The Secret to a Wonderful Valentines Day Dinner at Home

So youíve heard that a wonderful, romantic dinner can be created at home. Maybe youíve even seen a few movies where the hero woos the girl (or vice versa) by cooking a lovely dinner and serving it by candlelight. However, you heard that your friend Jeff had a disaster when he tried to replicate it ñ the pasta burned and his girlfriend was allergic to the scented candles. Donít be like Jeff ñ follow these tips and make sure your dinner is a success!

First of all, donít try to cook something really fancy, unless youíre already an accomplished cook. Try making something simple, like pasta or roast vegetables with smoked fish. Practice beforehand, to make sure that you can pull off the meal. In addition, check that your partner doesnít have any dietary restrictions. For instance, you wouldnít want to serve a beef roast to a vegetarian. Some restrictions might be less obvious though ñ your partner might have an allergy, or dislike certain foods.

Try to cook something that wonít take too much effort. Unless your partner is a food snob (in which case they should be cooking for you!) itís ok to use some convenience foods: for example, you can buy pasta sauce or pizza base, rather than cooking everything from scratch. Try to make something that you can cook beforehand and then heat before serving, or cut and season everything so that you can just pop it in the oven before your partner arrives. Make sure youíre not too exhausted from cooking to enjoy the date! Try not to do anything thatís too fancy ñ donít aim to create a three course meal that you spent all day cooking.

Make sure the dinner isnít too filling. Because this is Valentines, you both want to be full, but not too stuffed to enjoy time together after dinner. Consider serving foods that are considered aphrodisiacs, like oysters. A nice, sparkling wine creates a romantic mood, as does a dessert of strawberries dipped in chocolate or with whipped cream.

Tidy up the house before the date. Itís generally a good idea to vacuum a day or two before, so that you donít run around at the last moment trying to get everything done. Make sure all the surfaces are clean, and clear away any clutter.

On Valentines Day, make sure itís just the two of you at home. This means asking any housemates to stay away, and keeping any pets away. If you have children, arrange for babysitting beforehand, and make sure you also have a back-up plan in case the babysitter reneges.

Dress up for the date, and let your partner know that itís ìformal homeî wear! This will make the date seem like more of an occasion, and youíll enjoy looking good for your date.

Serve the dinner on nice plates, with proper silverware and glasses. Make sure you have napkins at the table. Consider adding a centrepiece of fresh flowers, or a candle-stand. Clean up any messes or spills before your partner arrives.

Create the right mood for dinner. Lighting is the most important factor to creating a good ambiance, so make sure that the lights arenít too harsh. Consider leaving the lights dimmed before dinner, then switching them off and eating by candle-light. Never ever have the TV on for such a dinner! Donít play loud music either. Instead, play classical music or jazz, on low volume. How will you know when the volume is perfect? The right volume for music will mean that the two of you can talk softly and still hear each other, but when youíre silent you can hear the gentle melodies.

Remember to relax during the dinner and enjoy your partnerís company. Donít worry if they like the food or not, or about how youíll do the dishes afterwards. Have a good time, talk and have fun as though you were in a restaurant.

If the food youíve cooked is tasty, your house is clean and has nice lighting and music, you should be able to create a perfect, romantic evening at home for Valentines Day.