbabygirl | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 12:52 pm     Any suggestions for a nice romantic dinner for two? Dessert is already covered (wink, wink, blush!) |
Jagger | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 12:57 pm     Most ladies like it if the guy does the cooking. Lazagna is usally a pretty easy meal to cook and can be prepared ahead of time and just heated in the oven on the big night. Throw in a salad before the meal, and some bread sticks and a bottle of wine with a couple of candles and you have a well prepared easy to make meal. |
Heyltslori | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 12:58 pm     I saw an interesting way to serve sushi the other day on Surreal Life.... |
Rissa | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:10 pm     Lori, LOL!! But you either have to wander your city streets asking women if they are virgins or if you yourself decide to become the 'table' then you need a neighbor to load ya up. Either way, your reputation around town is SHOT! LOL I find it's not so much what you cook that makes it romantic but the presentation. Table is more elaborately set, lights lower, wine out. Bread in basket instead of perched on side of plate, real butter on butter plate instead of plastic bowl of margarine. LOL I love making Chicken-cordon-bleu because it looks hard but isn't and you can prepare it the day before and then just toss it in to cook on the given day with no pile of dishes to deal with. I also serve my famous scalloped potatoes, again because it looks impressive but was prepared hours earlier and then just tossed in oven. Make a veggie that you normally don't... steamed cauliflour/brocolli mix, mini corns, etc. Anything but a bowl of boiled peas. |
Goddessatlaw | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:13 pm     They make a stellar salad at my favorite steakhouse, which is a wedge of iceburg lettuce covered with grated bleu cheese (nothing else). It is YUMMY. And simple. |
Twiggyish | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:00 pm     I like Rissa's idea of setting the table nicely. |
Fanny | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:13 pm     And leave out the garlic. |
Webkitty | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:13 pm     And onions. |
Grooch | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:14 pm     Sade is a good music choice to be playing in the background. |
Goddessatlaw | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:23 pm     No one has garlic unless everyone has garlic. It's a rule to live by. |
Sweetbabygirl | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:25 pm     I thought of making chicken, but I always cook that. I thought of stir-fry veggies over pasta with cucumber salad and garlic bread. Aw shucks, I'm just gonna smear chocolate sauce all over me and tell him to go for it!! (Wait, I did say that dessert was already covered, lol!!) |
Fanny | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:29 pm     (cucumbers will make you burp) |
Maris | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:36 pm     I agree with Rissa, presentation is everything. Put out your best dishes, crystal, and some flowers on the table. Nice white cloth napkins folded a la Martha Stewart and I dont mean wrap handcuffs around them. For a meal...depending on the budget, I would go with a simple appetizer a few slices of fresh mozzarella topped with sun dried tomatoes and served on a bed of lettuce. For a main course (I am assuming you are not vegetarian) may I suggest a couple of beef tenderloin steaks, wrapped in slice of bacon and sprinkled with black pepper. Potatoes au gratin and asparagus would make very nice accompaniement. Serve the meal with a nice bordeaux (recommend chateau greysac which is not overly expensive but very nice wine). When finished with dinner I would suggest that you serve your chocolate smeared self with a bottle of champagne. Budget is very important on this one, Mumms is nice, Moet is nicer and if you get a very nice present go with the Dom. As far as music is concerned, I love Zucchero or Andrea Bocelli and Sara Brightman duet. |
Goddessatlaw | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:45 pm     Handcuffs for napkin holders? I'm going to have to write that one down. Maris, to comport with Emily Post, should they be fur lined or department issue? And if we go with the Early Spanish Inquisition theme, does that necessarily rule out a trapeze? |
Maris | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:47 pm     well if you go with the Early Spanish Inquisition theme, I would throw in Michael Palin as the waiter. |
Goddessatlaw | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:55 pm     We may need to open a separate thread for wine recommendations. For example, what is the proper wine for an Inquisition? What is the proper wine to take to your Jihad? And if one is planning a biker summit, would your sh*t be correct to take Maddog 20/20, or is there a larger field from which to properly make one's selection? Hmmmm. PS Sweetbaby - your dessert idea is a great one. He'll forget all the rest, anyway. |
Maris | Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:57 pm     A spanish merlot??? Marques de Caceres? Wine for a Jihad? perhaps a good Algerian wine. For the biker summit, defintely Bully Hill. |
Squaredsc | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 09:42 am     sweet, do you and your so like raw oysters? if so then that is a good appetizer and its an afrodesiac(sp). personally i love seafood dinners like shrimp scampi, or lobster, or scallops. good luck and fuzzy handcuffs work very well, oh and there is a kama sutra kit with a nice aubergine feather. |
Weenerlobo | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 09:50 am     Sweet, don't know if you've got a fireplace, but an indoor picnic in front of the fireplace is another nice romantic thing to do, and a lot less formal. Take any ole big basket and fill it with finger foods (think 9 1/2 Weeks, maybe), spread a blanket on the floor and open a bottle of nice wine. Hey, even if ya don't have a fireplace, I've seen video tapes or DVDs that you can pop in your machine and make your tv look like one too! |
Sweetbabygirl | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 10:12 am     Thanks to all your responses, now my head is spinning, lol!! OT to the big girls out there, Lane Bryant has some FUNKY lingerie stuff coming in, you should check it out!! Square, I like the scallops idea; however, I've never cooked them and I know that Frank loves scallops. How long can I sautee them in Pam Olive Oil spray with a splash of lemon juice? |
Squaredsc | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 10:14 am     not long. im thinking 5 to 10 mins if that long. |
Lobster | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 11:29 am     Sweet, I found this recipe at FoodTV.com. It sounds pretty easy. Randall's Ordinary Scallops Recipe courtesy Anna Kelly, Chef Randall's Ordinary 2 bunches scallions, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced Paprika Pinch salt Pinch pepper 4 ounces (1 stick) butter 2 pounds scallops Seasoned bread crumbs, to coat Mix scallions, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper together. In a saute pan, melt butter. When butter is melted, add saute scallion mixture. In a separate bowl, coat the scallops with bread crumbs. Add the coated scallops to the saute mixture. Stir and cook for about 2 to 4 minutes, until golden brown. Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 7 minutes Difficulty: Easy |
Tntitanfan | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 11:31 am     Just until they turn opaque - five minutes or less depending on size - sorry about the garlic ban - they are wonderful with butter and garlic sauce! |
Tashakinz | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 11:37 am     Just as an fyi - if you use candles on the table, make sure they're unscented. Scented candles next to food can mess with your taste buds. = ) |
Maris | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 04:06 pm     if you are doing scallops do coquilles St. Jacques COQUILLE ST. JACQUES 2 lb. scallops 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. salt 4 tbsp. butter 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced 1/2 c. onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp. flour 1/2 c. milk 1 c. cream 1 c. Swiss or gruyere cheese,- grated 1/2 c. dry white wine 2 tbsp. butter, melted 1/2 c. bread crumbs Poach scallops in enough water to cover, with lemon juice and salt. Cover and simmer for 8 minutes or until tender. Drain. Melt butter and saute mushrooms and onions until tender. Remove and add flour. Stir in milk and cream. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add wine. Mix in scallops and sauteed mushrooms and onions. Pour into individual scallops or casserole. Mix 2 tablespoons melted butter with bread crumbs. Sprinkle on casserole. Broil for 5 minutes. Serves 8. |
Sweetbabygirl | Friday, January 17, 2003 - 10:35 pm     Okay, another dumb question; if I use either recipe, wouldn't I add it with pasta? Thanks for the suggestions guys, by the way. |
Squaredsc | Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 08:58 am     sweet, you can if you want, but you don't have to. |
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