Valentine’s Day is about spending time with your partner or spouse and enjoying some good old-fashioned romance. In the past, men were usually charged with spoiling the ladies. However, this is no longer the case and now women play an equal role in creating the perfect date night. You could go out to a restaurant and have somebody cook for your. However, the downside of this (apart from the expense) is that you will need to leave the restaurant after enjoying a delicious meal and make your way home. When cooking a meal yourself, you can simply relax and even take those shoes off if you like! You can also enjoy as many glasses of wine since you will not need to worry about anyone driving.
Now, when planning your Valentine’s Day menu, it’s good to remember the perks of cooking together rather than going it alone. Cooking a meal with your partner means that you aren’t stuck in the kitchen alone while they watch TV or do something else. Cooking together can be fun and romantic as you help one another here and there. Let your partner taste the food and offer input regarding flavour and texture too. The meal is for the two of you after all! With this in mind, it’s good to remember that certain recipes are particularly better when prepared by a pair of lovebirds.
Any kind of pasta dish works well for Valentine’s Day and they are easily prepared together. The pasta itself will simply need to be boiled and you can choose what you would like to serve on top. A delicious bolognese perhaps or maybe you prefer chicken and mushrooms with a creamy white wine sauce. Pesto is a lovely addition to most tomato-based pasta dishes and you could even go light on the toppings and make a basic pesto pasta topped with grated parmesan cheese.
If you prefer Mexican cuisine, you might like some taco-inspired stuffed peppers. This will require some prep but they really are simple to make. Start by hollowing out some bell peppers and lightly coat with oil before baking in the oven for a few minutes. You can cut them in half or you can leave them whole. However, they are particularly filling and half a pepper is often enough to fill a hungry belly. In the meantime, prepare the filling. Boil about a cup of rice and cook some chopped onion and ground beef. Season lightly with salt and, once the rice and meat are cooked, mix together in a bowl. Add a can of kidney beans or black beans and a can of corn. Add about a can of tomato salsa (spicey if you like) and add some taco seasoning. Stuff the peppers and bake for about 15 minutes before topping with grated cheddar cheese and baking for a few more minutes. Serve your stuffed peppers with your choice of guacamole, tomato salsa, and sour cream.
For something delicious but really easy to make, you can simply whip up some of your favourite brown rice and top it with cooked (not over-cooked) broccoli, fried red onions, and cooked bacon bits. Top with some sour cream if you like and a sprinkle of cheddar. Split up the duties by having one of you cook the rice and chop the onions while the other trims the broccoli into florets and grates some cheese. You’ll be ready to eat in no time!