It is fun to get dressed up and go someplace special: the
cooking is done for you, and you can gaze across the candlelit
table into the eyes of your soulmate, uninterrupted by cooking and
serving chores.
It is fun to get dressed up and go someplace special: the cooking is done for you, and you can gaze across the candlelit table into the eyes of your soulmate, uninterrupted by cooking and serving chores.
On the other hand, you DO have to get dressed up, possibly find a babysitter, and avoid that second glass of bubbly so you can drive home safely.
I’m not suggesting you skip it completely and stay home in your jeans eating pizza and watching Fear Factor. I propose a festive meal for two that will allow you to eat with your shoes off, if you like, and still gaze into your partner’s eyes.
A few details will help make the occasion warmly festive:
1. Music. If possible, make a mix tape or CD, or a playlist on your iPod or computer, of a variety of music that you both enjoy. Vary the tempos and moods, perhaps starting with upbeat tunes, leading into the romantic and nostalgic.
2. Lighting. This is the time for candles. Use votives on the table and place more votives and pillar candles of varying heights around the room to provide a soft background. Avoid using overhead lighting, but put on a few peripheral lights so you don’t trip over the coffee table and ruin the mood.
3. Table setting. Pull out your “good” china and cutlery, if you like it. If you don’t like it, pick up a couple of place settings of something you do like, at a discount or thrift store. Get away from what you use every day and use tableware that feels festive and special.
4. Flowers. You may expect a dozen long-stemmed roses, but always have a plan B. If you have bulbs blooming in your yard, rescue them from the snails and slugs and bring them inside before they fade away or buy bunches of something you like at a supermarket. As with the candles, keep the arrangements on the dinner table low so they don’t get in the way of conversation.
5. Wine. This is an occasion for Champagne or other sparkling white wine. I have always enjoyed Freixenet, as much for its smashingly elegant gold-on-black label as for its taste.
The Menu
Savory Tartlets or Avocado with shrimp
Oven Roasted Filet of Beef
Baked potatoes
Green salad or Sliced tomatoes with vinaigrette
French bread and butter
Romantic brownie sundaes
Savory Tartlets
(adapted from Martha Stewart’s Good Things for Entertaining)
Flour for work surface
1 package frozen store-bought puff pastry, thawed (you will need about 1/4 of this)
1 log goat cheese at room temperature
pitted Kalamata or Nicoise olives (available in jars at most supermarkets)
or
1/4 lb. mushrooms, sliced and sauteed until soft in butter, with a pinch of thyme.
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 3: On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough out to 1/8 inch thick. Using a 2″ pastry cutter, cut out rounds and place on prepared baking sheets.
Step 4: Prick each several times with a fork and spread with 1 teaspoon goat cheese.
Step 5: Top each with three or four olive halves or mushroom slices.
Step 6: Bake until pastry is puffed and golden, about 25minutes.
These can be made ahead and served at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.
Avocado with shrimp
1 large, ripe but firm avocado
1 lemon, halved
1/2 cup small shrimp
vinaigrette salad dressing
flat-leaf italian parsley or cilantro
salt and coarsely ground pepper
Step 1: Cut avocado in half, remove pit and rub all exposed surfaces with lemon.
Step 2: Mix shrimp with a few spoonfuls of vinaigrette.
Step 3: Fill avocado halves with shrimp mixture.
Step 4: Sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro, salt and pepper to taste.
Oven-roasted filet of beef
(adapted from RealSimple magazine)
1 4-lb. filet of beef (beef tenderloin)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 tsp. salt
1 T. pepper
1 T. fresh thyme leaves
1 T. olive oil
2 medium baking potatoes, pricked with a fork
Step 1: Remove meat from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting so it reaches room temperature.
Step 2: Preheat oven to 500 degrees and position rack in the center. Place potatoes directly on rack.
Step 3: Spread the mustard evenly on all sides of the meat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme.
Step 4: Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet till almost smoking. Brown meat on all sides, two or three minutes per side.
Step 5: Place meat in oven and reduce heat to 425 degrees. Bake about 25 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 130 degrees (for rare) when inserted in the center.
Step 6: Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Romantic Brownie Sundaes
(adapted from RealSimple magazine.)
The brownies should be made in advance.
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 T. cocoa powder
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped or chocolate chips
3 T. unsalted butter plus more for greasing foil
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg plus 1 yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
Strawberry ice cream
Raspberry sauce (below)
Step 1: Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Step 2: Line an 8″ by 4″ inch loaf pan with foil, allowing foil to extend past the sides so you can lift out the brownies.
Step 3: Grease foil with soft butter.
Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda and cocoa.
Step 5: Melt the chocolate and butter together in a large bowl in the microwave.
Step 6: Whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla.
Step 7: Whisk in the flour mixture until just combined.
Step 8: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Step 9: Cool in pan on rack at least 20 minutes, then pull out with the foil and turn onto a cutting board. Using a 3 1/2 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out two heart shapes.
Step 10: Cover with plastic wrap.
Raspberry sauce
1 cup frozen raspberries
3 T. sugar
Step 1: Place the raspberries and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Step 2: Cook about 6 minutes until berries are soft and release their juices.
Step 3: Press with a wooden spoon through a sieve.
Step 4: Store in refrigerator in a covered container until ready to serve.
To assemble, ladle a few tablespoons of raspberry sauce onto each dessert plate. Add a scoop of strawberry ice cream and lean a brownie heart on it. Serve.
