Food on the Table

Cupid’s arrow is on the loose again, and this time, he’ll shoot through your heart and not your wallet too.

Instead of blowing your budget on heart-shaped chocolates inside heart-shaped boxes affixed to heart-shaped cards, treat your special someone to something from, well, the heart.

Ditch the overbooked, overpriced restaurant date for a dinner for two from the comfort of your home. This frugal, fun and very doable option will make this Valentine’s Day a happy one indeed for your significant other and your significantly reduced V-Day bill.

Just follow the five-step method below to your happiest, most economical Valentine’s date yet:

1. Get inspired.
   Look no farther than the wonderful World Wide Web for an assortment of recipe ideas fitted for your date. Recipes catered toward those new to cooking and those willing to slave away at a gourmet entrée reside side-by-side on food blogs and food sites. Plus, food shows this time of year hone in on the V-Day spirit, offering love-inspired meals for couples and friends.  Don’t be afraid to try something new, but on the same token, be realistic. If you’ve only got a few hours to prepare, find a recipe that fits your schedule to avoid a kitchen dinner disaster.
2. Make a menu.
   As with any meal any day of the year, preparation is key. After sorting through recipes and recipe reviews online, on TV and in, gasp, cookbooks, narrow down your options to what’s delicious and more importantly, doable in a night.
   From a starter to the entrée to the sides to the dessert to the beverages throughout the course of the meal, don’t skimp on a detailed menu. Unless this V-Day din is a surprise for your sweetie, feel free to share the menu and decide together on what to eat and cook.
3. Write down a shopping list.
   Avoid last-minute grocery store runs and weird, last-resort substitutions when it comes down to the cooking wire. To do so, just make a shopping list before hitting up the grocery store before Valentine’s Day.
   Check on what ingredients you already have, refer to your menu and build the list from there. Shopping with a list is like driving with a GPS — save time, save money and allot for what you’re getting into well in advance.
4. Hunt for deals and coupons.
   Now that your menu is set, begin to scour through the mail and online for grocery discounts. Seasonal discounts for the holiday are aplenty this time of year, so see what sorts of dinner-for-two deals you can find at your favorite store.  Pay special attention to in-store discounts as well, reading the fine print to make sure that your deal is legit and valuable. For example, buying in bulk for a dinner for two might not be a wise decision unless the bulk can be used in the weeks following Valentine’s Day.
5. Do prep work.
   Prevent kitchen mishaps by preparing ahead as much as possible without sacrificing freshness. Whether that means slicing veggies, marinating meats or even setting the table (no detail is too small when it comes to this last one), time management is crucial to a successful homemade date.

Do, however, stay flexible. If a dish just doesn’t work out, have a back-up plan. Think along the lines of TV dinners and quick sandwiches. After all, these failed attempts could wind up being quirky and romantic-comedy cute.

This Valentine’s Day, kiss the fancy, shmancy dinners out goodbye and instead, give a little love to home-grown sweetness.

This post is linked to Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.

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