by Megan Hart

Created on: February 07, 2010

For many couples, the Valentine’s Day tradition is to make dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant where the price of a single meal could easily be a week’s grocery budget. Sure, gourmet dining can be fun, and certainly the fact that you’re not tied to the stove slaving away on this romantic holiday is a good reason to choose dining out. Yet romance shouldn’t be about a price tag, and a delicious meal prepared and served at home, where you can both relax and enjoy each other’s company, can be one of the most romantic and intimate ways to spend this holiday.

Once you’ve decided to forgo the expensive wine list and snooty waiter, the decision of what to serve at home can seem complicated. It doesn’t have to be. What’s your boyfriend’s (or husband’s) favorite meal? Is he a fan of simple fare like steak and potatoes, or does he have a more gourmet palate? Whether you’re going to be grilling or serving caviar, the most important thing is to make sure first that what you’re making will be enjoyed by both of you. Second, take the time to learn to prepare it. This might mean taking a test run on some recipes in advance, but the results will be worth it, especially if you master the dish and can make it all year around! But if you're not interested in being the next Julia Child, don't despair. Here are some ideas for fun, easy ways to make your meal perfect for Valentine’s Day.

1. Heart-shaped meatloaf! Using a heart-shaped cake pan, prepare your sweetie’s favorite meatloaf recipe. Serve with a green salad garnished with red bell pepper hearts (easily created by slicing the pepper into thin strips), buttered baby red potatoes and his favorite vegetable. Don’t forget the heart-shaped dinner rolls! Prepare them using prepackaged dinner roll dough (often found in your grocery’s dairy case) – take two lumps of dough and create a heart shape. For dessert, serve his favorite chocolate dessert.

2. Have a carpet picnic – just as romantic as one in a field of flowers, but without the bugs and bother of packing it all up. Spread a tablecloth on the living room floor and break out the fried chicken, corn on the cob and potato salad. A watermelon ice cream cake is a perfect, fun dessert for this summer-themed evening. Don’t forget to kiss under the “stars” – easily made from tin foil and dangled from your ceiling on strands of string.

3.  If your fella’s a sports fan, why not take him out to the “ball game” with foot-longs served up with all his favorite toppings. Add nachos and heart-shaped soft pretzels (created by pulling out the pretzel’s inner “arms,” leaving the heart shape intact) and his favorite beer. Don’t forget the big foam fingers and ball caps with his favorite team logo. You can even put on the game (pre-recorded if you just want atmosphere and nothing’s playing!)

Valentine’s Day dinner doesn’t have to be fancy and complicated in order to be delicious and fun, and let’s face it – if you’re already having fun at dinner, chances are you’ll be having more fun later on! And that’s what this romantic holiday is really about. Enjoying time and having fun with your sweetheart.

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