Easy Romantic Dinner Recipe
Simple Enough for Useless Men (J/K!)

Yes... this easy romantic dinner recipe page is geared towards men. So, yes... we're guilty of sexism! But it's true that there are plenty of men out there who don't know what a spatula is, much less how to use one. And since even kitchen-smart men like it easy (get your mind out of the gutter-- I mean simple!), we've put together a great menu for a romantic dinner that anyone can make... male, female, or anyone in-between.

These are the easiest, tastiest anniversary or Valentine dinner recipes (or just-because recipes!). But keep in mind that these recipes were chosen more for women's tastes than for men's. Each easy, romantic dinner recipe is sure to please the ladies... but boys will love them, too. All but the main dish are prepared ahead of time, so you don't have to slave in the kitchen when you should be slaving in the... living room.

By the way-- if you're looking for a more manly-but-romantic dinner menu, check out our romantic filet mingnon steak dinner menu here.

Divine Dinner Party's Anniversary or
Valentine Dinner for Two

Romantic Cocktail for Two:
Sweet and Tangy White Sangria

Watch out. This tasty stuff is stronger than you think, and goes down almost too easy. A little buzz is nice, but in my experience "passed out and drooling on a pillow" is not any man's (or woman's) ideal end to a romantic dinner.

Ingredients:
1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine, chilled
1/2 C. vodka, chilled
4 med. limes
1/2 C. sugar
1 lemon
tonic water, as needed
mint leaves, to garnish (optional)

Instructions: Juice two of the limes. Slice other two limes in thin slices. Slice lemon into thin slices.

Combine all ingredients (except for tonic) in a medium pitcher.

Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Serve over ice cubes, topping off with desired quantity of tonic. Garnish with mint.

Note: This cool and easy romantic dinner recipe is great-- but just a little sweet, especially if you use a sweet tonic. If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, you may want to add sugar to taste. Serves 2-6. My husband and I can down two pitchers of this easy romantic dinner recipe during a single Valentines dinner for two (it's awesome, and we're lushes!), so make as much as you think you'll want. It's very tasty.

Romantic Appetizer for Two:
Tangy & Creamy Caesar Salad Recipe

This recipe truly makes the perfect caesar salad dressing. But if you're short on time, it's okay to go with bottled-- though it won't taste half as good. Want a wonderful salad but really don't want to make the dressing? Stop by a restaurant with great Caesar salad and buy a side of dressing to take home.

Ingredients:

Salad:
1/2 head romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and torn
1 1/2 C. garlic-flavored croutons (large)
3 tbsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese
fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Dressing:
2 anchovy fillets
2 small cloves garlic
1 C. mayonnaise (low fat is okay)
1/4 C. half-and-half
1/3 C freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions: For Dressing: In a food processor or blender, mince anchovy and garlic together.

Add remaining ingredients. Process/blend 30-45 seconds. Add more salt and pepper if needed.

If too thick, thin with a small amount of milk if desired (optional).

Refrigerate at leat 3 hours.

Toss about half the dressing with lettuce and crutons. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper.

Note: Even if you love garlic, go easy on it. As it's fresh (and marinates in the fridge) the dressing can have a tendancy to get a little strong. Too much garlic and this easy, romantic dinner recipe will easily scare away vampires... and everyone else.

This makes twice as much dressing as you'll need for two BIG servings, but I didn't scale the recipe down because... well... you'll want more dressing the next day. I promise.

Romantic Main Dish for Two:

Easy-Creamy Linguini with Shrimp

Ingredients:
6 oz. linguine (fresh is best)
1 tbsp. butter
1/4 lb. fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 C. butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 oz. cream cheese (low-fat works fine)
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
3/4 tsp dried basil
salt, to taste
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/2 C. chicken broth, boiling
1/2 lb cooked shrimp
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions: Boil linguini in lightly salted water. Drain.

For sauce: Heat one tablespoon of butter in skillet over med-high heat. Add mushrooms. Saute until tender. Transfer mushrooms to a small plate and set aside.

Heat the 1/4 cup butter in skillet. Add the minced garlic, then stir in the cream cheese.

Allow cheese to melt, then add the parsley and basil. Let simmer five minutes.

Add boiling (or very hot-- the microwave works well for this) chicken broth til sauce is smooth (as needed). Add shrimp and mushrooms and heat through, about 2 minutes.

Toss cooked pasta with sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve.

Note: Using pre-cleaned, pre-cooked shrimp makes this easy romantic dinner recipe even easier. But if you have uncooked shrimp, simply clean them and toss them in with the mushrooms to cook.

To make this a complete (and completely delicious) meal, buy a nice herbed fociacca bread and dip it in "Italian butter," which is simply olive oil topped with fresh ground pepper. Yum!

Totally Romantic and Sexy Dessert for... More than Two

The meaning of Tiramisu in Italian is "pick me up"-- and this dessert is sure to do just that. But don't wimp out and buy cream cheese instead of marscapone. The flavor just isn't the same. This makes about eight servings, but I didn't scale it down because this dessert is meant to be shared... and shared. Give some to your kids (or your greedy neighbors) the next day. That is, if you don't want this sweet and easy romantic dinner recipe all to yourself.

Sexy Strawberry Tiramisu

Ingredients:
2 eggs, room temp, whites and yolks separated
1/4 C. caster sugar (superfine sugar-- you can use powdered)
10.5 oz. mascarpone cheese
1/2 C. whipped cream
15 strawberries, hulled, cleaned, and quartered
1/3 C. strong coffee (espresso is best)
2 tbsp. añejo rum
14 ladyfingers
unsweetened cocoa, to garnish

Instructions: Beat egg yolks with sugar with electric mixer on med-high until yolks are pale and thick. Add marscarpone, beat til incorporated.

In seperate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold cream into cheese mixuture, then fold in eggwhites.

Fold in the strawberries.

In sm. bowl, combine rum and espresso. Dip seven of the ladyfingers into the coffe/rum mixture (don't dip the entire ladyfinger, or it may fall apart), then place them in the bottom of a serving dish.

Spread half the cheese/strawberry mixture over the ladyfingers.

Dip remaining seven ladyfingers in coffee/rum, then place over cheese. Spread remaining cheese over.

Refrigerate four hours (or more), then sift cocoa over and serve. If desired, garnish each piece with half a strawberry.

And pig out! This is one easy, romantic dinner recipe you'll want lots (and lots!) of.

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