Tips for Planning a Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner

If you love to cook, then having a Valentine's Day meal at home is a great way to spend this holiday. It gives you a chance to spend some alone time with your loved one. Also, restaurants tend to be busy during this holiday. If you want to avoid a long wait and a crowd then this is a great option. Here are some tips for creating the perfect Valentine's Day meal.

Candles: Lighting can really set the mood for a romantic meal. Purchase a couple of candles or use ones that you already have in your home. Use these as your center piece. Before your loved one arrives for the meal, test the lighting. Make sure it is bright enough to see. You want the lighting to be dim.

Keep it light: When selecting your menu, you want to make sure that the meal is not too heavy. Serve filling foods that do not weigh down your stomach and make you uncomfortable. Consider something like salmon, cod, shrimp, or lobster as your main course. Seafood is quick, easy to prepare, and can be very romantic as well. Here is a salmon recipe you might want to try.

1 lb of skinless salmon

1 TBS olive oil

1 TBS lemon

Salt

Pepper

Mix the olive oil and lemon together. Add a dash of salt and pepper. Drizzle the mixture onto the salmon. You can cook this in the microwave for 10 minutes or prepare it on a small indoor grill.

Valentine's Day is all about romance. You do not want you or your loved one to eat heavy foods and not be in the mood for the possible romance that may follow your meal.

Serve Chocolate: No Valentine's Day meal is complete without chocolate. This is, after all, the holiday when chocolate is most celebrated. Keep in mind also that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. Keep in mind that you also want dessert to remain light and not to heavy. If you serve something such as chocolate cake, remember to keep the serving sizes small.

Strawberries: Strawberries are a great seller around Valentine's Day. If you decide to have strawberries with your meal, do not wait until the last minute to pick them up. You may be too late. Strawberries are great served with a chocolate fondue, on a cake, or even on their own. Be creative. If you serve them on a cake, write out the words I love you. It may sound cheesy, but it will be a dessert that both of you will remember forever.

Heart Shaped cookie cutter: Having a romantic meal is in the small details. You can purchase a heart shaped cookie cutter at a local retail or cooking supply store. Once you have made this purchase, your options are endless. Cookie cutters are not just meant for cookies. Above I mentioned serving chocolate with your meal. If you are serving chocolate cake, use the cooking cutter and cut out a slice in the shape of a heart. Add a little whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate syrup, and top with a strawberry. Your loved one will be impressed that you took the extra time to do this.

Heart shaped ice tray: Often during the holidays you can find ice trays that mold the ice into certain shapes. During Valentine's Day I have often seen heart shaped ice trays at Target and Wal-Mart. Fill your loved one's glass and see how long it takes them to notice that their ice is in the shape of hearts. This is just something fun, cheap, and easy to add to your meal.

Music: Make sure the television is turned off during this meal. Complete the mood by playing romantic music softly in the background. Frank Sinatra has some great romantic songs, but if this is not your style, try to find instrumental pieces that are soft and elegant. Kenny G is another great choice if you enjoy listening to the saxophone.

With a little effort you can turn an every day meal into a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. This is your chance to impress your loved one and really show them how much you care. Taking the time to do the little things shows how much you really care. Remember, actions always speak louder than words.