Roses Serving

How To Plan A Romantic Dinner At Home

Sometimes, you want to have a romantic dinner at home to mark a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, or for no reason at all. You want the entire evening to go perfectly, but may be uncertain of what you should do to make it unique. No matter what the occasion is or whether you are a novice or experienced dinner planner, there are a few tips you may find helpful.

The morning of the dinner or the evening before, go ahead and handle the house cleaning. Dust, remove clutter, and vacuum. Spray the house with an air treatment that will eliminate, not mask, odors a few hours before dinner time. Plug in fresheners need a while to warm up, so set yours up an hour or two ahead of time. Select your music, preferably something instrumental and soft, so that vocals will not prove distracting.

Meal preparation will be much easier if you clear the counters and clean the kitchen first. Remove clean dishes from the dishwasher and then add your dirty dishes as you are cooking. This saves time later and also makes the kitchen look better in the event your guest wanders in for some reason.

No later than the morning before your dinner, inventory your supplies to verify that everything you will need to cook and serve the meal is at hand. A salad, for example, will require not only vegetables but a dressing. Then estimate the length of time every item will require to cook and work backwards to determine when you need to start.

Make your table as elegant as possible. For instance, if you happen to own a black dining room set, use items that will look dramatic against that background. White dinnerware or place mats are a good choice. Rose petals, especially red ones, can look nice spread over the table top. Check the centerpiece to make sure it does not block the view of either diner. Place candles in faceted glass or gold holders so that the light, which will probably be dim, will be reflected.

Use a Camerons stovetop smoker to prepare the meats without the extra heat that an oven can produce. This will let you serve tender, tasty steaks, chicken, or chops with less bother. You can also use it to steam vegetables for side dishes.

A hand mixer can help eliminate lumps in your mashed potatoes. If you plan to use the instant type instead of preparing them from scratch, you may wish to alter the directions on the box. Increasing the butter and milk while decreasing the water will yield a creamier dish. Shredded cheese, paprika, or bacon bits added prior to serving can make them taste and appear more special. Do not wait until the day of the dinner to begin experimenting, however. Take the time to create your personal variations once or twice first, so that you will have the recipe fine tuned before then.

An interesting tossed salad can be used as your first course. Mix together iceberg and romaine lettuce, then toss in some olives, cherry tomatoes, and pecan pieces. If desired, you could also add shredded cheese, chopped sweet pickles, or grated carrots. Before serving, add croutons and toss with a dressing, either a commercial product or one you have prepared earlier in the day. One simple dressing requires only mixing mayonnaise, ketchup, seasoning salt, and dill seeds to suit. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

You may want to prepare an extravagant dessert like cherries jubilee, but that may not be practical. Instead, consider desserts that are simple to make but are both unusual and tasty. You could prepare shortcakes with fresh peaches, a chocolate decadence cake with ice cream, or gingered mixed fruit.

Did you know? Salvation Army has longest-serving band in the Rose Parade!

Corelle Livingware 12-1/4-Inch Serving Platter, Winter Frost White $12.99 Product FeaturesDishwasher safe for long lasting patternsMicrowave and oven use for versatilityCoordinate with popular corelle dinnerware patternsBreak and chip resistance for carefree durabilityStackability for cupboard space efficiency Amazon.com ReviewA party favorite, this platter serves any variety of courses from appetizers through desserts. Perfectly versatile, the 12-1/2-inch oval dish is …

J.A. Henckels International Provence 45-Piece Stainless-Steel Flatware Set, Service for 8 $79.95 The Provence flatware set from Henckels International Flatware Collection will add elegance to your table%2E The classic%2C timeless European design will complement any decor%2E The flatware is made from heavy gauge 18%2F10 stainless steel for superior strength and duribility%2E The continental size is larger than traditional flatware%2C adding to the elegance and sophistication of the flatware%2E…

Hortense B. Hewitt Wedding Accessories 50th Anniversary Pearl Rose Cake Knife and Server Set $20.00 Glazed porcelain handles, sculpted rose and leaf accents and “50th” in gold tone. Set of 2….

Jos Fauxtographee Abstract – A Silver Serving Tray Times Three – Light Switch Covers – 2 plug outlet cover $13.95 A Silver Serving Tray Times Three Light Switch Cover is new and handcrafted utilizing unique process resulting in a stunning high gloss ceramic-like finish. SET OF MATCHING SCREWS IS INCLUDED giving it a perfect finishing touch. Made of durable metal material….

Jos Fauxtographee Abstract – A Silver Serving Tray Times Three – Light Switch Covers – double toggle switch $13.75 A Silver Serving Tray Times Three Light Switch Cover is new and handcrafted utilizing unique process resulting in a stunning high gloss ceramic-like finish. SET OF MATCHING SCREWS IS INCLUDED giving it a perfect finishing touch. Made of durable metal material….

Jos Fauxtographee Abstract – A Silver Serving Tray Times Three – Light Switch Covers – single toggle switch $11.75 A Silver Serving Tray Times Three Light Switch Cover is new and handcrafted utilizing unique process resulting in a stunning high gloss ceramic-like finish. SET OF MATCHING SCREWS IS INCLUDED giving it a perfect finishing touch. Made of durable metal material….

The Fledgling $1.99 …

The Fledgling [HD] $2.99 …

Nightjohn $4.99 …

Elegant Vintage Rose Wedding Cake Serving Set $24.49 This wedding cake knife and server set is both elegant and antique chic, and will make an ideal addition to any vintage inspired wedding theme. Masterfully crafted of poly resin with hand painting and crystal accents. Set includes Knife and Server. Stainless Steel blades. Black ink….