Sandra Lee’s Date Night Dinner
Kids, jobs, errands, piles of laundry — modern moms have more to do and less time to do it in than ever before. Add a newborn, and you’re lucky if you even get to see your husband or boyfriend, much less carve out time alone. What you need is a good old-fashioned date with the man in your life.
Here’s a menu that will make him melt with romantic Date Night dishes you can cook and serve in less time than it takes to drive to a restaurant. Just mix 70% readymade foods with 30% fresh ingredients to create a Semi-Homemade® meal that’s 100% fast and fabulous!
Add a few of my timesaving tricks, and even the busiest mom can pull off a gourmet meal that ladles up a lot of love for just a pinch of time and money.
Plan ahead. Choose dishes you can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze.
Keep it simple yet make it special. The menu below is easy to pull together but looks and tastes spectacular.
Let the bakery help. Dress up a store-bought cake, or doctor a cake mix, and let it double as a centerpiece. Mix a colorful cocktail, light candles, play some soft music and savor every second.
Date Night Menu
Zesty Fried Meatballs with Red Pepper Sauce and Ravioli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Brown Butter Walnuts, followed by moist Red Velvet Cake sounds like dinner at the Ritz, but you can pull the meal together fast with frozen foods and pantry staples.
| Zesty Fried Meatballs Prep Time: 20 minutes Print this recipe Start the meal off with these tasty morsels. |
| Ravioli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Brown Butter Walnuts Prep Time: 5 minutes Print this recipe Browning butter brings out a subtle nuttiness that complements the heart-healthy walnuts and releases an irresistibly sweet perfume. Summery sun-dried tomatoes give it just the right squish of juiciness. |
| Red Velvet Cake Prep Time: 15 minutes Print this recipe A simple, classic and oh-so-romantic finale that takes no time to prepare. |
| PB&J Martini Prep Time: 5 minutes Print this recipe Serve this tasty twist on a classic martini to set the mood for a fun and romantic evening. |
Modern Mom’s new food and entertaining contributor, Sandra Lee is an internationally-acclaimed Life & Style expert who has revolutionized the way people think about creating from scratch. With her trademark 70/30 philosophy, which combines 70% ready-made products with 30% fresh and creative touches, Sandra has become the advocate for the over-extended homemaker. Learn more about Sandra at http://www.semihomemade.com
