Can you make a meal at home, in the time you have, with the cooking skills you don’t have, that will taste good, and ensure that both you and your lady/man will want to keep the lights on after dessert?
YES! Here it is.
Starters: Asian Lettuce Wraps
Yep, I’m actually recommending frozen food for a romantic dinner. #1. It is delicious, if you follow directions no one will know that you didn’t make it. #2. In spite of being awesome, its also quite healthy.
Ingredients
| 1 Bag “Eating Right” Brand (at Safeway) Chicken Lettuce Wrap Filling | 80 kcal /serving |
| Bibb or Romaine Lettuce | 1 kcal /leaf |
Instructions
- Follow directions on bag, except I would leave out the crunchy noodle stuff. In my opinion, it tastes better on the stove top. Heat and wrap it in lettuce.
- Put one or two one a plate per person and make it look nice.
Nutrition Facts
80kcal/wrap (serving size on bag)
Main Course: Flank Steak in a Balsamic Reduction with Sauteed Spinach
As with most of the really good recipes on this site, you’ll have to thank my mommy. Thanks mom!
The Steak:
| 6 oz lean flank steak | 316 kcal |
| 1⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar/steak | 20 kcal |
| 1/8 cup Dijon mustard/steak | 20 kcal |
| 1⁄2 tbsp olive oil/steak | 60 kcal (measure!) |
| Salt & pepper to taste |
Instructions
- Heat pan to medium heat, and heat oil.
- Add steak and salt & pepper well.
- Cook on both sides to desire degree.
- Take steak out of pan and set aside.
- Add vinegar and stir in pan until it reduces to a thick syrup consistency, being sure to get all of the juices left in the pan from the steak.
- Add mustard, stir and pour over steak and veggies.
The Spinach:
| 6 oz lean flank steak | 316 kcal |
| 2 large hand-fulls spinach/person (preferably baby spinach) | 30 kcal |
| 1 clove garlic | |
| 1⁄4 cup chopped onion | |
| Black pepper | |
| Dash of hot sauce | |
| Dash of Sherry, Marsala, red wine, or rice wine vinegar | |
| Short spray of olive oil | 50 kcal |
Instructions
- Decide how many servings you’d like to make and multiply recipe(s) accordingly.
- Turn on med. heat under a med to large pan with at least medium high sides. Spray pan with olive oil and sauté garlic and onions until they become translucent. Deglaze pan with a small amount of Sherry (or whatever you have) – this just means to add some Sherry to the pan to get the flavorful onion stuff that is stuck on the sides of your pan to make it taste better.
- Add spinach, and stir until it is all wilted. Turn off heat and add pepper & hot-sauce. Enjoy.
Nutrition Facts
496 kcal per serving of both
Dessert: Chocolate, Banana Parfait Light
Ingredients
| 1cup Sugar-free, fat-free instant Jell-O Pudding mix | 160 kcal |
| 1 banana | 105 kca |
| 8 tbsp Sugar-Free Cool Whip | 80 kcal |
| 2 tbsp shaved dark chocolate | 120 kcal |
Instructions
- Make pudding according to the directions on the box, and chill two large glasses to make the parfait in.
- Layer the ingredients: banana, pudding, cool whip two times.
- Top with shaved chocolate and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Makes 2 servings at 233kcal per serving
Nutritional Grand Total
809 kcal per person for ALL three courses combined
That may not sound that impressive, but just remember that a “normal” night out with a three course meal would pack in at least twice the above EVEN IF YOU SPLIT THE APPETIZER AND DESSERT (that’s with a grilled appetizer, not anything deep fried).
This article has nothing to do with pugs, but I don’t care. I love pugs! So, happy V-day. Make sure you can still keep the lights on after dinner :-0.