Please help me impress my new man!!!!!!!

Amanda65

This is a firm favourite in our house. Not too expensive and very quick and easy to prepare. I serve it with oven roasted new potatoes and asparagus

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1521/summerinwinter-chicken

Blobby8_2

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/meat/steak/classic-steak-au-poivre.html

Red meat ! Add fresh veg & home made chips.

getmore4less

Has he take you out to dinner that should give some clues.

Starters.

Mussels (1kg bag should do £4) I like them in cider and onion base bit of garlic ginger and chilli

Potentialy messy good ice breaker

My vavourate mini roast is port with crackling
( on a lot of menus these days slow roast pork........)

Get a decent bit of shoulder with a good piece of skin <£4kg. ( beely works as well but has a bit more fat.

Cook on a rack over sliced apples, mash them in the juice at the end to make a great sause/gravy.

Roast veg in at the same time parsnips carrot, onion tomato, butternut squash spuds etc. herbs to liven up

This can be prepared in advance and all comes out at once to serve.


Another option is to do dinner together chat while you cook get him to help with the prep(maybe next date).

needs to be fast stuff have a look at jamies 30minute meals they are ideal for two people to prepare together taking more time.

Another easy but posh ish dinner is lamb shanks in a slow cooker.

Catseyes777

Thank you for the replies, definitely some food for thought there (excuse the punt...)..

He has taken me out for dinner a couple of times, he seems to prefer fish to meat but said he liked meat so... Mussels probably ideal but not sure if I am confident enough for them, especially the cleaning of them - I have some memories of my mother scrubbing for hours and they were still full of grit

Good idea about the prepping together, I hadn't thought of that - I guess I wanted to portray the domestic goddess picture lol (cant let him see all my bad points at once!).

squeakysue

My other half loves all food but his favourites are roasts by far, how about a nice pasta dish with salad and garlic bread? Or a nice pizza?

caitybabes

Hiya,

How about lasagne? It looks much more impressive than spag bog but essentially isn't any more tricky to make. Also, you can just make it in advance and pop it in the oven so that you're not faffing when he arrives. Serve with garlic bread/and or salad...

Enjoy your date

Cait x

ubamother

Something he wouldn't make for one at home - I like the lasagne idea. Men seem to be inordinately impressed with pies and savoury pastries - it shows you're a clever cook and have made an effort, but not enough effort to embarrass him! If you make or cut what you make at the table, I think this is better than doing a restauranty thing and plating in the kitchen. The act of sharing it out is both comforting, friendly and gives some 'busyness' in case there is any potential for awkwardness. If he's a relaxed type of person, maybe main course and dessert would be more relaxed than a three course dinner. Other ideas - lamb shanks tagine-style, barbecue ribs with vegetable fried rice and salad.

HappyMJ

If I was invited around for dinner then salmon would impress me...

kazmc

How about Jamie Olivers meatballs, they are gorgeous and then maybe homemade shortbread and ice-cream for pudding. Really easy and fairly cheap

Oh and you could do some of the weetabix chocolate brownies to go with the pudding too, they are really easy

Tish_P

Don't fret too much! Serve something hot with a glass of wine, a clean tablecloth and a big smile and it'll hardly matter what it is. I'd go for steak and ale pie with a big salad on the side so there's not too much food prep needs doing at the same time as your make-up / last minute tidying-up / whatever.

(I have a friend who swears by sorbet for a romantic evening's dessert as she says it finishes the meal nicely without making either diner feel too full for, well, shall we say, after dinner entertainment. Not sure if your thoughts are heading that way but thought I'd pass on the tip just in case!)