How to Make a Romantic Valentine Dinner 

Are you wanting to learn how to make a nice romantic Valentine dinner for two? You know it is commonly known as the day for loved ones to show their love for each other; giving cards, flowers, candy and gifts. Although Valentine Day is celebrated by children and people of all ages, it is especially popular for quiet romantic dinners for two.


What is Valentine Day? The history of Valentines Day gives several possibilities to this day’s origination; none really convincing. A few things are quite clear; one is that it started way back in Roman times, it centers on someone named Valentine and it is all about love. I use to think that this day was just a special day in America. I was surprised when I learned how many other countries celebrate Valentines Day and some much more elaborate than we do.


In the last newsletter I talked about doing a buffet party for Valentines Day which is now very common for friends and families to have. Today it is more on the romance love side of the day with a romantic Valentine dinner. Some ideas for Valentines day will be the same for a buffet and also for learning how to make a romantic Valentine dinner.


First you want to start by covering your dining table with a pretty cloth, preferably white; this says to your guest “they are special”. Accent the table with red, maybe some red roses. Everyone appreciates flowers. Speaking now to the ladies, don’t think men do not like flowers. I have sent red roses to a few men and I could not believe how much they enjoyed getting them. One was my brother-in-law for his recognition ceremony for his service to our country. He was so excited and proud of the roses because he had never received any roses before. Surprise that special someone if possible with a rose at (his or her) dinner place.


Because I am telling you how to make a romantic Valentine dinner for only two, I would prepare the plates to serve rather than setting bowls on the table. It allows room on the table for a few decorations like the rose vase without looking cluttered. A pretty little (mushy) Valentine standing (without envelope) at the top of the eating place is also nice. Everyone loves getting Valentine cards; more than 141 million are exchanged each year.


When serving your romantic Valentine dinner, make sure the dishes for hot foods are warmed and dishes for cold foods are cold. I hate being served a dinner on a cold plate; by the time you eat, the food is cold. Have the table set ahead of time with utensils and necessary condiments already on the table as well as glasses for your drinks. For a formal romantic Valentine dinner a good menu to select would be beef tenderloin with burgundy sauce, mashed potatoes, salad and dessert.

BEEF BURGUNDY RECIPE makes a nice romantic Valentine Dinner

  • 2 Beef tenderloin fillets, each 4 to 5 ounces)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ Cup beef stock
  • ½ Cup finely chopped cleaned carrots
  • 2 Tablespoons finely chopped green onions
  • ¼ Cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 Teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ Cup Burgundy wine

Brown tenderloin filets in 1 tablespoon oil in skillet over medium high heat to desired doneness; remove to plate, cover and keep warm.

Add beef broth to dripping in skillet; add carrots, green onions and mushrooms.

Cook mixture until vegetables are very tender.

Place vegetables and broth in blender until smooth; set aside.

Add remaining tablespoon of oil in empty skillet and stir in flour over low heat.

Gradually stir into flour mixture the blended mixture and wine; stir constantly while mixture thickens.

Stir in salt, pepper and thyme to taste.


NOTE FOR A NICE PRESENTATION. Shape mashed potatoes in a heart shape; this can be done before cooking meat and kept warm. To serve spoon a little burgundy sauce over bottom of plate, place mashed potato heart a little to the top side of plate. Slice beef filets ¼ inch thick slices, making long narrow slices; arrange the top of meat slices over bottom edge of potato heart and bottom of meat on plate topping sauce. Garnish with red tomato wedge or cherry tomatoes. Having plates hot will help keep food hot while working. Serve with toss salad.

beef burgundyBeef Burgundy served with Mashed Potates and Gravy

RASPBERRY TART RECIPE

This raspberry tart recipe serves well for a romantic Valentine dinner dessert. It needs to made ahead of time and frozen. The pink from the raspberries and a chocolate crust are great for Valentine’s Day; plenty for two with some left over.You can really use any of your favorite crust recipes for this dessert.


Raspberry Tart Recipe Crust

  • 6 Tablespoons softened butter
  • ½ Cup sugar
  • ¾ Cup flour
  • 1/3 Cup cocoa powder
  • ½ Teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8 Teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; lightly grease large muffin tin.

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy; at low speed beat in flour, cocoa, vanilla and salt until crumbly.

Press mixture in bottoms and sides of greased muffin tin; bake until firm about 5 minutes.

Cool crust completely and then put in freezer to freeze; mix together raspberry tart recipe for filling.


Raspberry Tart Recipe for Filling

  • 2 Egg whites
  • 1 Package (10 ounces) frozen raspberries, thawed and drained
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ Teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ Teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/8 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Cup whipping cream

Beat egg whites; add drained raspberries, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, almond and salt.

Beat mixture for about 15 minutes.

Whip cream separately until stiff; fold into raspberry mixture.

Scoop whipped mixture into frozen chocolate crusts; return to freezer and freeze for 8 hours.

To unmold run knife around edges of frozen cups; serve on plate with heart shape doily.

CALZONE RECIPE

I got this calzone recipe from Wilton Products years ago; it was suggested to use with their heart shaped cookie cutters (using the giant heart). This is very tasty and works well for a more casual romantic Valentine dinner. Serve one or two heart calzones with a tossed salad and dessert.

  • 1 Package hot roll mix
  • 2 Teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 Pound crumbled Italian sausage
  • 1 ½ Cups thinly sliced mushrooms
  • 3 Cloves chopped garlic
  • 1 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 5 Tablespoons pizza sauce
  • ½ Teaspoon oregano
  • ½ Teaspoon basil
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 Egg

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Prepare hot roll mix according to package directions UP TO THE SHAPING.

Heat olive oil in skillet; sauté sausage, mushroom and garlic until sausage is no longer pink.

Stir in the cheese, pizza sauce and seasonings.

Divide the dough in half; roll dough to ¼ inch thick and let set 15 minutes before cutting.

Cut 3 giant hearts from each half; brush edges with water.

Place ¾ cup of filling in center of 3 hearts; top each with a heart and press around edges with fork to seal.

Place hearts on cookie sheet; brush tops with egg wash.

With remaining dough cut out stems and little hearts to decorate top; brush decorations with egg wash.

Bake hearts 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Recipe makes 3 hearts.

POTATO CAKES RECIPE

This potato cakes recipe would fit into the formal romantic Valentine dinner (replacing mashed potatoes) as well as for breakfast or a brunch idea. Again this recipe is by Wilton using their mini heart pan and cookie cutter.

  • 2 Medium baking potatoes, cut into 1/8 inch slices
  • ½ Cup melted butter
  • ½ Teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ Teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ Teaspoon thyme
  • Pepper to taste
  • ¼ Cup finely shredded medium sharp Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

Spray mini heart pan with vegetable oil.

Stir seasoning into melted butter.

With second smallest cookie cutter, cut 6 little hearts from potatoes.

Place one heart in the center of each heart cup; brush each heart with seasoned butter.

Divide remaining potatoes among the six heart cups making 3 layers in each (on top of heart shape potato slice) brush each layer with seasoned butter and sprinkle with small amount of cheese.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until fork tender; let potatoes cool 5 minutes before inverting on try and removing from pan. Makes 6 hearts.

MACAROON SHERBET DESSERT

This recipe is good for your romantic Valentine dinner, a casual Valentine dinner of just to serve to your family for Valentine’s Day.

  • 12 Macaroons crushed (from store package)
  • 1/3 Cup chopped cashew nuts
  • 2 Packages whipped topping mix, whipped (or sweetened whipped cream or Cool Whip)
  • ½ Galloon softened raspberry sherbet

Combine macaroon crumbs, nuts and whipped topping; spread half of mixture in 9X9 inch freezer container.

Cover with half gallon softened raspberry sherbet; spread top with remaining half of crumb mixture.

Decorate top for Valentine’s Day; hearts from candy or icing etc.

Freeze until ready to serve.