Recipe Rewind – Valentine’s Dinner

I’ve got another recipe rewind for you today.  Today is all about dinner for your sweetie or sweeties.  Then the rest of the week will be “Sweets for Your Sweetie” recipes.  Should be a fun week.
Whether you want a romantic dinner for two or are having a Valentine’s dinner for the whole family, I have some ideas on what to serve the ones you love with something special.
First thing is to think of a fun way to serve up something your family loves.  You can make your meal special just by placing things in individual dishes.  Look at what you have to work with.  Serve macaroni and cheese in ramekins or heart shaped dishes. Decorate your table with your red dinner plates.  It’s all about presentation.  Get creative with what you have.   You can even just shape bread sticks into a heart before you bake them.  Get the idea?
Check your dollar store for heart shaped tins too.  Use items like a heart shaped cake pan to make personal homemade pizza hut pizzas.
Eat by candle light. Whether it is just you and your honey or you are eating with the kids, candlelight makes it a special meal.
Serve several courses.  This doesn’t have to be fancy and elaborate.  Just break the meal down into courses and serve them individually.  Instead of serving a salad with your meal, serve it first on it’s own plate before the meal.  I have included ideas for main dish, side, and salad.
Also if you manage to get some time away from the kiddies with your honey and want to make your night special you ought to check out this fun post at The Dating Divas.  I’ve got you cover for food and a nice dinner at home but their ideas should help complete your evening.  They have such fun and creative ideas for dates.  It helps keep things fun.  You don’t have to do the whole date idea.  Even if you just find one fun thing to do as part of your evening.  I am making my hubby a candy bar Valentine.  Ya it’s a little cheesy but we all need a little cheese sometimes!

Top to Bottom from left to right: Creamy Baked Ziti,  Chicken a La King(cut heart shaped biscuits or puff pastry to serve over),Mushroom Dijon Chicken with Red and Green Pepper Couscous (just use red peppers for a Valentine’s look),  Baked Cheesy Chicken Pasta, Crock Pot Pork Chops and Gravy
Breaded Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce, Creamy Chicken and Noodles, Saturday Chicken, Baked Swiss Chicken, Roasted Citrus Garlic Chicken, Cheesy Chicken Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Chicken Tetrazzini, Crispy Skinned Chicken al’Orange, Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Quick Pasta Carbonara
Sides: Rice Pilaf, Sweet Carrots, Roasted Asparagus, Shredded Potatoes au Gratin , Pina Colada Dipping Sauce for Coconut Shrimp, Parmesan Potatoes, Oven Roasted Broccoli
Salads: Copy Cat of Rumbi’s House Salad, Luncheon Salad with Pretty in Pink Dressing, Cran-Orange Almond Salad