Quick and Easy Date Night Recipes to Cook at Home

RSS

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.

Easy Date Night Recipes

Quick & Easy Date Night Recipes - Romantic Steakhouse-Inspired Dinner for Two
Quick and Easy Date Night Recipes to Cook at Home:Romantic Steakhouse-Inspired Dinner for Two by Katie Wilson from C...
Quick & Easy Date Night Recipes - Slow Cooker Simplicity
Quick and Easy Date Night Recipes to Cook at Home:Slow Cooker Simplicity by Katie Wilson from CraftyGirlCreates One...
Quick & Easy Date Night Recipes - Keeping it Simple but Delicious
Quick and Easy Date Night Recipes to Cook at Home:Keeping it Simple but Delicious by Katie Wilson from CraftyGirlCre...