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!