Cooking For a New Beau: What to Make?

April 27, 2010

Reader Subie needs our help! She's got a new man in her life and has plans to make him dinner for the first time. She used our new ask feature in the YumSugar Community and proposed the following question:

Cooking dinner for a new beau this week and I need to plan the menu! Any good date meals to suggest? He is not a picky eater. I'll have about an hour for prep time.

Now I'm asking you: what's a good quick meal for a first date? Roast chicken? Pasta carbonara? What was the first meal you made for your loved one?

19 Comments

iriegurl23 3 years 3 weeks

Shrimp Newburg (with rice) and a salad

reesiecup 3 years 3 weeks

You can never go wrong with pasta!

SusanTeufel 3 years 3 weeks

All the suggestions are great, stay away from something too exotic/complicated, but still looks like a labor of love. Like others said, homemade sauce, lasagna, steak and some mashed potatoes! I know I won my husband over when he saw I could cook a good steak medium rare like he loves it!!

Soniabonya 3 years 3 weeks

I made something that was special to me and new for him. Hungarian Chicken Paprikash, without the sour cream and very light on the oil. I served it over home made dumplings (or German fried potatoes will work or any noodle or rice) with a side of bread, vegetables and wine. Simple dinner, easy to make :) here is one simple site that has the basic recipe: http://www.mommymall.com/recipes/2005/09/easy-chicken-paprikash.html I prefer not to use sour cream, and I go very light on oil and broth/wine since I don't want the 'gravy' to be all runny. Cubed chicken breasts work fine with this. Whatever you make will make him happy, because you made it with care. :)

xxstardust 3 years 3 weeks

sorry - *BOIL two bags of frozen ravioli! I've never tried popping them in still frozen, hehe

xxstardust 3 years 3 weeks

A nice twist on the lasagna/baked ziti suggestions is baked ravioli. It's so easy to prep the night before - two bags of frozen ravioli (I like cheese, but whatever your like best) and then assemble like you would baked ziti! It's just a little bit different then the norm, so it feels a little special. A side salad and garlic bread - or, maybe even just some fresh crusty bread and a head of roasted garlic would be even easier and is kind of fun - and some good wine and you're set! And of course .. don't forget dessert! I second the chocolate .. maybe make some brownies the night before and pop them in the microwave for a second the night of to heat? Top 'em with some ice cream, yum. :]

CoconutPie 3 years 3 weeks

Lasagna and a nice simple salad. And something with chocolate for dessert.

RoaringSilence 3 years 3 weeks

Honey Mustard Mozzarella chicken! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Honey-Mustard-Mozzarella-Chicken/Detail.aspx very easy to assemble, and it's super moist. Serve with rice. Also, it has nothing in it that will give you funky onion breath or anything :P

cotedazur 3 years 3 weeks

Anything you can make ahead of time is a great suggestion -- but I'm surprised no one has suggested a STEAK! I would serve two purées on the side - carrot and potato (for delicious carrot purée, slice your carrots and boil them about 15 minutes in vegetable or chicken bouillon; then pop them in a blender with 2-3 Tbsp butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg; serve with a parsley garnish); you can prepare the carrot purée the night before and then reheat it on the stove just before serving. For great mashed potatoes, add a spoonful or two of sour cream and some nutmeg before mashing them. If you really want to impress him, make a red wine/shallot sauce for the meat like this one: http://floralamoureux.blogspot.com/2009/12/red-wine-sauce.htmlSince the meal is pretty rich, I'd serve something light and lemony for dessert - maybe a lemon mousse? Raspberries with lemon curd? Something along those lines.

cotedazur 3 years 3 weeks

Anything you can make ahead of time is a great suggestion -- but I'm surprised no one has suggested a STEAK! I would serve two purées on the side - carrot and potato (for delicious carrot purée, slice your carrots and boil them about 15 minutes in vegetable or chicken bouillon; then pop them in a blender with 2-3 Tbsp butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg; serve with a parsley garnish); you can prepare the carrot purée the night before and then reheat it on the stove just before serving. For great mashed potatoes, add a spoonful or two of sour cream and some nutmeg before mashing them. If you really want to impress him, make a red wine/shallot sauce for the meat like this one: http://floralamoureux.blogspot.com/2009/12/red-wine-sauce.html Since the meal is pretty rich, I'd serve something light and lemony for dessert - maybe a lemon mousse? Raspberries with lemon curd? Something along those lines.

gingrlj 3 years 3 weeks

Hmmm. The 1st dish my boyfriend ever made for me was a chicken and veggie stir fry with rice. Seven years going strong and he still creates fabulous meals and constantly honing his his skills. I'm so spoiled since he does most of the cooking. That being said, my favorite thing to cook for him is a simple week night one pot dish: sausage cooked with seasonal fresh veggies. Easy to pair with a salad, rice or pasta. A beer and his wonderful company.

limelindsey 3 years 3 weeks

Just make something you're comfortable with - trying something new will probably end badly because you're under pressure.

HeyKristen 3 years 3 weeks

I made super-simple mussels for my guy — SO easy but still impressive. I literally steamed mussels in white wine, garlic, parsley, onion and some red pepper flakes, put them on a plate, and called it a day. I also sliced potatoes, drizzled them in olive oil, salt, parsley and a little red pepper and baked quick oven fries. It's easy, looks impressive, and tastes delicious. (plus, you can always take a few swigs of your cooking wine if you need to calm your nerves before he comes over!)

rb24 3 years 3 weeks

Baked Ziti can be made ahead and he will be so impressed you made your own sauce

fuzzles 3 years 3 weeks

Chief, Now you know better than to give up the bacon bits on a first home cooked dinner.....

fuzzles 3 years 3 weeks

Chief,Now you know better than to give up the bacon bits on a first home cooked dinner.....

Spectra 3 years 3 weeks

The very first meal I made for my husband was spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. I actually asked him what he wanted for dinner and that's what he told me he wanted. I didn't want to risk making something he wouldn't like, but then I found out that he was not a picky eater AT ALL and will eat just about anything I make him.

chiefdishwasher 3 years 3 weeks

Does he really love you????????.........then let's see if he'll pretend to enjoy liver and onions topped with bacon bits......now that would be love!

fuzzles 3 years 3 weeks

When I am cooking for others, I am a big fan of dishes that can be made ahead of time. Less stress. One idea might be to make a batch of homemade red sauce the night before. Then, get yourself a package of the no-boil lasagna noodles--they really are as good as the traditional variety. The evening of, assembly will be a snap. All that is really needed then is to throw together a salad with a homemade vinaigrette (also made the night before), and warm a bit of freshly assembled garlic bread while the lasagna is in the oven. And of course, pop open a bottle of vino! Have fun! :D

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19 Comments

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