Food for a romantic night in!

[jonnyrushton]

On October 20th i will have been with my girlfriend for 1 year and i'm surprising her with a 'well cooked' home meal. I'm only 17 so i aint no gourmet chef! any suggestions for a nice easy2cook meal??! oh and any suggestions for a cheap champagne but not cider! thanks

[coemgen]

You can't go wrong with some pasta, sauce and garlic bread with a side salad.

[Cetti]

Pasta is perfect and so is rice. If you are after a recipe for an easy rice dish for two I will willingly write it out for you. BTW don't spoil a lovely meal by buying cheap champagne - it's disgusting - far better to get a mid-range white or sparkling white wine.

[WendyW]

I agree with Cetti about cheap champagne .. far better to buy a good sparkling wine. Try Cava, it is available from most supermarkets and is really nice.

[jonnyrushton]

I wudn't mind that recipe cetti!

[Cetti]

Just written out two recipes,Jonny - then lost connection. Grrrrrrrr!!!! Try again tomorrow, ok?

[jonnyrushton]

yea great stuff 2morrow is fine, thanks for the effort :D it is greatly appreciated :D

[Wee Kaz]

Hi Jonnyrushton, rather than spend time over a hot stove following a recipe, why not just by some tortellini or some sort of fresh filled pasta from the fresh pasta range at Safeway or Asda and use a fresh sauce to go with it. I bought Raviolli stuffed with roasted red peppers and cheese and I also bought Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (The Best range at Safeway). As for wine try Paul Masson (the pink one) it's really nice and if you're not a big wine drinker you'll find it quite pleasant, it especially goes with pasta. Defo don't get champers, it's rank!! If you're going to get some bread I maybe wouldn't buy garlic bread - if you're looking for some romance afterwards there's nothing worse than sticking of garlic! Why not try focaccia bread or chiabatia bread baked in the oven? Good Luck and Happy Cooking!!

[Cetti]

CHICKEN PILAU - 2tablsp butter, 1tablsp oil, 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bitesize pieces, 8 oz long grain rice, 1 onion chopped finely, 2 knorr stock cubes dissolved in 1 and a half to 1 and threequarters warm water, 1 teasp cumin seed, crushed, 1 teasp turmeric, 6 cardamon pods, crushed, salt to taste. 2 oz frozen peas, lots chopped parsley. Method - Melt butter and oil in a large nonstick saucepan or frying pan. Add onion and fry gently for a few mins, then add chicken with spices. Turn in oil and cook gently till chicken is opaque. Add rice and turn in oil and spices. Add water with stock cubes and bring to boil, then simmer till liquid nearly absorbed - add peas, stirring gently and continue gently till rice is soft and water is totally absorbed. Serve with chopped parsley.

[Cetti]

Lost connection again - so typed in a hurry. The white wine we like with pasta or rice is Sainsbury's Anjou. Whatever you decide to do - have a great time !!!

[mickryan]

listen mate champagne is for a toast not for an entire meal. buy wind and champers she will be well impressed !

[illsley]

Here is a really impressive but easy meal with an "Italian" theme. Start with slices of flavour ripe tomatoes and buffalo mozzerello and fresh basil leaves drizzled with olive oil. If you lay the tomatoes slices in a circle around the plate with the mizzerella took inbetween it looks really nice. Then for main go for some fresh pasta and sauce and for dessert a ready made brandy snap basket filled with ready mad tirrimisu is delicious! As for the bubbly there is a spanish cava on offer at Sainsbury's at �4.99 a bottle (down from 7.99) that is absolutely delicious! Far better than much more expensive ones that I have tasted recently! Cordoniu Cuvee Raventos, Spanish, 75cl

[beenee]

Don't forget the candles!

[aloha]

Dear Cetti and others. re: lost connections. I had some truly AGONIZING losses on the internet until I started typing up my responses/long personal letters,etc. onto a document on my computer (I use Microsoft Word, or any other),and then copying and pasting the text into the the email/board post. After awhile the email server or message board post automatically time out, so all of your hard work can be lost. Hope this helps. I wonder how the lad's dinner went?