A Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner for Two

Your special Valentine's Day  with your loved one doesn't necessarily have to be shared amongst strangers in an overcrowded, noisy restaurant where the servers are rushed, food comes out cold, orders are often taken incorrectly, and the prices are jacked up. Why not stay in the comfort and privacy of your own home and enjoy each others company rather than risk ruining what could have been a perfect evening? Not only is it a way to share an intimate and relaxing evening together, but it is usually much less expensive. The one trick to making a romantic dinner at home go off without a hitch is to plan ahead.

Creating Ambiance

The difference between this and any other dinner at home is that this one will be done sparing no expense. That's right -- it's time to pull out the nice things from storage: the linens,  candelabras,  silver cutlery,  the good china,  and the crystal champagne flutes.  Okay, so maybe you don't have all these items, but that's okay. The point is to give this night extra special consideration. Otherwise, what could have been marvelous turns into mundane. Here's how to work it, no matter what you've got on hand.

Table Dressings
A fancy tablecloth  or pressed linens  gives a sense of luxury, especially if your kitchen table  isn't the most glamorous of sorts. Just be sure that they are clean and not wrinkled. Spots, stains, tattered ends, or wrinkles will make a polished look turn sour in a flash.	No tablecloth?  No problem. Dress up a table with heart shaped doilies  or scatter rose petals.  You can do this with or without a tablecloth to add a romantic and whimsical touch. Remember, to save money you can always cut out your own paper hearts and write little messages on them for a personal touch.	Fresh flowers  are always a hit no matter which way you do it. Set them all in a vase as a centerpiece,  or put a few blooms in bud vases and clip the rest of the buds to scatter around the table. You might even be able to use some flowers to decorate the plates  to give the meal a presentation that says, "Wow!"	Candles  are a must-have! They look great and allow you to dim the lights and add to the romance. If you don't have a candelabra  or candle holders  it's okay to simply place tea lights  around the table in groups of three. They are less likely to drip and spill on the table than votives.  Another option is to float the candles in a glass salad bowl.	No tablecloth? Grimy looking table? Skip it all together and grab a picnic blanket  or other comfortable blanket  to create in indoor picnic. Set up the makeshift dinner table on the floor near the fire for a more romantic feel. If you dare to bear the cold, consider a picnic outdoors. Bring plenty of blankets, hot cocoa, mulled wine, and warm food. Perfect for cuddling!

The Menu

• Use your best judgment.
• A romantic dinner at home can be as extravagant or as simple as you wish. Just no left overs, please.
• Think beyond what you normally would cook and try to get creative. After all, besides how the meal tastes, it is the thought that goes into cooking the meal that counts.
• When in doubt think fresh! Fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season are a great base for creating a meal.
• Consider the tastes of the person for whom you are cooking. This is a time to show that you know him or her and what he or she likes best.
• Go gourmet, but only if you can.
• Gourmet doesn't always mean 'better' but it can be fun, especially if you know your way around a kitchen.
• Consider cooking that dish that he or she always talks about wanting to try and give it a shot. Perhaps you'll even want to invest in a cookbook. If not, see some of the external links below. There are numerous Web sites for recipes and cooking.
• Even if you don't have much experience cooking you can still try something elaborate. The trick is to test the dish out before letting your valentine be the guinea pig. About a week or two before Valentine's Day (or the special occasion you are celebrating) get all the ingredients and equipment you'll need to pull of the meal and practice. This is slightly harder to do if you live with your loved one, but if you ever have a free night, give it a shot. That way you will be less likely to create a culinary catastrophe the night of the big event.

Dinner Themes

Basing dinner on a theme makes it easier to come up with a shopping list and a cooking plan. It also creates a nice flow from the start of the meal to the end.

Italian

Keeping to an Italian menu is ideal especially when you are first getting to know someone. The tastes are easy to stomach no matter what. Pair the dinner with some Italian music playing in the background and bold accents of red and white. For recipe ideas, check out The Food Network's Everyday Italian.

Drinks Start off with a nice Chianti  or if you like bubbly, try Prosecco,  an Italian sparkling wine. Not into wine? Try Peroni  or a sparkling fruit cider.	Appetizer Options Mini toasted paninis.  Tomato and mozzarella salad. Garlic bread.	Main Course Choices Chicken Marsala.  Homemade pizza.  Pasta dinner or lasagne.	Dessert Tiramisu.  Gelato.  Spumone.

French

Perfect for a glamorous, yet somehow simple evening. French meals aren't hard to make, but they are usually rich and flavorful. Throw on some accordion music in the background to make you feel like you are at a Parisian café.

Drinks Wine  goes great with dinner, but you can always opt for champagne,  a French aperitif,  or something non-alcoholic.	Appetizer Try fresh French bread  with brie  or any other soft or semi-soft cheese.  You may also nibble on a salad if you like.	Main Course Try a nice steak,  thin cut French fries,  and a side dish of sautéed green beans. It doesn't get anymore French than that. Don't forget the Dijon!	Dessert Eclairs  are tasty and easy to eat. However, a chocolate mousse,  hand-fed, might be just the trick for adding some zing to dessert.

Useful Tips

• Prepare as much of the meal in advance as you can. When your dinner mate arrives, you want everything to be in place so that you can spend time together instead of cooking.
• Clean as you go! Not only will it show that you have a handle on things, but your place will be much cleaner and presentable.
• Leave the dishes! Spend time with your guy or gal and don't worry about tending to the dirty dishes. You can take care of that in the morning.
• Avoid using scented candles  since it will distract from the smell of the food.
• Go easy on the vino or whatever type of liquor you might be drinking. You want to remember the night, not end up passed out.
• Take your time to eat. Enjoy the flavors and the aromas. Even try feeding each other. This works especially well for dessert!
• Dress up as if this is a special occasion -- which it is. Just because you're not going out doesn't mean that you can't look nice.

External Links

• About.com -- A delicious assortment of delectable dinner treats for those who have some culinary class.
• All Recipes -- A wide variety of baked goods, sweets, and dinner recipes to try out.
• ezine Articles -- A dinner to "Knock His Socks Off."
• FabulousFoods.com -- A menu from start to finish that's easy to make.
• NZgirl -- Recipe idea for the able cook and those who are less so.
• Razzle Dazzle Recipes -- A good selection of easy to medium difficulty dishes to make for a romantic dinner.
• Recipes Today -- A Valentine's Day dinner under $6?!? You thought impossible, these recipes show you how.
• SoYouWanna -- So you wanna cook a romantic dinner, eh? Check out the advice they're got to get your romantic dinner going.
• Vital Choices -- A few recipe ideas for a complete dinner.