Life Plan For Love: Three Romantic Meals for Busy Couples

Simply put, romance is pretense. It is pretending that everything is not only alright, but that it is absolutely perfect – if only for a little while. n nRomance is not food. Romance is attitude. Romance is atmosphere. Romance is using details to create a mirage. n nA spaghetti and meatballs meal can be just as romantic as grilled steak with vintage wine. Ideally, serve what your sweetie likes best, but if you don't know what that may be, or if you find it too difficult to prepare, don't be concerned. Ultimately, YOU are the treat for the evening! n nHere are a few culinary suggestions: n nA) Enchanting Chicken Rendezvous – 60 minutes n Appetizer: Crusty bread and dipping oil, served with a plate of cheese n Entrée: Lemon Chicken, Roasted Broccoli, Buttery Pastan Dessert: Warmed peach halves with cinnamon and Cool Whipn nB) Starry-Night Salmon – 45 minutes n Appetizer: Honeyed Strawberries, served with a plate of cheesen Entrée: Roasted Salmon, Baked Asparagus, Buttered Baked Potaton Dessert: Individual Rice Pudding Cupsn nC) Passionate Pork Prelude – 70 minutes n Appetizer: Mozzarella Tomato Salad on a bed of lettucen Entrée: Gravy Pork Chops Nestled in Rice, Hot Green Beansn Dessert: Drizzled Honey Sundaesn nMAKE IT FASTER: n nLeave off the appetizer nDo prep work the day before nSubstitute with something easier; i.e., instead of a Mozzarella Tomato Salad appetizer, substitute purchased, pre-cut fruit and dip nGet all the ingredients out before you start nDo all the chopping at oncen nMAKE IT SPECIAL:n nUse formal setting for silverware – (Left side of plate: Napkin, outside salad fork, inside dinner fork. Across top of plate: Desert spoon or fork, lying horizontally. Right side of plate: Outside spoon, inside knife or knives w/sharp edge pointed in.) nUse cloth napkins nSpread a table cloth or place mats nWhen serving the appetizer and dessert, put a "charger" dinner plate underneath each person's serving dish nPut on soft music nLight a candle or two nDim the lights if you can nServe your food in courses nEat in a different place – outside, in front of a fireplace nTurn off the telephones! n n nMAKE IT GOURMET:n nStir up a "sparkler" to serve with the appetizer (1 part juice, 1 part Sprite or 7-Up, ice) nServe crescent rolls with cinnamon orange butter (cream together ½ C butter or margarine at room temperature, 2 Tbsp orange juice, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon) nUse soup as a starter course nUse garnishes: parsley for the entrée, raspberries for the dessert, etc.n nAnd to top it off, lay a single rose on his or her plate. n nThis is a night for memories. Dress up. Don't spoil the mood by being practical. Conversation is a key element. Talk about good things. Talk about wishes. Talk about dreams and plans for the future. n nThis is your special night, and you both deserve it. Who knows where the night may end? Salud!nnnCopyright © 2008 Katherin Scott. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this article may be copied or distributed in any form without the author’s information intact.n n