Cheap Valentine's Day Dinner

Valentine's Day is a special time to spend with a cherished loved one. With the crunch in the economy, many have to cut costs in all directions. Don't let this prevent you from planning a Valentine's Dinner with the one you love. A Valentine's Day cheap dinner can still be a romantic event for the two of you. Valentine's Day dinner does not have to mean dining at an expensive restaurant. A cheap dinner which considers what both of you like for food and entertainment can be the beginning of a fun Valentine's Day celebration for you and your significant other. Consider the following ways to have a Cheap Valentine's Dinner at home.

Cheap Valentine's Day Dinner #1: Make His favorite Comfort Food

If your Valentine is a Carb addict, consider making a loaf of fresh bread and a big pot of Potato Chowder. The smell of fresh baked bread is a wonderful one to come home to. If you have not made bread form scratch before and are not sure about doing so, look for a quick bread mix or a hot roll mix in the store. These mixes make a tasty bread to serve with your chowder. Potato Chowder is a very easy to make cheap Valentine's Day dinner item and can also be made heartier with left over ham pieces. Here's a simple recipe you can use

Potato and Ham Chowder

4 to 6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

4 large carrots, chopped

1 small onion, chopped into small pieces

5 c. water

2 to 3 cups diced cooked ham

2 TB. butter

Salt and pepper

6 TB. flour

2 1/2 c. milk

Cook Potatoes, carrots, and onions in the water. Add the ham, butter and salt and pepper. If you do not have the amount of ham specified, just add what ever you have on hand. Remember, this is to be a cheap Valentine's Dinner so the idea is to not expend excess funds to make it. Combine the flour and milk, shake till no lumps remain. Stir this into the vegetable mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add a little cheese on top and a slice of fresh bread.. It is a perfect cheap Valentine's Day dinner for a cold winter's evening. Grab the TV trays and enjoy the chowder and the company of your Valentine by the fireplace.

Cheap Valentine's Day Dinner #2: Make your own Chinese Dinner

A grocer's marked down cut of top round, or stir fry strips make the perfect meat for Beef and Broccoli. A small cut of boneless chicken thighs, or one or two taken from a pack of frozen thighs are the right quantity for making sesame chicken or chicken fried rice. A small pack of ground pork and some wonton wrappers become an excellent homemade appetizer for your Chinese Dinner. An at home Chinese Dinner can be an enjoyable cheap Valentine's Day Dinner for you and your partner. You may not have the variety that they local buffet offers but you also don't have the gas costs, other people spreading their winter germs on the food, or the chance that someone else took the last bite of your favorite dish. Making your own Valentine's Day dinner allows you to enjoy the meal around the table with your significant other without the noise and distraction of others. Here's an Easy Beef and Broccoli recipe to try for your cheap Valentine's Day dinner

3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided

1/2 cup water, plus 2 tablespoons water, divided

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 lb boneless top round, cut into thin 3-inch strips

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

4 cups broccoli florets

1 small onion, cut into wedges

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

hot cooked rice

Combine 2 tablespoons each of the cornstarch and the water with garlic powder. Add beef and mix together. In a large skillet over medium high heat, stir-fry beef in 1 tablespoon oil remove and keep warm. Stir-fry broccoli and onion in the other tablespoon of oil. Return beef to pan. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and remaining cornstarch and water until smooth; add to the pan. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Don't forget to add a fortune cookie to the meal. To stay in line with the cheap Valentine's Day dinner theme, bake his favorite cookie, and pack in a Ziploc with a fortune you wrote for him

Cheap Valentine's Day Dinner #3: Skip the meal, go straight to dessert

Chocolate covered fruit that is. Fruit isn't cheap, and neither is chocolate but if you watch the sales and see which store has the best deals you can make a fruit platter for the two of you to share. Add some melted chocolate or go ahead and dip some of the fruit ahead of time. If you think the fruit won't be enough, add some cheese cubes or crackers and a cheese ball you make yourself to your Cheap Valentine's Day Dinner.

Just remember, the fact that you don't spend a lot of money on Valentine's Day dinner does not mean that it cannot me a memorable one. Try one of these ideas, or combine a meal and the dessert one for a special version of a cheap Valentine's Day dinner that you'll remember for years to come.