Sometimes, you want to have a romantic dinner at home to mark a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, or for no reason at all. You want the entire evening to go perfectly, but may be uncertain of what you should do to make it unique. No matter what the occasion is or whether you are a novice or experienced dinner planner, there are a few tips you may find helpful.
The morning of the dinner or the evening before, go ahead and handle the house cleaning. Dust, remove clutter, and vacuum. Spray the house with an air treatment that will eliminate, not mask, odors a few hours before dinner time. Plug in fresheners need a while to warm up, so set yours up an hour or two ahead of time. Select your music, preferably something instrumental and soft, so that vocals will not prove distracting.
Straighten the kitchen to make it easier to cook the meal. Put away the clean dishes so that you can start with an empty dishwasher. Then, as you cook, load the dirty dishes so that you do not have an unsightly stack to deal with later.
Review your menu plan and make sure that you have all of the ingredients you will need to prepare and serve the meal. For example, if you are serving a tossed salad, check that you have dressings on hand as well as the vegetables you will need. Estimate the time it will take to prepare each item and work backwards to see when you need to begin.
Dress your table as elegantly as you can. For example, a black dining room set can be used as an effective backdrop for a dramatic look. White, in the form of dishes or linens, can provide a good contrast. Fresh petals from two or three red roses can be sprinkled on top of the table. Sit down to make sure your centerpiece will not obscure the view of you or your guest. If using candles, place them in holders that can capture dim light, such as polished metal or faceted cut glass.
Use a Camerons stovetop smoker to prepare the meats without the extra heat that an oven can produce. This will let you serve tender, tasty steaks, chicken, or chops with less bother. You can also use it to steam vegetables for side dishes.
If you are serving mashed potatoes, use a hand mixer to make sure they are free of lumps. For those who prefer the instant variety to peeling and boiling fresh ones, there are ways to make them tastier. Increase the amount of milk and butter, and decrease the amount of water, that the directions state. This will make a creamier product. You can also add shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits, or paprika before serving. Experiment ahead of time to develop your own variations so that you will know exactly what you need to add to make them uniquely your own recipe.
If you are using a tossed salad for your first course, make it as interesting as you can. Use a combination of romaine lettuce and iceberg lettuce, then toss with some pecan pieces, olives, and cherry tomatoes. If desired, mix in diced or shredded cheese, minced gherkins, or grated carrots. Before serving, toss with dressing and croutons. You can use a purchased dressing or make one yourself. One that is extremely simply is nothing more than seasoning salt and dill seeds stirred into a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise. Just adjust ingredients to suit your own tastes, chill well, and serve.
Dessert can be special without having to be elaborate. Cherries jubilee is a nice choice, but it is not always practical. Instead, consider choices such as fresh peach shortcake, triple chocolate cake served with ice cream, or gingered fruit cups.
