Dinner for two - what would you cook?

[Chelsea26]

Have a newish man coming over for dinner tomorrow night - very out of practise at cooking for anyone but myself (Minimal effort) or me and the kids (hidden veg!)

I’m a good cook but am drawing blank on inspiration so looking for ideas...

Don’t want to spend hours on it and no fish are the only considerations!

Steak and chips!

I'm making the cod with prawn crust from this mornings Saturday kitchen (with buttery mash and leeks). Enjoy your date

Risotto or steak and homemade chips, or I would cook a homemade carbonara

Oh just seem no fish - sorry

Agree with steak and chips then

Definitely steak and chips. And if you want to jazz it up, a cote de boeuf for 2 is great. I made it recently and it wasn't any more of a faff than normal steak. Had it with chips that had truffle oil and parmesan on them. Most delicious dinner we've had in ages!

I think something hearty for this time of year
Stew and dumplings
Lasagne
Toad in the hole
Shepards pie
Chicken and mushroom pie
Bolognaise
Carbonara
Chicken piccata

Another vote for steak and chips here!

Ah I should have mentioned - I’m a real weirdo and don’t really like chips!

My first thought was steak but what to have it with if not chips? If I have a steak I have it in a baguette with fried onions and Mushrooms and Parmesan mayo - it’s bloody delicious but not really date food! Messy and I inhale it while making sex noises!!

I’d make this www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-stuffed-herby-mascarpone

I’d make it with Mashed potato if not chips

Steak and mash is lovely too or do you not eat any potato?

Instead of chips I made Hasselback potatoes with garlic and rosemary tonight, DH was well impressed but they were dead easy. Takes about 1hr 15 mins in the oven + prep time though so might not be quick enough for you.

Steak with mashed potatoes and a gravy/sauce or potato dauphinose and then some vegetables / salad

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/dauphinoise-potatoes

Love these with a steak. My local butcher makes them up in a tray that you just put in the oven. Could pass them off as your own

Pork Chops , mash and roasted veg and gravy. All pre cooked, leave to keep warm in the oven, bring it to the table and let him serve himself, make enough for three, roast veg makes a great soup if you have left overs. I hate wondering how much food to serve, and if someone is full.
Cheese for afters, with biscuits.
Also have a sweet pud in case.
The you have covered all the bases.

Ooo dauphinois - they’re delicious! As is mash! I love potatoes, just not chips for some reason!

The stuffed chicken looks good too!

Hadn’t even thought about dessert - eek!

I’m actually really excited about cooking a nice meal (And eating at a table with someone who can use cutlery/won’t burp and giggle/doesn’t pick out every slither of onion - hopefully!)

Yep steak and dauphinois sounds great! With some buttered tenderstem broccoli, asparagus and green beans.

Make dessert easy and pick up a couple of GU puddings and some strawberries :)

Enjoy your date!!

I second the gu or just get a big posh cheesecake I hope you have a fab dinner with your date

Dauphinois or Boulangere potatoes, with stuffed chicken breasts (herbs and soft cheese - goats cheese or ricotta etc) wrapped in prosciutto served with steamed greens or simple green salad. Minimal effort but can seem like a lot of thought has gone in, and you won't feel too stuffed.

Roast beef fillet, carved at the table, with either sautéed potatoes - peeler, sliced and cooked really slowly in olive oil & a little thyme, with creamed spinach, slow roast tomatoes & garlic & served with bearnaise sauce

How about venison steaks for something bloke-friendly, but a little different? Definitely don’t cook more than medium, though.

And something with chocolate sauce and squirty cream for pud .

Good luck, OP!

Smoked fish pate with melba toast. Or a salmon mousse rolled up in smoked salmon.
Beef, lamb or venison/wild boar in red wine. Potato and celeriac puree, green vegetable.
I don't have a sweet tooth at all, so I might either do a cheese board with grapes or possibly a pavlova with cream and fruit.
All of this, except the vegetables, can be prepared well in advance. Most of this has been tested on the toyboy, who was very happy ;-)

Go easy on the garlic if you make dauphinois!

Steak and cauliflower cheese is a match made in heaven.

I agree about something with chocolate for pudding. If there are any out of season strawberries get some and dip about half of them in melted dark chocolate, leave to set, then serve plates of dipped & undipped fruit with a scoop of brandy flavoured double cream to dunk them in. Leave the strawberry hulls on.
Or chocolate tart is good too.

Tornedos Rossini... with dauphinoise or pomme anna. All you'll have to do last minute is the steak

Nice lemon Tart for afters