Quick and Easy Date Night Recipes to Cook at Home

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Easy Date Night Recipes

Quick and Easy Date Night Recipes to Cook at Home

by Katie Wilson from CraftyGirlCreates

Enjoy a romantic & delicious night in with your partner. While dinner is cooking, make sure to set the table, and set the mood with some slow music.

pork chops with rosemary

Appetizer: Spinach & Feta Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Entrée: Rosemary Pork Chops with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Dessert: Strawberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Sundaes

Spinach & Feta Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

Start off your romantic meal with a salad that packs a flavor punch!

Ingredients:

6 ounces baby spinach, washed
4 strips of bacon
2 hardboiled eggs, sliced
¼ cup Feta cheese crumbles
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Directions:

-In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon strips until crispy and fat is fully rendered out. Remove bacon from skillet, and save bacon grease on the side.
-Chop bacon into small pieces, and set aside.
-Transfer the bacon grease to a small saucepan; heat on low.
-Whisk in vinegar, sugar and Dijon mustard. Lightly season with salt & pepper
-In a large bowl, mix spinach, crumbled bacon, sliced eggs, Feta cheese, and walnuts.
-Drizzle dressing over the top of the salad until just moist, and not soggy.
-Serve.

Rosemary Pork Chops with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Rosemary Pork Chops are a simple & delicious way to start off your main course. If you don’t have a broiler pan, you can substitute a baking sheet with a metal cooling rack on top.

Rosemary Pork Chops:

Ingredients:

2 bone-in pork chops (about ½ inch thick each)
2 teaspoons garlic paste
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

-Preheat the broiler in your oven.
-Mix garlic paste, rosemary, oil, lemon juice and salt together. Rub mixture all over the pork chops, and place on a broiler pan.
-Place pan under the broiler, about 4 inches from heat, for 4-5 minutes.
-Turn over, place under the broiler again and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 145.
-Remove from broiler, and let rest for 5 minutes before plating.

Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

A little bit of goat cheese goes a long way! It will add a creamy, tangy layer of flavor to your mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks
½ cup whole or 2% milk
3 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, crumbled

Directions

-Cook potatoes in a large pot of boiling water until tender – about 8-10 minutes. Turn off heat, drain potatoes, and return potatoes to the pot.
-Add milk, butter, salt and pepper, and mash potatoes with a potato masher or hand mixer.
-Add goat cheese to mashed potato mixture, and stir until just blended.
-Serve.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

If you don’t usually like Brussel sprouts, give this recipe a try! Roasting Brussel sprouts brings out deeper, more complex flavors than steaming them.

Ingredients:

1 pound Brussel sprouts
1 ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
1 ½ teaspoon Balsamic vinegar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

-Preheat oven to 425 degrees
-Chop off any rough stems, and cut each Brussel sprout in half lengthwise.
-Toss with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and place cut-side down on a baking sheet.
-Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until tender and caramelized on the outside.

Easy Date Night Dessert

Strawberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Sundaes

Making your own strawberry topping is a great alternative to purchasing pre-made toppings, and adds a special touch to your meal!

Ingredients:

1 pint vanilla bean ice cream
1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup chocolate chips
Whipped cream
Chocolate sprinkles, for garnish.

Directions:

-In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add strawberries and sugar, and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until reduced & strawberries are soft.
-Melt chocolate chips in microwave, or over a double boiler, stirring occasionally.
-Place one large scoop of ice cream in each sundae dish, and top with strawberry mixture. Drizzle each sundae with melted chocolate, and top with whipped cream and sprinkles.
-Serve.

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