Making dinner tonight for the lady friend. Trying to impress here, but I'm not sure exactly what to cook.


I'm open to all the suggestions you may come up with, though we're both meat-eaters, neither big on pasta, and pref. something to go with a red wine (cab sav or pinot noir).



and, GO!

3/25/2010 8:24:44 AM

Little salad (spinach leaves, chopped carrot, maybe some raspberry vinaigrette). Medium rare steak. Sautéed spinach with garlic. Little bed of puréed turnip. Small portions.

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:27 AM. Reason : fair meal]

3/25/2010 8:27:22 AM

beef burgundy

3/25/2010 8:31:01 AM

Did you mean: bourguignon

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:33 AM. Reason : GOOGLE]

3/25/2010 8:31:54 AM

same difference

3/25/2010 8:33:11 AM

Quote :

"Little salad (spinach leaves, chopped carrot, maybe some raspberry vinaigrette). Medium rare steak. Sautéed spinach with garlic. Little bed of puréed turnip. Small portions."

Not a big turnip fan, but Frosh's menu was pretty much what I was thinking.

3/25/2010 8:34:54 AM

I am not a cook, but I would not cook that for a date. It's too easy to make the sauce heavy and the beef greasy, which is not sexy-time. Plus, you might accidentally find out that girl is too stuck up to eat an egg noodle.

Wadhead1: You've got to make some puréed turnip, yo. Consider it next time you're thinking of just making mashed potatoes.

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:36 AM. Reason : ...]

3/25/2010 8:35:37 AM

Quote :

"Little salad (spinach leaves, chopped carrot, maybe some raspberry vinaigrette). Medium rare steak. Sautéed spinach with garlic. Little bed of puréed turnip. Small portions."

i'm going with FroshKiller. excellent choices.

you could even throw in some potatoes or rice in there. quinoa is a personal favorite of mine.

3/25/2010 8:35:56 AM

Quinoa is good. If you do rice, tart it up with some slivered almonds, son. Socks = knocked off.

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:37 AM. Reason : no doubt]

3/25/2010 8:36:59 AM

^^^I will definitely look into it next time I cook.

Cass - I've heard about quinoa and just read about it in a book, sounds like it's a potato/rice side substitute and it's actually a protein. How's it taste, how do you prepare it?

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:38 AM. Reason : .]

3/25/2010 8:37:57 AM

If I can make it it can't be that hard. and my sauce is never greasy. and you can serve it over rice if bitch wont eat an egg noodle.

i think it tastes better than just steak

^it tastes pretty wack. then again when I had it, the chefs had completely overdone it with the spices so that was probably why i was like

3/25/2010 8:38:06 AM

ddk you need to broil that steak in the oven son

salt, pepper

have you eating the fat seriously

3/25/2010 8:40:43 AM

AxlBonBach - does your lady friend like pimento cheese? My gf made steaks that were finished with a (non-creamy) pimento cheese spread on the top that melted while they were finishing up in the cast-iron skillet. She paired it with sauteed green beans w/walnuts. Pretty delicious.

3/25/2010 8:40:48 AM

turnip?

or parsnip?



[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:46 AM. Reason : e]

3/25/2010 8:45:06 AM

Turnip for sure. Parsnip is good, too, though.

3/25/2010 8:48:54 AM

ive been on a parsnip kick recently, but havent ventured into turnip puree

had it a few times and was kinda meh about it

perhaps ill give it another try

it's kinda interesting how much flavor you can get out of just root veggies, heavy cream, and butter.

3/25/2010 8:50:05 AM

hmm, i have no experience in cooking turnips, but everything that i've read says they're not too hard to work with.

as far as pimiento cheese, yes, she loves anything involving any sort of cheese.


the green beans and walnut combo might work in somewhere too... or i'll work walnuts into the little salad.

3/25/2010 8:51:19 AM

I'd go with:

Beef medallions in a burgundy mushroom sauce, served with wilted greens and mushroom risotto

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 8:57 AM. Reason : .]

3/25/2010 8:55:09 AM

LOLZ FROSHKILLER WORKS FOR THE SPINACH SYNDICATE

SPINCH SALAD, SAUTEED SPINACH, WHY DONT YOU ZAZZ UP THAT STEAK WITH SOME SPINACH, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CREME YOUR SPINACH FOR DESSERT GIRL?

3/25/2010 8:55:18 AM

I roasted a leg of lamb for my gf on valentines day.

Stuffed it with creme de cassis, currants, prunes, and chopped almonds (might have been something else, but that's what I can remember).

Crust on top consisted of rosemary, thyme, basil, coriander, salt, and pepper (again, may have been some more). Also some sliced garlic stuff in little pockets in the leg.

Glazed it with reduced balsamic and figs.

Side of roasted potatoes and spinach.

Drank a bottle of wine making it and a bottle of wine eating it. Probably the best meal I've had that hasn't been in a restaurant.

Bananas Foster for desert.

3/25/2010 8:57:22 AM

i would make her my k&w special

carrot and raisin salad
baked lasagna
fried okra
mac n cheese
chocolate creme pie

3/25/2010 8:58:16 AM

^ Mike Cook for me plz I :heart: K&W

3/25/2010 8:59:16 AM

haha dont make bananas foster for the first time on the date...practice that shit yo

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 9:01 AM. Reason : ^ lucy ]

3/25/2010 8:59:32 AM

see the problem with cooking for a date is, you want something that's relatively low maintenance or something that you can have mostly prepared prior to arrival

you're not looking for something that when she shows up, you've got 15 pans in the sink, or have to be scurrying around the kitchen constantly to keep working

making sure that you either a.) have adequate time management to be hospitable and courteous to her (you dont want her just sitting watching tv while you finish cooking) b.)involve her in some way, beyond just conversation while she's watching you cook or c.) have it perfectly timed such that it's ready on arrival.


c.) isnt the best, i've found girls enjoy watching a man who knows what he's doing in a kitchen, and them showing up and being like "let's eat!" just doesnt work well

b.) is optimal

a.) sucks balls

the salad /spinach/turnip puree/steak idea could probably work,

although i dont like serving multiple courses in this situation

you end up with one ready to go, then go eat the salad, and either cant pay attention to the meal/date because you're cooking the steak, or end up with a cold dinner

you want to be able to converse, without throwing off the quality of your meal

keep it in mind


edit

jbrick83's idea is good

roasting and braising are relatively low maintenance, and you can adjust your time schedule depending on how the night is progressing. starting off with drinks etc while it finishes off creates a good precursor to serving.



[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 9:03 AM. Reason : imo]

3/25/2010 9:01:49 AM

Quote :

"see the problem with cooking for a date is, you want something that's relatively low maintenance or something that you can have mostly prepared prior to arrival you're not looking for something that when she shows up, you've got 15 pans in the sink, or have to be scurrying around the kitchen constantly to keep working"

Yes and no.

It's like when you're going out and you grab a couple cocktails before dinner. Get her in the kitchen, pour her a glass of wine. Start the conversation while you're cooking.

By the time you get to dinner, you're already a little buzzed and dinner is even better. Unless she's starving to the point of death, she'll be fine with waiting and will impressed with all the shit you're doing (as long as you don't fuck it up bad).

3/25/2010 9:06:26 AM

yeah on rereading im kinda contradicting myself in that post

it was a ramble

3/25/2010 9:07:29 AM

pilgrimshoes makes a good point (but do not lie, he rambled)


you could go simple and delicious and just start some badass spaghetti sauce ahead of time. that way youre just simmerin that guy, and you can have salads made,( or make them when she shows up.) then all you gotta do is chit chat, throw pasta in water, and the two of you can make garlic bread, ghost-style

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 9:07 AM. Reason : ]

3/25/2010 9:07:33 AM

^ They aren't big on pasta

3/25/2010 9:08:04 AM

you can always eat the salad while the cooked steak is resting

3/25/2010 9:09:16 AM

how long do you rest your steaks?

3/25/2010 9:09:58 AM

For a simple, delicious meal, my ex and I would make the following:

Fresh sliced french bread with a plate of olive oil and herbs
Pepper-encrusted, seared Ahi tuna served with a side of sesame ginger sauce and a side of a wasabi mayo
Wilted greens or lightly steamed broccoli

It's fast and easy to prepare! And soooo delicious.

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 9:16 AM. Reason : .]

3/25/2010 9:11:49 AM

BettrOffDead said:

Quote :

"LOLZ FROSHKILLER WORKS FOR THE SPINACH SYNDICATE SPINCH SALAD, SAUTEED SPINACH, WHY DONT YOU ZAZZ UP THAT STEAK WITH SOME SPINACH, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CREME YOUR SPINACH FOR DESSERT GIRL?"

If you're gonna go buy a vegetable, you might as well use it in more than one dish so you get it eaten while it's fresh. Spinach has a good flavor, better than that cheap iceberg shit you were gonna buy in a plastic bag, and you can do more interesting stuff with it.

I MEAN

3/25/2010 9:13:18 AM

get cho' blanch on

3/25/2010 9:13:21 AM

missed the pasta part in OP

oops

same idea applies though. you def wanna not be done cookin when she gets there so she can sip wine and blow you while you cook

3/25/2010 9:13:40 AM

also

for dessert

share a schlitz and a cheap chocolate cake from the supermarket

3/25/2010 9:17:35 AM

I'd go with chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. They're in season here though ... maybe not where you live.

Or maybe just a nice port.

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 9:19 AM. Reason : .]

3/25/2010 9:19:07 AM

it may rain tonight

just so's you know. you still somewhere in VA? the rain might not hit you.


also, roasted veggies are super easy and super delicious, like throwin halved new potatoes and squash and some peppers on a pan, oilin 'em up and tossin them with some herbage (rosemary probs) and boom! in the oven

3/25/2010 9:21:03 AM

ice wine and souffle

it's the queen of spades

3/25/2010 9:21:14 AM

with motorhead playing in the background

its the ace of spades

3/25/2010 9:22:56 AM

I'd veto the souffle if he's never made it. A fallen souffle is .

3/25/2010 9:23:04 AM

You sound somewhat nervous. You'll inevitably fuck something up. The best bet is to just bite the bullet and take her somewhere nice. I am an excellent cook, but under pressure, I crumble. My record in trying to impress girls with dinner is like 3 for 11. Now I just go to Sullivans.

3/25/2010 9:23:51 AM

I like Frosh's menu as well, but think spinach alone in the salad is overkill serving sauteed spinach. throw in some arugula and red leaf with it...

have you ever done lamb before?

3/25/2010 9:35:41 AM

Not nervous at all as far as the cooking goes - I'm downright cocky in my abilities. Time is somewhat of a crunch, because I'll be going over to her place to make dinner, and she doesn't get home from work until 6... so I've gotta work fast. The only thing I'm not sure of is the food selection.

I think I'm going to go with a little bit of everything from this thread...

-Steaks, probably tenderloin - i'll sear them in a pan and pop them in the oven. We both like them mooing so it's not too difficult. Crumbled blue cheese on top.

-Herb and Garlic Potato medallions

-Steamed Broccolli

-A bread of somekind from the local bakery

-Spinach leaf based salad, with walnuts, carrots, raisins, etc., with a rasberry vinaigrette.

-maybe a little cheesecake for dessert.

I can get this done by 7/7:30, which is reasonable considering she'll get home from work, get changed, and has some things to do around the house before we eat (meeting the father/stepmom tomorrow).

And the wine before cooking... very good idea


Thanks y'all

3/25/2010 10:43:20 AM

you'll need to wrap your steak in BLUE WHALE PENIS BACON

or you might as well fry up some 80% ground beef

3/25/2010 10:51:56 AM

Quote :

" -maybe a little cheesecake for dessert."

You gonna bake the cheesecake beforehand or buy one and eat it??

You ever done a bananas foster?? Easy as shit, and fucking delicious. Something that will take you a couple minutes to make, but still looks impressive.

3/25/2010 10:52:42 AM

Do that thing with whip cream on your junk and make her lick it off

3/25/2010 10:53:49 AM

I, too, am a fan of kiljadn's work.

3/25/2010 10:54:20 AM

I will second that bananas foster is indeed very easy and very yummy

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 10:57 AM. Reason : And I don't even ignite mine, but if you do, bonus cool points]

3/25/2010 10:54:50 AM

Quote :

"Do that thing with whip cream on your junk and make her lick it off"

That's the midnight snack.

Quote :

"You ever done a bananas foster?"

no, but i'm looking into it right now. thanks for the heads up on that. was going to grab a cheesecake from the local bakery. (not grocery store freezer)

3/25/2010 10:58:06 AM

I would do a thick cut pork chop seasoned with a little salt/pepper/cumin(?) or just something with a light kick so as to not overpower the meat or set her mouth on fire.

Serve with a) side of veggies seasoned with garlic butter
or
b) orzo (or rice) tossed with broccoli and mild cajun seasoning in an Alfredo sauce.


it's an easy dish to prepare and the pork is less likely to induce the red meat "ugh" or coma

[Edited on March 25, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Reason : ]

3/25/2010 10:58:22 AM