Date Night at Home
Restaurant quality recipes that don't require a reservation
If going out to eat were a love language, it would definitely be mine. There’s almost nothing I love more than a tiny table, a lit candle, and not having to do the dishes.
Despite this, we almost never dine out on Valentine’s Day. Snagging a reservation requires more advanced planning than two parents with two businesses and an ADHD diagnosis can muster.
For this holiday, we’d much rather stay home, drink inexpensive wine, and avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot near the city’s hottest new restaurant.
Here are a few tips for embracing the romantic date night in:
Decide if you’re cooking together or if someone will be cooking for someone else. You know your relationship best. Will sharing kitchen space be fun and romantic or make you want to hip check your partner into an open drawer?
Communicate expectations. Will you be dressing up or wearing fuzzy socks and stretchy pants? Either is completely viable, but it helps to agree on the vibe beforehand.
Set the mood. Use real plates and napkins. Light a candle or many. Curate a playlist for the meal that reinforces the mood (instrumental and romantic, flirtatious and dance-y, etc).
Incorporate tiny guests (if you have them). Have your kids write or draw the menus or be the official servers for the evening. Put them in charge of setting the table, and make it feel special for them too! My kids love when we get sparkling grape juice for fancy dinners.
Our Favorite Romantic Dinners
Steak and Shrimp Scampi - A classic that’s easier to make than you might think. Steak and Shrimp are cooked with a buttery garlic wine sauce and served over a pile of pasta.
Thai Basil Beef- This is my favorite quick date-night-in meal. It packs some serious heat, so it’s not the best choice if you’re including kiddos. I don’t like to make a separate meal for my kids, but for this one, I will. Feed them something from freezer, and treat yourselves to this fusion of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.
Surf N Turf - This comes together in just 30 minutes and only uses one pan. What a dream.
Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta - A rich and creamy pasta brightened by the tang of sun dried tomatoes.
Seafood Mac and Cheese - Creamy mac studded with as much seafood as you can afford. This recipe includes shrimp and scallops, but no one would be mad if you snuck some lobster or crab in there, too.
Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs- Turn your house into an Italian bistro with this recipe for Italian meatballs in a homemade marinara sauce. Be sure to have your own romantic Lady and the Tramp moment with this one.
For a nice green side, we recommend a crisp tossed salad, creamy Caesar dressing, or simple lemon parm arugula salad.
For dessert:
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Truffles- Positively decadent chocolate truffles that you can easily make at home!
Sour Cream Cheesecake- A lusciously creamy cheesecake, that’s never dry or dense. Serve it with your favorite pie fillings, a lovely lemon curd, or chocolate and caramel syrup.
Flourless Chocolate Orange Cake- This flourless cake is decadent and rich, almost pudding like. The subtle orange notes make this one a scene stealer.
Ice Cream Stuffed Crepes- Leave yourself lots of time after dinner to make some room for this epic dessert. Warm crepes are wrapped around your favorite ice cream (we love black raspberry chip), then finished with fresh fruit and a chocolate drizzle. Truly divine.