Three Easy Recipes for a Romantic Dinner for Two

Written by Cheri of Kitchen Simplicity.

There haven’t been many years that my hubby and I have actually been able to go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. Whether it be because of a new baby, lack of babysitters, sick kids or just wanting to avoid the crowds, there are many reasons to stay in and enjoy a romantic evening together at home. It may seem impossible with kids, but it’s much easier to accomplish then one might think.

It all starts with a simple meal that can be brought together quickly once the kids are tucked in their beds and quiet has settled over the home. I can’t guarantee that the kids will stay quiet or that things will go smoothly but these recipes are so quick and so simple you should be able to enjoy a romantic three-course meal in the candlelight before the craziness begins again.

Dessert – Instant Strawberry Frozen Yogurt with Chocolate Shell

Instant Strawberry Frozen Yogurt with Chocolate Shell

You'll want to start the festivities off by making the frozen yogurt, so it has a bit of time to sit in the freezer while you make and eat dinner. Since it's made in a food processor you may want to whip it up just before the kids go to bed, if you're afraid it'll disturb their sleep. This is not a make ahead frozen yogurt though, if it sits for too long (a couple of hours) in the freezer it'll become too hard to eat.
This dessert takes no effort and is much healthier then the ones you'll get from the store. All you do is whiz it up, scoop it into serving bowls and place it in the freezer. When it's time to serve, melt the chocolate shell and pour it over the frozen yogurt - dessert is served. Instant Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
This can also be made in a blender but you will need to put the yogurt in the bottom first and you'll have to stop the blender occasionally to dislodge any pieces of fruit that get caught up in the blades.
The recipe for Chocolate shell was adapted from the New York Times
1 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 desserts
Calories: 845kcal
Author: Cheri

Ingredients

Frozen Yogurt

  • 2 cups frozen strawberries
  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt
  • Sugar or honey to taste

Chocolate Shell

  • 7 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions

Frozen Yogurt

  • Place two small bowls in the freezer.
  • Process strawberries and yogurt in food processor until fully blended.
  • Add sugar or honey to taste, if desired.
  • Spoon mixture into frozen bowls and place in the freezer while you prepare the rest of the meal.

Chocolate Shell

  • Melt together chocolate and oil over a double boiler.
  • Drizzle on ice cream while warm.

Notes

You will have leftover chocolate shell. It can be stored in the fridge and reheated before use.

Nutrition

Calories: 845kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 1051mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 60g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 85.6mg | Calcium: 294mg | Iron: 6.9mg

 

Appetizer – Cheese Stuffed Roasted Red Peppers

Cheese Stuffed Roasted Red Peppers

Apart from serving veggies and dip, appetizers don't get much simpler then this. Get these prepped just before you make the pasta (below). Once the pasta and sauce start bubbling, pop these into the hot pan and enjoy a quick appetizer, with a glass of wine, while you wait.
1 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Cheri

Ingredients

  • 1 12 oz jar roasted red bell peppers
  • 2 slices pepper jack cheese or more, depending on taste
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley optional garnish

Instructions

  • Put a small bit of olive oil in a frying pan just to coat the bottom.
  • Cut peppers into smaller pieces and fold each over a slice of cheese.
  • Place in prepared pan preheated over medium heat.
  • Allow to cook until cheese is melted.
  • Sprinkle with parsley to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 209mg | Iron: 0.3mg

 

Main – Garlic Ham Fettuccine

Since this is a three-course meal and the pasta is quite rich, this recipe makes two small portions. Serve with garlic bread and a simple salad to round out the meal or double the recipe for bigger portions.

Garlic Ham Fettuccine

The sauce will keep for quite a while, warm on the stove top, so there's no need hurry or stress. Just toss it together with the hot pasta just before serving.
1 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dishes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 759kcal
Author: Cheri

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon thyme optional
  • 6 oz fettuccine
  • 1/4 cup chopped ham

Instructions

  • Melt butter in small saucepan. Add garlic and cook just enough to get rid of the raw edge. Do not brown. Add cream and spices. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer 15 minutes to reduce.
  • Meanwhile cook spaghetti in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain.
  • Add diced ham to cream just to warm through. Pour over spaghetti and stir to combine.

Nutrition

Calories: 759kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 231mg | Sodium: 629mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1715IU | Vitamin C: 2.4mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1.8mg

 

Will you be going out or staying in for Valentine’s Day?

All photos by Cheri Neufeld

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




30 Comments

  1. This is brilliant! Simple, yet impressive and delicious. A one-stop post that anyone – from an experienced home cook to one who is less so – would feel good about reproducing.

    We’ll be staying in for Valentine’s Day 🙂

  2. Love the simplicity of these recipes! The Cheese Stuffed Roasted Red Peppers sound so tasty. Thank you!

  3. We’ll probably be staying in unless we get together with friends.
    I love that these dishes are simpler to make than even our normal food, but they look and taste like special ocassion food! Too bad I’m dairy free right now ;-(. Maybe next February!

  4. We’ll be in for actual Valentine’s Day but might make it out the following weekend. These recipes look great; we need more stay-at-home dates.

  5. This year the hubby and I are apart for Valentine’s Day, but we never really make a big deal of it anyway. This is a perfect meal for when we’re back together again though! Especially love the frozen strawberry yogurt – may make this one for the niece and nephew as a special treat this week!

  6. Just this week, my husband and I spent our anniversary by making a homemade curry dish together. It was absolutely delicious, we save a lot of money and it just as fun to eat at home. My little guy toasted with his mocktail to 9 years of marriage – making the celebration a family affair.

  7. What a wonderful menu! Our dinner plans for tomorrow just got cancelled. My husband and I could make this together after our girls are in bed.

  8. We always stay in on V-day–even before having kids. Going out on V-day means overcrowded restaurants, mediocre service, and not too much relaxation! Staying at home is where it’s at. Great options here, perfect for making while getting the kids ready for bed.

  9. I just have to say — I made this tonight for our Valentine’s dinner IN and it was so delicious! I made just a plain alfredo sauce with heart shaped pasta since we had this with our kiddos too. The cheese stuffed peppers were amazing and so was the frozen yogurt with chocolate shell sauce. Heavenly! Thank you, Cheri, for such a wonderful dinner menu that we all enjoyed!

  10. Treat your sweetheart to an intimate dinner for two with these decadent Valentine s Day recipes.

  11. I was wondering if I could (or if you have) baked these in the oven, or even broil for a tiny bit, instead of frying in a pan. I want to make these as an appetizer for a large group and it would be easier for me to back in oven on a sheet pan. Thoughts!