Ten Budget Friendly Valentine’s Day Recipes

champagne

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and that means it’s time for you to decide whether or not you’re going out to celebrate the evening or you’re staying home to celebrate with the person you love most. For those of us who have been together for many years and have kids and need babysitters, the idea of going out on Valentine’s night to celebrate with people in abundance, with waiters rushing you to finish so they can seat some other poor couple who will be rushed, and to eat a prix fixe menu that’s decidedly overpriced is not one that creates fond feelings. So we decide to stay home. But it is Valentine’s so that means you do need to come up with a menu that’s probably a little more exciting that something you might make on the regular. So we’re here to share with you 10 simple menu ideas you can pick and choose from that will help you create the meal of your dreams this Saturday night – from the comfort of your own home.

Filet

This is a special night, and that means you might want to splurge just a little bit while still staying in your budget. A small filet will cost no more than $10 but will taste amazing. The best way to cook this is on the grill, with just a bit of salt and pepper to taste and to keep it medium rare. You will not be able to resist the simplicity of this amazing piece of meat. It shouldn’t be overdone and dressed up; it should remain as-is.

Roasted Red Potatoes

These are a favorite, very simple dish in my house. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray, cut up a few small red potatoes into quarters and drizzle them with olive oil, salt, pepper, some lemon pepper and then sprinkle rosemary on top. Bake these for 40 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees, serve and enjoy the simple delicious flavor.

Edamame

We love this in the pod, steamed for a few minutes on the stove so that it’s warm and decadent. You’ll want to put some minced garlic and olive oil into a pan, heat it on low for about 4 minutes and then add it to the finished edamame. Toss in some freshly grated parmesan cheese and enjoy. The flavor is amazing and you will never want this another way.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

All you need are large sea scallops, some bacon and some toothpicks. Wrap the scallops in bacon, stick a toothpick in the make them stick and then put them on the grill until they are lightly charred on both sides. You need nothing else with these, the flavor is so amazing.

Baked Broccoli

Cut up fresh broccoli, put it in a baking dish. Sprinkle it with olive oil, lemon pepper and salt and pepper. Bake this dish on 350 degrees for 25 minutes. The dish should be slightly sizzling. Serve this right away when it comes from the oven. Be warned, however, that you will never eat broccoli a different way again.

The Best Salad

All you need for the best salad of your life is some romaine, spinach, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, croutons of your choice, cranberries, salt and pepper. Mix this all together in a big bowl and serve it with some light balsamic vinegar dressing. It’s light, flavorful and the texture is amazing.

Jalapeno Poppers

Buy 5 jalapenos, a package of bacon and some cream cheese. Cut the jalapenos in half, clean them out – unless you like them hot – by removing the seeds and the vein. Fill each one with cream cheese and then wrap it in bacon. Use a toothpick to keep everything together. You’ll bake these for approximately an hour on 400 degrees and then enjoy while still warm. They’re fantastic.

Garlic Pasta

If you prefer something on the side that’s a bit more like a main dish or because you love pasta as much as I, you will love this dish. You will cook some bowtie pasta according to the instructions on the box. While that is cooking, warm some olive oil and minced garlic in a skillet on low heat for around five minutes. Cut cherry tomatoes in half – as many or as few as you’d like – and toss them into the mixture on the stove. Leave them there simmering until the tomatoes are soft. When the pasta is done, drain it, put it in the bowl and cover with the olive oil, garlic and tomato topping. Then add a bit of fresh parmesan cheese, some chopped basil, and serve. This is also delicious cold if you want to make it ahead of time.

A Lovely Celebratory Drink

Since it is a special occasion, you need a special drink. We recommend you make this with extra dry champagne, but you can make it with grape juice if you prefer to go a cleaner route – and that’s all well and perfect. Just pour ¾ champagne or white grape juice into a flute, ¼ pink lemonade, pink 7 up or cranberry juice, and garnish the flute with a fresh strawberry. It’s festive and fun, and it’s delicious no matter which way you take it.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

For dessert on Valentine’s Day, there is nothing better than a chocolate dipped strawberry. For that reason, we’re going to recommend that you buy some of the most gorgeous strawberries you can find, some melting chocolate and some wax paper. Melt the chocolate according to the instructions on the package, dip your cleaned and dried strawberries and lay them on the wax paper to harden. This can take a while depending on the temperature of your house, so go ahead and make them ahead. You will find they’re even more decadent when you stick them in the fridge when they’re done hardening so that you can enjoy them cold; it’s one of those treats you might not have all that often, but you should try to have more.

Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images

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