You can save a great deal of money while enjoying a romantic dinner for two this Valentine's Day. It's quite easy if you use both your head and your heart.
Start with the person you want to treat to this romantic dinner; what is their favorite food or dish? It could be anything from steak to chicken to pasta to macaroni & cheese to tacos. Design your menu around what will make you both happy. Check your grocery store's ad to see if you can utilize what is on special this week.
Jungle Jim's ad is conveniently located online. Keep in mind you are only cooking for two!
After grocery shopping and talking with the butcher at Jungle Jim's, I haven't made up my mind what entree I want to serve for my
romantic dinner for two, so I am sharing several entrees with you.
I am serving my romantic dinner for two in courses so we can linger over dinner, sharing a fun romantic time together. The
Starter Course and
Dessert Course will remain the same, as will the
Sweetheart Salad.
First Course:
Don't Shrimp on the Lovin'First course will be six cooked jumbo cocktail shrimp. I will be serving these three to a plate, standing tails upwards, inside a heart I have drawn around them on the plate with cocktail sauce.
You could substitute fresh Sushi made at Jungle Jim's or you could make small stuffed mushrooms to serve inside a heart of pasta sauce, if you prefer.
You can buy the Jumbo Cocktail Shrimp from the Seafood Department at Jungle Jim's. Refrigerate until serving. Jungle also has Heinz Cocktail Sauce for $1.49. I like to add additional horseradish to spice the sauce to our liking. Using a spoon or squeeze bottle to draw a heart on your plate, arranging the shrimp within the heart - sweet!
Entree Course (several choices):
Choice #1: Steak and His 'n Hers Special Baked PotatoesFirst, if your loved one is a "steak and potato" kind of guy or girl, buy one really good steak. In talking with the butcher, purchase USDA Prime Beef Loin New York Strip Steak. I think it is so much better to serve quality rather than quantity. Purchase one great steak, grill it, then slice it thinly, fanning the slices out on the plate next to either one of "His 'n Hers Special Baked Potatoes." For the potatoes, make one baked Idaho russet potato for him and one baked sweet potato for her both cut into slices and fanned before baking. You could serve the steak with mashed potatoes with a favorite ingredient added like horseradish, green onion, garlic or cheese.
Complete the plate with a
Sweetheart Salad. Add cut Romaine lettuce topped with two ingredients from our Sensuous Foods list: fresh strawberries, when sliced vertically look like hearts, and shaved almonds, which are very good for your heart. Steak dinner, comparable to a great steak house five times less the cost with room in your tummy and your wallet for dessert!
Recipe: Steak Entree Grill the steak inside or outside to the done-ness desired. Cook 5 to 7 minutes a side for medium rare. Remember to rotate the steaks 90 degrees on each side to get those wonderful criss-cross marks. Ask the butcher for additional tips. Great steak only needs salt and pepper seasoning, and sometimes at the end, a dollop of butter on top to melt into the charred crust - juicy! Slice thinly and fan slices on each plate.
Recipe: His 'n Her Special Baked Potatoes Scrub both potatoes and slice each potato crosswise (the short way) into ¼" slices, leaving about ¼" on the bottom (not cutting through) to connect all the slices. (It might help to place a wooden spoon next to the potato when slicing to prevent slicing through.) Place in baking dish and slightly fan slices open. Drizzle potatoes with melted butter - lightly salt the sweet potato, and use seasoning salt and pepper on the russet potato. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 50 minutes. Sprinkle sweet potato with a mixture of brown or granulated white sugar with a little added ground cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. Sprinkle the russet potato with Parmesan and Cheddar or a favorite shredded cheese. Bake potatoes for another 10 minutes or until tender --- yummy!
Recipe: Sweetheart SaladWash and tear the Romaine Lettuce leaves, and place on the plate with the meat and potatoes. If you want, you can do this on a salad plate if you prefer. Wash and slice strawberries. Add sliced strawberries to the salad and sprinkle salad with shaved almonds. You can toast them first if you like. Top with your favorite dressing. You can also add other ingredients you have on hand that you both love on your salad. Sweetheart salad is good for your hearts!
Choice #2: Chicken Breast Cordon Bleu EntreeThis week, Jungle Jim's has Homemade Chicken Breast Cordon Bleu on sale for $3.99 lb. You can purchase two of these ample chicken breasts stuffed with ham and cheese and dusted with parmesan and parsley for about the same price as the one steak. You can serve them with the "His 'n Hers Special Baked Potatoes" or Steamfresh bags of rice with vegetables or vegetable combo of your choice in ready to steam in the microwave bags in the frozen section from $1 to $2.35. Don't forget to add the
Sweetheart Salad to the plate.
Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu
The Chicken Cordon Bleu is ready to pop in the oven in a lightly greased baking pan at 350 degrees for 40-55 minutes (depends on thickness) or until juices run clear.
Choice #3: Stuffed Clams, Stuffed Crab, and other Seafood itemsIf you want seafood, there are homemade Stuffed Clams for $1.99, Stuffed Crab for $2.50, Maryland Crab cakes for $4.99 and Cod on sale at Jungle Jim's Fresh Seafood Section. These are all ready to go into the oven - no mess, no stress!
Dessert Course:
"Making Whoppie" Pie
My dessert is not homemade, although I did make the chocolate fudge sauce myself. I purchased a single Amish Whoppie Pie from the bakery at Jungle Jim's topping it with a single scoop of ice cream, and drizzling a little homemade fudge sauce over it. Add two little chocolate hearts. Chocolate over chocolate - yum!
Recipe: Making Whoppie Pie with Homemade Chocolate Sauce
You can purchase an authentic Amish made Whoppie Pie in the Bakery section of Jungle Jim's for only $1.59. Yummy alone, but topped with a scoop of your favorite ice cream drizzled with homemade chocolate fudge sauce. Now, that's a little bit of heaven!
Homemade Chocolate Fudge Sauce
6 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Morsels
½ Cup Heavy (whipping) Cream
½ Tsp. Vanilla Extract
Combine chocolate morsels and cream in a small, heavy saucepan, place over very low heat until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Cool completely. Yields one cup. If you make the Chocolate Fudge Sauce ahead of time and refrigerate, you will need to heat slightly for pouring consistency.
Place Whoppie Pie on Plate, top with scoop of ice cream, drizzle on the chocolate fudge sauce. Add few candy hearts ---- Happy Valentine's Day!
Setting the Scene
I also will be "Setting the Scene" and writing on the valentines with my guy - what fun!
You can set a romantic scene spending little if any money. Dim the lights low and light candles, it's the light from the candles that's romantic.
Choose soft music you both enjoy and play on low so you can talk to each other.
Choose a room or area where you don't eat every day like a study, foyer, or corner of a room can transform nicely. Think coziness!
Find a fun cloth to fit your theme, even a washable blanket will do, to set the table. Use dishes and glasses to set the table that add a little sparkle or pizazz.
One single flower can be just as special as an entire bouquet or use a live plant.
Sprinkle the table with candy conversation hearts you can read to each other, or toss a few chocolate kisses and hearts on the table.
Tie napkins with red or glitzy ribbon and attach a handmade valentine.
Purchase an inexpensive box of the type of valentines the children give each other at school. On the back, both of you write what you love about the other person, why they make you happy, etc. Read these to each other during the meal.
You may even want to plan a dessert you can share or feed to each other.
This may all sound a little corny, but it's all in good flirtatious fun!
Jungle Jim's has a dozen roses in many colors for $12.99. Buy one dozen, get one dozen free. Go in with a friend, and you can give a dozen beautiful roses for just $6.50 - WOW!
Also, don't hesitate to talk to the guys in the wine and beer department. Not only do they have some great tasting wines under $10, but they also have wine on sale this week starting at $3.99 a bottle. Tell them what you like and what you want to spend, and they will direct you. Easy and inexpensive!
Five Sensuous Foods for Valentine's Day!
Here's a list of 5 foods that are known for their sensuous appeal. You can incorporate these into your menu if you like.
- Almonds: Use with cheese/fruit tray or as "nibblers" with a drink before dinner, use them to top a salad, or use them in a dessert.
- Asparagus: Serve as a side dish with any entree, toss in a salad, add to a favorite pasta or rice dish.
- Avocados: Top a salad, make a salsa for an appetizer or a side dish, or create a great guacamole.
- Chocolate: Create a wonderful mole sauce, or use it for dessert melted for dipping, poured over ice cream, or as an ingredient in cakes, pies, puddings, cookies, brownies.
- Strawberries: Eat them with a cheese tray, drop in a glass of champagne, toss Raspberries in a salad, or add to dessert.
What About The Kids?
Kids won't allow time for a romantic dinner for two? How about meeting at midnight at the fireplace to make S'Mores, or taking in a movie at home with your favorite finger foods after the children have gone to bed. A light late night supper of cheese, fruit, smoked meats, bread and wine can also be very romantic. Waking up early in the morning to make and eat breakfast in bed and get in more cuddling time in before the kids wake is also fun. Use your imagination and remember to set the scene.
Tally for Romantic Dinner for Two:
First Course:6 Shrimp $1.84
Cocktail Sauce $0.75
1st Course Total $2.59
Main Course:Steak $9.23
Russet Potato $0.51
Sweet Potato $0.53
½ head of Romaine Lettuce $0.49
Strawberries $1.00
Shaved Almonds $0.24
Steak Entree Total $12.00
or
2 Chicken Breasts Cordon Bleu $7.26
Steamfresh rice and veggies $2.35
½ head Romaine Lettuce $0.49
Strawberries $1.00
Shaved Almonds $0.24
Chicken Cordon Bleu Total $11.34
Dessert Course:Whoppie Pie $1.59
Scoop of Ice Cream $0.48
6 oz. Chocolate Chips $0.99
½ Cup Whipping Cream $0.65
Dessert Course Total $3.71
Grand Total for Steak Dinner, 1st Course & Dessert $18.30
Grand Total for Chicken Dinner, 1st Course & Dessert $17.64
Both Romantic Dinners for 2 Under $20, with a little left over for extras.
Well, I cannot wait to celebrate Valentine's Day with my husband. Believe me, I will be following these ideas to stay on budget. It just might be the best Valentine's Dinner ever! Happy Valentine's Day!
With Love,
Jungle Jim's Margie Potts
