Foodies help me!!

[Pony_Boy]

Hi

So tomorrow I'm making supper for Wonderful Girlfriend, usually that's not a problem as I'm a reasonably good cook. I'm just at a lost on what to make I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. it doesn't help that I really want to make something delicious and impress her a bit

She doesn't know I'm making her supper and I'm aiming to have it ready as soon as she gets home from work ( I'm greeting her at the door with wine and flowers)

So any suggestions are welcome. there are only a few rules

-- No Olives
-- No artichokes
-- No heavy or cream based sauces


so help a hopeless romantic out would ya lol

[AdminAssistant]

Well, what are some of her favorites? Does she like Italian, Mexican, Indian cuisine? You can hardly ever go wrong with some kind of pasta (in this case, with a marinara sauce). Very romantic.

[artifical sweetner]

you could just casually ask her what she loves to eat..."oh [so-and-so] was talking bout this dinner the other night of chicken parmesean and said it was great, what do you think of it"

ok maybe thats a lame set up but it might work...

otherwise id recommend something without garlic/onions or really sloppy sauces

[Pony_Boy]

Sorry for being so vague I should had added more details The Wonderful Girlfriend is very health conscious and I am ....well....not so much so my original plan of doing Enchiladas may not be a wise choice

We generallt eat alot of pasta and chicken so I'd like to get away from that a bit


I was thinking of maybe getting some good quality cuts of beef and cooking them in the oven in such a way that they will get super tender and flavourful , whip up a nice salad on the side ( any ideas for a great balsamic vinaigrette would be great) and frozen yogourt or gelato for desert

thoughts?

[AdminAssistant]

I usually do any kind of beef steak on a broiler pan in the oven (under the broiler, of course).

You may want to poke around Food Network's website - I'm sure you'd find a lot of suggestions there.

[Kiwi]

Chef John's Firecracker Beef

If this recipie doesn't do it for you (the fire cracker reference is the flavour not the heat) then he had hundreds of really simple recipies with videos to show you how to make everything.

I LOVE his food !!!

[auntiem]

I was thinking of what I'd like my SO to make so I prowled around a little and found this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/f...ipe/index.html
It sounds easy - mostly a lot of chopping involved - but looks fancy. You could do all the prep before she came over and then she could watch the "show" of you cooking. It sounds light and healthy too. If she likes shrimp this could be a winner.
ETA looking over the dish again, personally I'd substitute cilantro for the mint - 1/4c. of mint is just too much IMO and cilantro is the "crack" of herbs to me.

[Pony_Boy]

Thank you all so much for your help after searching online for something that could work I found this perhaps not the most romantic meal but with a nice wine and ( time permitting ) freshly baked rolls and a salad for starters it should do the trick



Ingredients

* 2 boneless center cut pork chops
* 3 tablespoons water
* 1/4 yellow onion
* 2 tablespoons minced garlic (or more if you love garlic)
* 3 tablespoons apricot jam
* 1 cup hot salsa (I use chunky salsa)
* 1 teaspoon season salt
* salt

Directions

1.
1
Chop the onion, and the garlic if you are using fresh garlic and not the jarred minced version.
2.
2
In a bowl mix the water, onion, garlic, jam, salsa and salt together until well mixed.
3.
3
It's okay to taste it a little bit so that you can see if you need to add more of something, but don't over-do it!
4.
4
Next take out the pork.
5.
5
Leave the chops whole, but with a knife cut random areas so that the mix's juices that you made will go through the pork.
6.
6
In any cooking pot with a lid (that will allow you to put two pork chops into it)- throw the sauce into the pot.
7.
7
Place the pork chops also into the pot.
8.
8
With a spoon dig up some of the sauce in the pan and put some of it on the top of the pork chops.
9.
9
Turn your stove on with a medium to high heat, until the sauce starts to heat up.
10.
10
Then lower the heat enough (medium heat), and now cover, and allow to cook well, flipping it over every 8-10 minutes.
11.
11
Remember to keep putting the sauce on the sides of the pan on top of the pork every time you flip them over.
12.
12
Don't let the sauce burn into the bottom of the pot.
13.
13
When done, the sauce should not be too watery.
14.
14
Top with the sauce that you made to cook the pork with into a plate.
15.
15
Serve with rice!
16.
16
My husband loves this quick to make and cook dish!
17.
17
Note: If you want to add more pork for more people just increase the salsa and jam.
18.
18
And add the rest of the ingredients to your taste.

Any advice or suggestions of course are welcome

I'll keep you posted on the results

[Riesie]

Salmon with spiced lemongrass crust, sweet potato chips and a lime and soy vinaigrette:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/da...mo_86284.shtml

This goes over very well with my other half. We normally have rice noodles with it instead of the sweet potato chips, with the vinaigrette over all of it.

[taxguykarl]

This salad has been a major hit at family gatherings. Comically easy. That's right the asparagus is raw. Keep your eyes open for the thinner ones--say pencil sized.

[Red_Dazes]

Salmon with spiced lemongrass crust, sweet potato chips and a lime and soy vinaigrette:
.

Salmon is always a good choice for a health conscious person. Just be careful when cooking, if you cook it too long it will taste fishy. A squeeze of lemon over the top about 5 min before serving will also help to cook the fish though. (something with the acid in the lemon) I like a bit of Thyme on my salmon, but I have weird tastes I'm told.

[AdminAssistant]

Lemon and thyme go together pretty well, I'd say, but I can't say I've ever had salmon.

[auntiem]

Never had salmon?! Oh sweetie are you missing out. It is the bestest fish one the market. Salmon season is just starting so yummy yummy Coho should be hitting the market very soon. Make sure you get wild not farmed. There is a huge difference in taste and texture.
Oh, and for salmon I like lemon and dill.

Pony-boy that dish you found sounds excellent!

[AdminAssistant]

Fresh fish usually = $$$$

I never buy seafood to cook at home, and only rarely do I eat it out. It's so expensive, and bringing it home...I'm afraid I'd screw it up or cook it wrong or not eat it before it went bad.

[Pony_Boy]

Thanks again for all the kind help

The meal was a success!! the recipe was delicious and very easy The Wonderful Girlfriend was very impressed by the dish and by the fact that I knew her very favorite wine without her having to tell me ( The Little Penguin a Shiraz from Southern Australia)

if anyone if wondering where I got the recipe from you can find it here : www.recipezaar.com it really is a awesome site

thanks again you guys rock!!