Special meal

Meadows

I would say a nice soup, followed by a nice steak or loin chop served with a creamy herb mashed potato and vegetables follow with a simple dessert or cheese & biscuits (using a variety of cheeses and biscuits).

Something along these lines will not need casserole and multiple pans, the soup could be made before and so could the dessert depending on what you do.

If all that comes in under budget then add a nice bottle of wine.

Frugal shopping and offer hunting can get you a lovely meal for a few £'s

meritaten

My OH loves this one and it doesnt cost a fortune! and it IS easy to make!
Medallions of Pork in Cider and Cream sauce
buy a pork fillet from Asda - I think they are around £3.99 there?
have a look and any silvery looking skin - cut it off!
now cut into one inch slices - smack them with your hand until they are about three quarter inch.
prepare some nice veggies - broccoli maybe or carrots or sweetcorn and peas.
garlic mash is nice with this dish just add a clove or two of garlic to you potatoes then cook and mash as usual.
when the potatoes and veg is nearly ready heat up a frying pan on a fairly high heat - rub your pork slices with a bit of oil and put in the pan - leave at least two or three mins before turning over - they take about six or eight mins to cook.
Make your mash and keep warm.
when medallions are cooked take them out and keep them warm too! (foil covering will do this).
now make sauce - for two about a half pint of cider - put into the hot frying pan and stir with wooden spoon, let it come to the boil and add a bit of salt and pepper, reduce the heat and dish up the meat and veg, then add the cream and stir thoroughly and pour over the meat!
My OH ordered Pork in Cider Sauce in a very posh restaurant when on holiday - and was rather taken aback to find it almost identical to the one I make!!!!!!!!!! his verdict? it was 'on a par' with mine! mine cost a couple of quid - the restaurant charged nearly £15!!!!!!!!

valk_scot

I'd hit M&S for one of their Dine In For £10 meals tbh. They're really good value and you get some nice choices, plus of course you get wine as well. You usually need to add some extra veg but that's not expensive.