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

JulieGeorgiana

My Husband says my linguine with Portabello Mushrooms and Parmesan is amazing!

The mushrooms are so meaty... and if you get fresh organic ones it makes the whole dish taste like something you get at a fancy resteraunt... and it doesn't take much skill, or hardly any time, and best of all... it relitively cheap to make if you have the wine in the house!

>> Linguine with Portabello Mushroom and Parmasan <<

bargainbetty

Whatever you do, avoid anything wish fresh red chillis in, or at least wear gloves while chopping them. A friend of mine was cooking dinner for a lady, and used them. He swears he washed his hands at least twice. Apparently the 'after dinner entertainment' as Tish refers to it, was somewhat disrupted by him transferring the remaining chilli from his hands onto her..... well, onto her.

The relationship didn't last.

That said, I always cook a man a light Thai curry - not too spicy, fairly easy on the stomach and yet still enough heat to loosen his tie....

Greying_Pilgrim

* You may want to view this post with caution as we're a vegetarian household however what sprang to my mind with the parameters you've given would be a Fish Pie. This can be made as 'posh' or 'frugal' as you like and it should still impress. In addition, it can (i think - help me out people who've made fish pie!) be made in advance, and if you've the time, inclination and equipment, you could made super creamy mash (possibly with the aid of a ricer if you have one) that could be piped, or even top the 'filling' with tasty breadcrumbs with some herbs, oil and garlic run through them. The filling could be wrapped up in a 'normal' white sauce or 'napped' (can you tell I watch most of the cookery programmes??) in a sauce enriched with cream or butter. If you have that rarity formerly known as a fish monger near you, then a selection of fish pieces should be easy to buy, but even most supermarkets have mixed fish piece selections in their chill cabinets. Would anyone know if you can buy a mixed selection of fish pieces frozen - i wouldn't know because I can obviously bypass that particular freezer cabinet.

I like ubamother's advice about serving up at the table, and with a green salad or seasonal veg, such as purple sprouting broccoli, spinach or even some french beans (frozen are cheap and steamed are quite acceptable taste-wise) i think you've an impressive meal without too much stress in sourcing ingredients, preparation and serving. Wine selection would be reasonably easy to match.

I might be remembering incorrectly, but I thought Paul Merritt did a fish pie on 'Economy Gastronomy' anyone able to confirm that? Jamie Oliver is bound to of done one too.

Hope that helps - and that you'll let us know how the evening went.....

Greying

rozmister

Catseyes777 wrote: »

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!).

Not too money saving and cheating but I saw mussels in a vacuum pack in a creamy sauce in Aldi the week before last. £1.99 and a massive portion (more than enough for two really unless you were famished) and all you did was boil in the bag!

The first dish I cooked my bf was a fish pie because it's his favourite but I'm not sure that would impress anyone else!

I really like this recipe http://www.asdamagazine.com/2010/10/roasted-duck-legs-with-red-wine-and-duck-stir-fry/ although I swap the expensive duck legs for cheap chicken ones. I do the same at FatVonD and buy the wee cartons of orange juice because I don't drink it. I made it for an ex with roasties and veg and he loved it! Also it only needs 300ml of red wine so you have a glass each left... :T

JulieGeorgiana

rozmister wrote: »

The first dish I cooked my bf was a fish pie because it's his favourite but I'm not sure that would impress anyone else!

First dish I cooked for my Husband was Shephards Pie (he requested it)! Well that night was the night he told me he loved me... so it must have done the trick

[Deleted User]

If he likes fish then how about tuna steaks? I have been a vegi for over 25 years and even I managed to cook these for guests. Simply pop in a pan and when the colour has changed half way up the steak turn over and cook the over side. You could serve with new potaotes roasted in their skins (wash, pop in an oven dish with olive oil and spices / herbs and cook until soft inside and cripy outside) and vegetables.

If you wanted to do three course how about a simple Italian salad for starters (mozerella, tomatoes, the really thin ham that I have forgotten the name of! :rotfl:salad leaves etc).

A great desert which is easy to make and can be made beforehand is lemon posset. Really nice, but VERY fattening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lemonpossetwithlemon_85812

Catseyes777

Well, not sure about the after dinner entertainment just yet, I guess it depends if he ends up with food poisoning lol but will certainly bear in mind to not use chili just in case... wouldnt want him scarred for life!

This all sounds very nice and is actually making me feel hungry if anything... for dessert, I had thought of lemon cheesecake as it's easy enough to make and refreshing, although potentially a bit heavy. Not sure about the main yet but the more I think about it, the more I think I will go with fish.

Spider in the bath, do you part boil the new potatoes first or do you just put the lot in the oven from raw?

lostinrates

Catseyes777 wrote: »

Well, not sure about the after dinner entertainment just yet, I guess it depends if he ends up with food poisoning lol but will certainly bear in mind to not use chili just in case... wouldnt want him scarred for life!

This all sounds very nice and is actually making me feel hungry if anything... for dessert, I had thought of lemon cheesecake as it's easy enough to make and refreshing, although potentially a bit heavy. Not sure about the main yet but the more I think about it, the more I think I will go with fish.

Spider in the bath, do you part boil the new potatoes first or do you just put the lot in the oven from raw?

I'd avoid cheesecake, personally, as you say, its heavy.

Similarly I never serve pasta or carb heavy foods when its more likely to make as snooze than....whatever. but on a first meal at your house, feeling comfortable and well fed is probably more important than feeling well prepped for athletisism, so maybe do go with the cheesecake if you like it, a good thing is in can be done in advance.

[Deleted User]

Catseyes777 wrote: »

...Spider in the bath, do you part boil the new potatoes first or do you just put the lot in the oven from raw?

No need to boil them first so they are really easy to do.

I just wash them, coat in olive oil in an oven dish thingy, sprinkle on some salt, black pepper, tumeric, paprika whatever I am in the mood for at the time and then pop in the oven on about 200 oC for about 35 to 45 mins. They are really nice.

heretolearn_2

Whole trout? Look quite impressive and easy as anything, I just chuck them under the grill and carefully turn over when done on one side. I just go by how they look, as they are gutted and stay fairly 'open' you can see the flesh and when it sets. Good squirt of lemon juice, pepper and bit of salt in the cavity before cooking, lovely.