Do you do date night dinners at home? This may be controversial, I don’t know, but I find Valentine’s Day just a touch overrated. My husband and I have been together for almost ten years, and some years we celebrated in typical (read: overpriced) restaurant dinners. We’ve spent the past four or five years at home and we find that we much prefer it. (Not to mention we now have a toddler, so it makes much more sense for us to stay home.)
To me, an at-home date night meal is something that you wouldn’t typically make. For me, that means using ingredients that may be more expensive than you usually spend, something you don’t cook often, or a meal that requires more effort than usual. They are a treat- something you may only consider ordering at a restaurant or an indulgence. They are also most likely not kid friendly, at least in my experience.
Here’s a list of my four favorite date-night recipes my husband and I have enjoyed. So feed make your kids a grilled cheese and put them to bed- then pour two glasses of wine and get to work on these date night dinners! Give them a shot and please let me know in the comments if you try any of them!
Date Night Dinner at Home Ideas
Beef Bourguignon
As made popular by Julia Child, this recipe from Ina Garten is involved and expensive. But it is absolutely delicious and so worth the effort.
Mahi-Mahi with Mango Vanilla Coulis
No, I had no idea what a coulis was before this recipe either. But one thing I know is that a coulis is delicious. Giada De Laurentiis shares this recipe that is actually quite easy but looks (and tastes) impressive.
Steak…. Glorious Steak
If you ask me, there is nothing better in this sweet sweet world than a perfectly cooked steak. Achieving restaurant quality steak at home is not as hard as you might think. And no- it doesn’t involve a grill! All you need is a cast-iron pan and some room ventilation. This method by Alton Brown is by far my favorite. Serve with a potato of your choice- baked, mashed, or roasted, and you’ve got yourself the best meal ever.
Chocolate Souffle
Listen, there’s not a single thing wrong with skipping straight to dessert. This recipe from Sugar Laws is delicious, impressive, and so indulgent- exactly everything I would expect from a date night. Enjoy!
What are your favorite at home date night meals? Leave us a comment and let us know!