Home-cooked Dinner for 2 Please!
I know that the pressures of making Valentine’s Day special for your boo can be hella stressful because often expectations are super high. Well, maybe not so much for us girls. I mean we’re the ones who usually get spoiled on Valentine’s Day right?
BUT ladies, I think that we can also do our fair share in making Vday exciting for our mans. So I’m gonna share with you a nice 3 course meal which you can make for the both of you to enjoy at home.
Or if you’re fabulously single, you can always invite your friends over for some good healthy food, because you know what…food will never leave you on read.
I don’t like measuring stuff when I’m cooking, I sorta just let the spirit of my ancestors tell me that ‘that’s enough seasoning now’ lol! So please use your discretion when it comes to seasoning.
For the Main- Creamy Mushroom Chicken You will need:
- A tray of chicken fillets/breasts (remove all excess fat, lean is good)
- Ground pepper
- Salt (ofcos)
- Cayenne pepper, Portuguese chicken spice
- Canola oil (or olive oil)
- Mushrooms
- Some white wine J
- About a ¼ cup of chicken broth
- 2 table spoons heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly chopped chives
- 1 Chopped onion
Method:
- Season your chicken as you see fit sis
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and add your chicken, turn frequently to avoid burning; cook until brown. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm
- Add the onions and chives to the pan, stirring until they’re almost cooked then add mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until errthang is nice and tender. Pour in some of that white wine (hopefully you didn’t drink all of it); simmer until almost evaporated. Pour in broth and cook until it’s reduced to about half. Stir in the cream, as its simmering add the chicken back to the pan; cook until chicken is well done.
- Serve with veggies or brown basmati rice
- Plate and decorate to your heart’s content
For the Starters- Cheesy Garlic Bread
You will need:
- A whole grain baguette
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, grated (or 4 or 5 or 6…lol)
- Some ground pepper
- A cup of cheddar, or any other melting cheese of your preference
- Some freshly chopped parsley
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius
- Cut horizontal slits in your baguette, stopping just before you cut through so that the slices stay connected at the bottom; make the slices about 1.5cm thick. Toast the baguette for about 15-20min. Remove from the oven and let it stand until cool enough to handle, about 5min.
- In the meantime, stir oil, garlic and pepper together in a small bowl. Combine cheese and parsley in another small bowl. With a basting brush, lightly coat the inside of each slit and the crust with the oil mixture. Then fill each slit with the cheese mixture. Bake until cheese melts and the bread is very toasted, about 8-10min.
- Serve with fresh salad and plate to your hearts content
- Hmmmm…bon appetit!
For the Dessert- One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
You will need:
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat pasty flour (this has less gluten-forming potential than regular whole wheat flour)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup nonfat buttermilk
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup hot strong black coffee
- Icing sugar for dusting
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Coat a round baking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with a circle of wax paper
- Whisk, flour, granulated sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Then add the buttermilk, brown sugar, egg, oil and vanilla. Beat with a mixer or use the strong arms your mother blessed you with until everything is mixed together. Add hot coffee and beat to blend. (The batter will be quite thin.) Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake the cake until it passes the cake test (when you inset a knife in the center it should come out clean) this should take about 30-35min. Leave to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10min; remove from the pan, peel off the wax paper and let cool completely. Dust with some icing sugar for some extra pezaz!
- Slice and enjoy
Today doesn’t have to be about being extravagant nor does it have to be about being in a relationship with a significant other. We have friends and family we can share this day with…after all it is just another Wednesday ;).
All recipes and images were taken from eatingwell.com
