date night dinner

impress your sweetie

so mac and cheese is your specialty?
no time to slave over the stove all day?
don't wanna break the bank?
no problem.

believe it or not, YOU can make a gourmet dinner in under an hour with minimal kitchen know-how.

plus, the main dish is only gonna set you back $2.46 per serving.

the menu

1st base:

parmasan bruschetta

you need this stuff:

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 green onion, sliced 

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil/balsamic vinaigrette dressing

1 baguette, cut into slices

 

heat broiler
combine tomatoes, cheese, onion, garlic and 1/4 cup dressing.. set aside
brush both sides of bread slices with remaining dressing
broil until lightly toasted on both sides
top with tomato mixture

2nd base:

spicy shrimp linguine

you need this stuff:

8 oz uncooked linguine

2 tbsp butter

1/2 cup onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 plum tomatoes, chopped

1lb medium shrimp, peeled and cleaned

1 1/2  tsp cajun seasoning

1/2 tsp ground red pepper

1/2 cup half-and-half

1/3 cup parsley, chopped

salt

cook pasta according to package

drain & place pasta in a large bowl & keep warm

melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat

add onion & sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally

add garlic and tomatoes; sauté 2 minutes, stirring constantly

sprinkle shrimp with cajun seasoning, red pepper, and salt

add shrimp mixture to skillet

sauté 3 minutes or until shrimp are almost done

remove from heat

stir in half-and-half

pour shrimp mixture over pasta & toss

sprinkle with parsley

3rd base:

chocolate lava cakes

you need this stuff:

1.5 oz semi-sweet chocolate

5 tsp butter

1 egg

3 tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

4 tsp flour

1 tsp icing sugar

 

preheat oven to 400°F
microwave chocolate and butter in microwaveable bowl until melted & then set aside
beat eggs, granulated sugar and coffee in another bowl until thickened
add flour and the chocolate mixture
beat just until blended
pour into 2 small, generously greased, lightly floured bowls
place bowls on baking sheet.
bakes 11-15 min or until cakes are puffed with crusted tops but still soft in the centres
cool 5 min
flip cakes onto individual dessert plates
sprinkle with icing sugar & serve warm.