What’s your take on Valentines Day? Love it or hate it?
Well if you love it but you don’t have a reservation, don’t care to fight the crowds, or would rather cook for yourself than pay 3 times as much (or more!) to eat out, I’ve got a menu and shopping list all planned out for your romantic night in!
Or maybe you think Valentines Day is totally lame and would rather boycott it altogether by staying at home. Well I say at least eat well while doing so!
So here’s a 4 course meal, with wine, for about $10 per sweetheart.
The Starter: Gorgonzola Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto.
The Salad: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Macadamia Nuts.
The Main Event: Pork Medallions with Cherry Zinfandel Sauce.
The Veggie: Balsamic Roasted Asparagus.
The Sinful Dessert: Chocolate Mousse Pie.
The Vino: Hillgate Zinfandel.
Total Cost: $21.09.
Costs based on prices included in this spreadsheet where I’ve included what I pay per item, per serving, etc.
Here’s the shopping list of items you may not already have in your pantry:
- 12 Dates
- 1/2 cup Gorgonzola
- 4 slices Prosciutto
- 1/2 bunch Spinach
- 1/4 cup Macadamia nuts
- 1/2 cup Strawberries
- 1/2 Kiwi
- 1/2 cup Red wine
- 1/4 cup Dried cherries
- 3/4 pound Pork tenderloin
- 1/2 bunch Asparagus
- 1 tablespoon Asiago cheese
- 13 Chocolate sandwich cookies
- 6 ounces (1/2 bag) Semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups Whipping cream
- Berries or chocolate shavings
- Hillgate Zinfandel (or some other delicious red)
This is based on dividing each recipe in HALF, to serve 2.
Also, you’ll see this list is based on partial servings so likely you’ll have to buy an entire wedge of asiago and use a tablespoon here, then use it in this polenta later in the week. Or use strawberries in this salad and later in the week in this one. You get the picture.
Happy Valentines Day!
xoxo,
K
