Recipe: Romantic dinner ideas

Hi Clen - It's so sweet that you want to cook a special dinner yourself. A romantic dinner doesn't have to be extravagant and involved, either. After all, you don't want to spend your whole evening in the kitchen! Some candles, flowers and music will make even hamburgers seem special.

May I suggest that you pick one special item, and build your meal around it. Perhaps you both love a special wine or champagne, or adore an outstanding cheese course with port, or wild mushrooms or duck, etc. If you make one dish special and rich, do yourself a favor and make the other parts of the meal lighter and, definitely, make as much ahead of time as possible!

Since it's wintertime there, you might want to start with a first course of soup (sherried leek and potato or mushroom, or fresh minted pea - or search here for a curried pea soup posted by Julie C in July. Make enough soup so you have leftovers for lunch the next day!). Soups always taste better the next day, so make it the night before. Or, if a salad is a better starter for you, use special greens and serve with a hot toast topped with goat cheese and herbs, or with pears and gorgonzola.

Some time-tested main dishes that aren't complicated and can be made ahead of time are coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon, which can be served with buttered noodles (serve these with the salad). Lamb chops, pork tenderloin or beef fillet are also special and require little time to cook, though can't be made ahead (serve the soup first and serve with roasted potatoes and your favorite veg). If you've splurged on champagne or are saving for the cheese and port course, there are many outstanding chicken recipes.

Use the Search feature here to look for recipes! There are SOOOO many posted here that you are bound to find more than you could possibly cook! If you've seen an idea above and can't find a recipe for it, please post another specific request and I'll be happy to provide a recipe!Hope you have a very romantic dinner!