The air of romance is in the air. Yes, and it’s coming from your kitchen. Nothing spells love than whipping together an amazing meal. An amazing meal that can be for two or one! Valentine’s day is a great day to splurge, that will leave your taste buds wanting for more. Make your home a five star restaurant this year. Throw on your gloves and apron, it’s time to prepare a heartwarming meal. It’s time to exercise your creativity. Mix up amazing flavors that will surprise you. Invite your special someone to join you in preparing the feast. There is nothing better than an extra set of hands. With the two of you involved, it will make it extra special. Great time for you to be alone with your special someone. 

If you rather do it alone, you can treat your meal as a surprise gift for your special someone. Nothing will be more rewarding than opening your door to a masterpiece. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Do I have to get expensive cuts of meats to impress? You know, lobster, rack of lamb , duck, veal or prime rib. The answer is no. 

The way to the heart is flavor! It doesn’t matter the price, what matters is the love put into it. Put together a feast that you both will enjoy. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You can put together a meal you never tried before. Great way to impress without breaking the bank. There is nothing wrong with  sticking to tradition. You probably guessed it, Italian food. No culture waves the flag for romance better than Italy. Spaghetti, pizza, lasagna, linguine, fettuccine, garlic bread, salad, you name it. Nothing screams date more than a romantic evening at an Italian restaurant.  What you can do is put a creative spin on them. Have you ever tried spaghetti with spinach and feta cheese? To die for! Can’t leave out a little garlic vinaigrette on top. Great way to sneak in a healthy meal if you’re trying to watch the waist line.

Let’s get into some recipes that will make your Valentine’s day dinner a romance to remember.

Seasons to use

• Paprika
• Cilantro (fresh or powder)
• Adobo seasoning
• Sazon
• Ham seasoning
• Chicken seasoning
• Recaito
• Sofrito
• Thyme (fresh or powder)
• Rosemary (fresh or powder)
• Onion (fresh or powder) (Recommend Red/spanish onion for extra flavor)
• Pepper (green and yellow) (red if you like a little spice)
• Celery  (fresh, chopped or powder)
• Garlic (fresh, in the jar or powder)
• Salt and pepper

Note: Use these seasons with all the meats, potatoes and string beans. Recommend using parsley and cherry tomatoes on top of your meals to enhance your visual presentation. Can also cut up thin slices of block parmesan cheese on top of your pastas.

Dinner Idea #1  — All Hail To The Lasagna

• Steak-broil until tender. Recommend cutting in thin slices for presentation and ease of eating. 
• Turkey spinach lasagna- use mozzarella/ feta/parmesan/3 or 5 italian cheese mix, tomato sauce, seasoning mix, spinach, virgin olive oil, ground turkey and lasagna noodles
• Toss salad — use romaine lettuce, feta cheese, sharp cheese, tabouli, rolled stuffed grape leaves, peperoni, tomatoes, olives, and croutons
• Salad dressing -– use caesar, blue cheese, ranch or italian
• Bread- Garlic or Italian bread

Dinner Idea #2 — Wing Of Love

• Roasted chicken – add a little lemon for some zest!
• Mash potatoes with chives– Idaho potatoes, sour cream, butter, adobo seasoning, chives, and cilantro
• Roasted string beans– use a little 100% virgin olive oil as a base
• Spinach quiche- eggs, spinach, feta cheese, diced peppers
• Mashed yams– use cinnamon, adobo seasoning, vanilla extract, butter or margarine and 100% apple juice base
• Biscuits, dinner roll, italian, french or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #3— It’s All In The Zest

• Steak-broiled
• Fried shrimp-use canola/vegetable oil, flour, garlic and onion powder, pepper, adobo seasoning, sazon, paprika, and old bay seasoning
• White rice-add little lemon zest, garlic powder, onion powder, adobo seasoning,  cilantro and butter 
• Macaroni & Cheese- use extra sharp cheese, elbow macaroni, egg, milk, and butter/margarine
• Tip: If you have heart shaped baking tins, can scoop your macaroni and cheese and bake in tins. They will make heart shape macaroni cups!
• Roasted carrots– use cinnamon, adobo seasoning, vanilla extract, butter or margarine and 100% apple juice base
• Corn on the Cobb – wrap with green pepper in aluminum foil for extra flavor
• Biscuits, dinner roll, italian, french or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #4 — Delight In The Bake

• Grilled chicken
• Baked tilapia/blue fish or flounder-bake with sliced lemons on top 
• Baked potatoes-sour cream, chives, butter, cilantro, green pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, adobo seasoning, and sazon
• Tartar sauce
• Cream Corn 
• Cole slaw 
• Chef salad- use romaine lettuce, tomato ,cucumber, croutons, red onion, olives, banana peppers, mixed nuts, sharp cheese, feta cheese,  parmesan cheese (not grated), and raisins
• Salad dressing – use greek vinaigrette, italian, ranch, caesar, and blue cheese
• Biscuits, dinner roll, italian, french or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #5- A Little Spice

• Smothered pork chop-suse canola/vegetable oil, flour, garlic and onion powder, pepper, adobo seasoning, sazon, and paprika
• Macaroni salad – use mayonnaise, mustard, chopped celery, adobo seasoning, elbow macaroni, black pepper, and hard boiled egg (make sure it’s chilled)
• Spanish rice – use tomato paste, pigeon peas/beans, adobo seasoning, cubed ham/ ham seasoning, chicken seasoning,  sazon, garlic, onion, pepper, and recaito/sofrito
• Sweet potatoes- use cinnamon, adobo seasoning, vanilla extract, butter or margarine and 100% apple juice base
• Peas
• Biscuits, dinner roll, Italian, French or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner idea # 6– Beef Up The Love

• Beef stew  – use london broil steak chunks, potato chunks, thyme, rosemary,  parsley, onion, garlic celery, adobo seasoning, sazon, carrots and stock 
• Rice or Pasta of your choice- drizzle a little olive oil
• Roasted zucchini-use onion, garlic, sazon, adobo seasoning and 100% virgin olive oil
• Mashed yams– use cinnamon, adobo seasoning, vanilla extract, butter or margarine and 100% apple juice base
• Dinner roll, corn bread, Italian or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #7  — The Roll Of The Meat

• Turkey Meatballs 
• Mushrooms sauteed in sliced kielbasa 
• Spaghetti-spaghetti noodles, little virgin olive oil, tomato sauce, cilantro, basil, adobo seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and green pepper
• Tip: Marinate your sauce for 2 hours
• Roasted string beans– use a little 100% virgin olive oil as a base
• Cabbage-use onion, garlic, adobo seasoning, sazon, pinch of baking soda, chopped kielbasa and 100% virgin olive oil
• Dinner roll, corn bread, Italian or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #8  — I Heart The Alfredo

• Chicken alfredo-use linguine, spinach/broccoli, alfredo sauce, garlic, grilled chicken, and adobo seasoning
• Salad-  use romaine lettuce, tomato ,cucumber, croutons, red onion, olives, banana peppers, mixed nuts, sharp cheese, feta cheese,  parmesan cheese (not grated), and raisins
• Salad dressing – use greek vinaigrette, italian, ranch, caesar, and blue cheese
• Dinner roll, Italian or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #9  — It Take Two

• Jerk chicken- use mild jamaican jerk sauce
• Fried chicken- use canola/vegetable oil, egg, flour, garlic and onion powder, pepper, adobo seasoning, sazon, paprika, and fried chicken seasoning
• Spanish rice –  use tomato paste, pigeon peas/beans, adobo seasoning, cubed ham/ ham seasoning, chicken seasoning,  sazon, garlic, onion, pepper, and recaito/sofrito 
• Potato salad – use mayonnaise, mustard, relish, adobo seasoning, black pepper, and hard boiled egg (make sure it’s chilled)
• Corn on the cob
• Cabbage-use onion, garlic, adobo seasoning, sazon, pinch of baking soda, chopped kielbasa and 100% virgin olive oil
• Dinner roll, corn bread, Italian or garlic bread, your choice!

Dinner Idea #11- Love Of The Sea

• Fried Shrimp-—use canola/vegetable oil, flour, garlic and onion powder, pepper, adobo seasoning, sazon, paprika, and old bay seasoning
• Fried tilapia/blue fish or flounder —use canola/vegetable oil, flour, garlic and onion powder, pepper, adobo seasoning, sazon, paprika, and old bay seasoning
• Mash potatoes – use milk, butter, garlic and onion powder, sour cream, adobo seasoning, and chives
• Vegetable fried rice- use fried rice seasoning (find at WalMart), mix vegetables, water chestnuts, brown rice, and 100% virgin olive oil
• Sauteed spinach- use garlic, onion, adobo seasoning, sazon, and 100% virgin olive oil
• Mashed yams– use cinnamon, adobo seasoning, vanilla extract, butter or margarine and 100% apple juice base
• Coleslaw 
• Tartar sauce
• Dinner roll, corn bread, Italian or garlic bread, your choice!
  

Desserts

• Note: use whip cream, ice cream, or a glass of milk as an added treat with these desserts!
• Red Velvet Cheesecake 
• Chocolate molten lava cake with melted chocolate. Add a side of strawberries or raspberries
• Vanilla, chocolate or carrot cake
• Strawberry shortcake 
• Chocolate covered pretzels
• Box of chocolate candy ( Russell Stovers great option)
• Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry cupcakes
• Raspberry sorbet
• Brownie bites with chocolate chips, crushed almonds or raspberries
• Vanilla, chocolate or lemon bundt cake 
• Chopped assorted fruit
• Raspberry roll
• Cinnamon buns
• Banana bread
• Chocolate pudding cake 

Conclusion

It’s a lot of work when you’re planning something for someone else. I hope you enjoy these recipes, help take off the load. You deserve to have a relaxing and enjoyable home cooked meal. Nothing says love then being hit with an enticing aroma in your living room. It is all in the spice. It doesn’t take a lot of work to make a romantic meal. It’s all about enjoying the flavors and the presence of your special someone. Jazz up your meal with garnishes makes it extra special. Presentation is everything and makes a difference to your dinner. Show your creativity and set your atmosphere on fire with romance with garnishes. 

Don’t forget to bring dinner napkins to your table! Lay them on your seats or neatly folded on the side of your plate. I like to artistically place them inside of the glass, placed on the center of the plate. Makes for nice decor piece! We don’t want any unnecessary accidents to happen. Protect your outfits at all times.  When you’re eating, try to savor the flavor in each bite. Observe the textures, the mixtures of flavor, the delight of your meal. Observe how your partner is enjoying the food. Strike up a conversation, asking their thoughts on the meal. Conversate about foods you enjoy and what makes them special.  To make it extra special, use one plate to share with your special someone. Nothing beats sharing and feeding your special someone. This will help level up the romance. 

Also, have light music playing in the background. This will never go out of style. Light jazz, contemporary, pop, and r&b, you’re surrounded by love. Hearing Stevie Wonder hitting high notes or Luther killing the rifts, can’t go wrong. If you really want to win, Sade, Sade, and can I say Sade! The Queen of smooth and basically music! 

Let this Valentine’s day be a day filled with love, laughter, food and good music! Enjoy the comforts of your home and level up your appetite with amazing meals. I hope you enjoy them, all crafted with love.

Do you have any dinner ideas you would like to share? Are you going out to eat or do you plan on staying at home? Any Valentine’s day memories you would like to share? Let me know in the comments below.