The Reduced Dinner Date

(Written for Dinner4Date )

Everyone likes to impress on a date but in today’s climate, we can’t always afford the splash out on the very best. Which restaurant should you choose – the expensive Italian or the cheaper Thai around the corner? Which wine do you order – should you avoid the house wine because it’s the cheapest?

In recent years, supermarkets have caught on to the idea of the ‘meal for two’ offer – usually mains, a side and dessert for £10 or similar. While there’s nothing wrong with the quality of the food, if you’re inviting your date over for dinner, you may wish to avoid the easy pop-it-in-the-oven option and cook something yourself. But is it possible to deliver a dish (and evening) to remember without breaking the bank?

There is no shame in watching your pennies - if anything it shows that you are not careless with money. With so many offers in the shops today and with most supermarkets sporting a reduced items section, there are countless opportunities to assemble the ingredients for a recipe while sticking to a budget.

If you’re not a veteran in the kitchen but want to have a go at a dish that is creative then something like fajitas is a great option. There is very little preparation involved but the combination of flavours can be adapted to suit every taste.

Take a trip to the local supermarkets and check out which has the best offers. Don’t shy away from the reduced section – if you’re cooking that evening, there will be nothing wrong with the food and it can cost half the price (you don’t need to wave the yellow stickers in front of your date either – unless you’re particularly proud of your bargain finds!)

As an example, this is the breakdown of one trip to my local supermarket:

Steak £2.55 (reduced)

Tex Mex dips £1.55 (reduced)

Tortilla wraps 79p (special offer)

Fajita mix 44p (special offer)

Jalapenos £1.35 (special offer)

The selection of fresh Tex Mex dips is an added bonus (the dips themselves are relatively easy to make but it’s time consuming and the cost of the individual ingredients can mount up quickly). There’s guacamole, salsa and sour cream in the pack so no need to purchase anything else. If your date likes spicy food then the jalapenos will be the only addition you need to give your dish that extra kick.

Once the food is taken care of, take a trip to the wine aisle and check out the special offers there too. You can find some really great wines, which will compliment your meal while still keeping the cost down (in addition, shops’ own brand wines are becoming increasingly good). On this occasion, there’s a nice Rioja for just £4.11. And that’s all you need – a meal for two with wine for the grand total of £10.79.

When you arrive home, put all of your ingredients in the fridge because there’s nothing to be done just yet. After your date arrives, relax and enjoy her company for a while until you’re almost ready to eat.

Once in the kitchen, cut your steak into small chunks then coat them in a little oil and the fajita seasoning mix. Heat a frying pan and add the mixture, turning the meat until cooked. Meanwhile, empty the dips and jalapenos into separate small bowls (if you have any cheese, grate a little and add that too) and stack the tortillas onto a sharing plate (you can heat them in the oven first if you wish).

Arrange everything on your dinner table and seat your guest. Then all that’s left is to do is pour the wine and enjoy your romantic evening together!

Wine As The Secret Ingredient

(Written for Dinner4Date )

The Romans first used wine in their cooking back in the Middle Ages and since then, chefs all over Europe have adopted the method to enhance their dishes. If you’re planning a romantic meal for two, why not take a leaf out of their book and add a little vino to your night?

Cooking with wine can add different layers to the courses being prepared. For centuries, wine has also been used as a base ingredient for marinating meat. When wine is used correctly in the cooking process, most of the alcohol is eliminated but the essence remains, bringing out the natural flavours of meat, fish, and, vegetables. 

By reducing wine, you concentrate its flavours and make them more intense, adding to the complexity of the sauce. Remember that it is only the alcohol that diminishes so when selecting a wine to cook with, choose something that you would drink yourself (obviously, you won’t require the whole bottle in your recipe so the rest can be enjoyed later!)

The flavours tend to mellow the longer that you cook the wine in the dish - for example, it is recommended that a strong red wine is allowed to cook for at least 45 minutes. If you’re a novice in the kitchen, you can keep things simple while still achieving impressive results. For a straightforward, reduced red wine sauce that will go well with beef and lamb dishes, try the following:

1/4 cup chopped shallots or red onions

1/2 cup red wine

1/2 cup beef stock

Fry the shallots or onions in a little oil until they become translucent but not too soft. Add the wine and the stock to the pan. Turn down the heat a little and reduce the liquid by half. This is a great starting point – from here you can add a little extra flavour, such as a knob of butter or a sprig of rosemary.

If you have a nice joint of meat and a great sauce then you don’t have to go overboard with the rest of dish. Simple roast potatoes and green beans will be enough to compliment the main course and will create a more memorable meal than trying to be clever and overcomplicating it.

If you prefer white meat or fish, then a fresh white wine such as a good Chardonnay will provide a fabulous flavour. Follow the same basics as above, instead using white onion, white wine and chicken stock for your base, and then flavouring with butter and chives. Matching this with something simple, such as boiled potatoes or fresh pasta will be more than enough to impress, without turning the cooking process into a stressful experience.

Cooking a romantic dinner for your date should be fun. Enjoy the process of experimenting with something new and don’t worry too much if it doesn’t quite turn out as you expected. She will be more touched by the fact that you were willing to put the effort in than she will be concerned about whether the result was as perfect as you see on TV. And don’t forget the rest of that bottle of wine you have to enjoy during the meal!

Impress her with a Valentine’s Cocktail

(Written for Dinner4Date )

For your first Valentine’s together, you gave her roses. For the next, you cooked her dinner. You’ve bought her chocolates and you’ve surprised her with champagne. So this year, you know that she’ll expect something different and extra special. You want to show her that the thought does count. The only problem is that you have been thinking but you haven’t come up with an answer.

Ever since Tom Cruise shook his stuff in the movie Cocktail, the idea of mixing fancy drinks has been thrown into the limelight. Bars and nightclubs around the world maximise on the entertainment value and impress the ladies into wanting to sample their tropical delights.

Why not treat her to your very own display of cocktail affection? If you’ve never mixed drinks before (other than alternating beer and shots down the pub) then the prospect of concocting something from scratch may seem a little intimidating. However, there are many basic mixes that are easy to follow and but will illustrate a newfound labour of love.

So where do you start? A cocktail recipe is no different from a food recipe - so go with what you know. If she likes steak, you’d cook her steak, so if her favourite tipple is gin, then that’s a good place to start. There’s also the visual element to consider – something pink or red will provide an added Valentine’s touch. A raspberry gin and tonic is simple, colourful and will appeal to her taste buds.

Pour 50ml of gin (choose a nice brand that you’ve heard her mention before) into a tall glass of ice. Add a dash of Chambord (a liqueur that you’ll find in any supermarket or off licence but can also be substituted with raspberry syrup). Top with tonic and garnish with a couple of fresh raspberries. Don’t forget to prepare it in front of her and present it while it’s still nice, crisp and cold.

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous then investing in a cocktail shaker will add to the glamour and occasion. You can pick a basic one up cheaply at most large supermarkets or online. It’s worth the extra expense to look the part (rather than trying to improvise with whatever is in the kitchen cupboard.) A Strawberry Daiquiri prepared before her eyes and served into a Martini glass will be both elegant and delicious.

Place four fresh strawberries into your cocktail shaker and add two teaspoons of white sugar. Then add 35ml of white rum and a large dash of strawberry liqueur (again you can use a strawberry syrup as a substitute). Squeeze in some fresh lime juice (around a tablespoon). You then need to muddle the ingredients together – if your cocktail shaker didn’t come with its own muddle, you can use the end of a rolling pin to achieve the same result.

Once this is done, put the lid on the cocktail shaker and give it a good shake (this is where you best flair bartending impression comes into play). Pour into a Martini glass, using a strainer (again you can improvise – something like a tea strainer or small sieve will remove the excess fruit that you don’t want in the drink). Finally, don’t forget that all-important garnish to create a professional look. Slice a strawberry in half and drop it in. Serve it her with a smile and she is sure to be touched.

These recipes are simple but if you take the time, she won’t forget your efforts. And then you’ll have a whole year to practise more complex cocktails to surprise her with next Valentine’s Day!