Our Romantic "Value" Meal for Two

maltesers_2

Here are some thoughts on romantic dinners - http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/discussion/romantic-dinners/reviews/

check out ones by lamorna and zebra

Penelope_Penguin

Nitha wrote: »

Hi

Lurker coming out of the shadows here! Since we had our LO my fiance and I have kind of lost the spark a little. I'd love to do something romantic for him but I've no money for wine or chocs (and if I ask him for some money, he'll wonder what for!)

Can anyone suggest an old-style evening of romance? I'm not very creative at the moment - I've got new mum brain!

Welcome to Old Style, Nitha! We have an older thread on how to bring back the romance on a budget, so I've merged your thread to that one.

:smileyhea :happyhear :lovethoug to you both.

Penny. x

Stephen_Leak

I suppose I ought to post this here. It is obviously intended for a bloke, but the basic principles are the same. It doesn't use "value" ingredients, but it shouldn't break the bank.

This is my suggestion for a simple, but impressive, romantic dinner. All you need to ask is whether they like Italian cooking and it even covers them being a vegetarian.

The starter can be made in advance. The main course does have to be cooked at the time, but you can prepare the ingredients in advance, it doesn’t take long and it allows you to show off your culinary skills. The dessert can be "taken elsewhere", if you know what I mean, or even dispensed with.

The starter is a mozzarella cheese and tomato salad. Cut the cheese and a big beef tomato into slices and arrange artistically on a small plate. The original recipe uses sliced onion as well but, under the circumstances, I‘ve left this out. Sprinkle some chopped fresh basil over the top and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Serve with ciabatta or focaccia bread.

The main course is a simple pasta and tomato sauce. Use fresh spinach and ricotta cheese tortellini, which are half green and half - well - pasta coloured. For the sauce, just lightly fry off 2 finely chopped onions and 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes.

Put the pasta on to boil now, and cook according to the instructions on the packet.

Advise your partner that, according to legend, tortellini is supposed to be the shape of Venus' navel*. Resist the temptation to offer to compare one with your partner’s navel, as you have to concentrate on your cooking (Memorise and use this phrase: Gli spaghetti amano la compagnia, which is Italian for “spaghetti loves company”) and you would only have to say that they look the same anyway.

Reduce the sauce down a bit. At the end, sprinkle on some more chopped fresh basil.

Drain the pasta, add it to the sauce and gently toss them together. Explain to your partner that this is because an Italian would always "bring the pasta to the sauce", not just plonk a dollop of sauce on top of the pasta. At this point, your status as a domestic god should be pretty well guaranteed.

Serve with some more ciabatta or focaccia bread to mop up any sauce.

For wine, I recommend a Valpolicella.

The dessert is just three scoops of good quality ice cream, one each of mint, strawberry and vanilla. It can be "taken elsewhere", if you know what I mean. If your partner has eaten enough, this course can be dispensed with in a suitably nonchalant manner.

If you really want to show off, ask your partner if they have spotted the theme to the meal. "It’s Italian" is the obvious answer, which is close. The answer is that all the courses are red, white and green, which are the colours of the Italian flag. This should now add culinary genius to your list of qualifications as a potential mate.

* A later version of the legend says it’s Lucrezia Borgia's navel. Because of her family’s reputation for poisoning people, I'd stick with Venus.

PS. If all goes according to plan, my equally simple but impressive breakfast for two is scrambled egg with smoked salmon bits on toast, served with orange juice and coffee, or even a “Buck’s Fizz”.

Nitha

Great name Stephen - I gave my little boy the same name!