Has it been too long since your last date night, and you are craving your favorite cheese fondue? Securing reservations at the new restaurant downtown can take a long time. Or it might be challenging to dress up for a date when you have kids to take care of.
We understand many factors may discourage you from planning dinner with your partner. Nonetheless, organizing a charming date night at home is still possible. It’s time to take a few hours off work so that you and your loved ones may have a hearty candlelight dinner.
We have compiled 5 special recipes you can prepare for your upcoming date night. These are easy to make and would turn out better than restaurant dishes since they are made with love. Enjoy cooking them with your partner, or plan a surprise dinner for your beloved.
Read on to figure out what is missing from your pantry. Then buy all the necessary ingredients and supplies, and set out to organize an impressive yet budget-friendly dinner at home.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Lobster Mac and cheese is an easy and fulfilling dish. Begin by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F. Next, add oil to a large saucepan of salted boiling water. Add 1 pound of pasta, simmer for 6 to 8 minutes per the package instructions, and drain it.
In the meantime, warm 1-quart milk in a small pot without letting it boil. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a separate saucepan, then stir in half a cup of flour. Cook for two minutes while whisking over low heat. Then slowly add the hot milk and simmer for an additional minute or two until thickened. Add the 4 cups Gruyère cheese, 2 cups Cheddar cheese, one tablespoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon nutmeg, then turn the heat off.
Stir thoroughly after adding the cooked macaroni and one and a half pounds of lobster. Put the ingredients in six to eight separate gratin plates.
Combine 2 cups of fresh bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, then sprinkle on top. Bake the macaroni for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbling.
Filet mignon
Start this delicious steak recipe by heating 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high heat. Season your steak on both sides with some salt and pepper to taste, then add it when the oil is just starting to smoke. Sear for around 5 minutes, then turn and add 4 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of chopped rosemary. Cook for a further 3 to 5 minutes while basting with butter.
Next, cook the skillet in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for approximately 5 minutes or until done to your taste. Check your steak every few minutes if it isn’t done after 5 minutes to avoid overcooking it.
When ready, remove the filet mignon from the skillet and rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Shrimp Scampi
Scampi are small crustaceans that resemble lobsters and have pale pink shells. Some chefs used scampi instead of shrimp in the classic recipe while keeping both names; hence this simple dish was created.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and equal parts of olive oil in a big pot. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for approximately a minute or until fragrant. Bring to a boil while adding ½ cup broth, salt, flakes of red pepper, and a generous amount of black pepper. Let the broth decrease for 2 minutes, or by half quantity.
Next, add a pound and a half of large shelled shrimp and cook for 2 to 4 minutes until they turn pink. Add in parsley and lemon juice and serve with pasta or crusty toast.
Cheese fondue
Even though it sounds sophisticated, making cheese fondue is super easy. Pick equal amounts of your favorite cheese and grate them using a food processor or a conventional grater. We recommend blending fontina, Gruyère, cheddar, and gouda cheese for perfect creaminess and taste.
Then mix the grated cheese with cornstarch to prevent lumps in the fondue. Now add one handful of this cheese mix to the fondue pot and wait for it to melt completely before adding the next batch. Keep stirring continuously, and add some stock for perfect consistency. Eventually, you will get the fondue ready to be served.
For dipping, cut French bread, boiled broccoli or potatoes, apples, and carrots into 1-inch cubes so they can be skewered with ease. To save time, you can grate your cheese and cut the dippings a day before your candlelight dinner.
No-bake Cheesecake
Since dessert is a must-have for any dinner, we’ve provided a recipe that will be a great hit and can be made in advance to free up time for last-minute preparations. What can be better than an indulgent, creamy dessert to finish the date night? Try this no-bake cheesecake recipe, and involve your partner in the preparation process to create priceless memories.
For the crust, combine 2 cups of broken crackers, half a cup of melted butter, and a third cup of sugar. Carefully press it into a 10-inch springform pan and freeze it for 20 minutes. Next, make the filling layer by beating a cup and a quarter of whipping cream at a medium-high speed with a hand mixer until firm peaks form.
Combine three 8 oz. full-fat cream blocks in a separate bowl with half a cup of sugar until smooth. Add sour cream, lemon juice, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat the ingredients for 2 to 3 minutes or until thoroughly combined.
Now, thoroughly whisk the whipped cream and the cream cheese mixture together in a blender. Add the filling on top of the frozen crust. Put this no-bake cheesecake in the refrigerator until it is firm. Then place it on the serving platter after removing it from the springform pan.
Upgrade your kitchen with JML Singapore
JML has over 40 years of expertise innovating goods for the home, cleaning, exercise, and health & beauty markets. They supply high-quality items to clients all around the world. Regardless of rising demand, nearly everyone can access JML Singapore in supermarkets and outlet stores. They offer items suitable for their consumers’ needs, simplifying their daily lives.
The range of products offered at JML includes multipurpose cookers, which can greatly help when preparing feasts or special dinners. With one such cooker, you can easily steam, boil, roast, sauté, deep fry, bake, and fondue and follow our recipes for an awesome dinner. These are excellent for single servings or family dinners.
You can cook and eat right at your dining room table or from your living room with this small, portable, and simple-to-clean appliance that is ideal for flats and small rental rooms. The cooker includes a handy slider with 3 adjustable temperature settings, a steam tray, and a nonstick grill pan.
JML is Atome’s partner merchant
Upgrading your kitchen utensils can be a rewarding experience; however, it can also take a toll on your monthly budget. JML has partnered with Atome to offer its customers flexible monthly payment options to ease their shopping worries. This way, you can purchase everything you require to plan a dinner date without overspending your budget!
Continue reading to learn more about Atome and how it works.
What is Atome?
Headquartered in Singapore with over 15,000 partnered merchants, Atome offers its users the choice and convenience of flexible payment options for a variety of products and services. The app allows shoppers to split their purchases across flexible interest-free monthly payments by scanning a partner retailer’s in-store QR code or upon website checkout. By splitting their payments, Atome users will be able to better manage their budget while making quality products and services more reachable.
You can become part of Atome’s customer network by downloading the app (Get the app) and setting up an account. Once your payment details are verified, you can shop at any partner merchant store using Atome’s monthly payment plans.
How to pay with Atome
- Scan the QR code from Atome’s app for in-store purchases.
- For online shopping, select Atome as your payment partner at checkout.
- Enter your user details to continue. If you’re new to Atome, you will be prompted to create an account before proceeding.
- Pay one part of your bill and complete the checkout process. You can pay the outstanding amount over the following two months.
Keep it budget friendly with Atome
Dinner by candlelight at home is one of the most exciting experiences you could try with your lover. You should always harness your skills of turning your home into a center of love. Cooking with a partner may be extra flirtatious fun. After reading these easy candlelight dinner suggestions, you’re ready to plan your ideal date. Remember to shop with Atome’s flexible monthly payment plans to enjoy the best of both worlds.
