5 Tips for A Lovely Valentine’s Day Dinner

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I am sure that so many of us who normally go out to dinner will be having dinner at home this year. Valentine’s Day is always a great day to make a lovely meal at home and to enjoy the romance without having to fight the crowds at the restaurants. Below are my top 5 tips for a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner – no matter who you are making it for.

1. Plan your meal ahead of time.

What are you going to make? I advise you to chose a recipe that doesn’t scare you. Pick something that is a favorite of you or your date, just make sure you are comfortable with what you are making. Trust me when I say this is not the night to experiment with a fancy dish that may fluster you. I have done that before and it just makes me tense for the rest of the evening.

2. Prep anything that can be made ahead of time.

Do you want to serve an appetizer of crudités? You can make this ahead of time and put it in the fridge. Do you want to make a cake for dessert? Bake it the day before and frost it the morning of your dinner to be ready for dessert.

3. Set the table before you start cooking.

Growing up we always set a formal table at my Grandma’s house so I have always appreciated a beautiful table. If you have kids you can have them help make decorations for the table. Having the table set and ready to go makes getting the meal on the table so much easier.

4. Purchase anything you don’t want to make yourself.

Do you want to cook the main meal but not worry about the dessert? Pick one up from the store, there is no shame in that. If you love making dessert but are uncomfortable with making the main course, make your dessert and order takeout for the main meal. Remember this is your night too and you should enjoy it!

5. Don’t be upset if everything doesn’t turn out perfect.

Every dish you make is not going to come out perfect. You have to be able to roll with the punches and if dinner doesn’t come out right just laugh and enjoy what comes out. If the whole meal fails then have dessert or cereal and enjoy the time with your Valentine. I once had a meal fail completely and instead of cooking something else we went out and got ice cream for dinner.

Making Valentine’s Day dinner can be stressful for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. The 5 simple tips above help you prepare and make the most of your meal. The most important thing to remember is you are spending time with the one you love. Do you have any other tips to share for making a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner?