Sometimes dining in can be an even better experience than dining out. It all depends on the atmosphere you create and what food you decide to cook. Create your own dining enclave. Pick a corner of a room and set up a romantic dining table for two. Hang a large cloth or sheet from the ceiling to give yourself some privacy. Drape a white table cloth over your table and accent your space with fragrant candles and flowers. Be sure to choose the scent of your candle carefully, however, because you don’t want to overpower the smell of the food. Vanilla scents work well for most people.
Create your Meal Plan. You can do some of your prep work in advance, and you can even prepare an appetizer the day before to slip into the oven while you prepare the meal. Here are some ideas for foods that are easy to make, and easy to coordinate to ensure you enjoy your hot meal together.
Stuffed Mushrooms, these appetizers are perfectly portioned and can be prepared a day in advance. These can be in the oven while you prepare your main course and removed it at just the right moment. Candied Walnut Salad, the easiest way to prepare a second course is to serve a salad that has been pre-made and placed in the refrigerator. At the local supermarket, they have bagged varieties of many kinds of unique salads with all the ingredients included.
Pan-Seared Chicken with Chardonnay Pan Sauce. While the mushrooms are in the oven you can pan-sear your chicken and finish it in the oven. After the mushrooms are fully cooked, they can be moved to the bottom rack while you finish your pan sauce. Remove the mushrooms from the oven and place finished chicken plates in the oven, reducing the temperature to about 180 Degrees, just to keep the main course warm while you enjoy your mushrooms and salad. From appetizer to dessert, if you plan it right it can all be done on Valentine’s evening in less than 30 minutes giving you the rest of the evening to enjoy the meal and each other.