HELP! I'm cooking lunch/dinner for a date -Need recipes-

[bigdaddy]

Let me start off I know how to cook, I actually now what to be a cook... I think... anyways... I can't cook for dates, food normally comes out bad, REALLY bad. It's the second date and for some reason I never make it to a third this year.

So I need ideas on what to cook, anything is good besides pork and sea food and steak because he is Jewish and I don't have any steaks.

I'm thinking maybe a lemongrass chicken with some orzo, or BBQ chicken because he lives in a dorm and probably hasn't had that in awhile.

Any suggestions for easy food that taste like it's from a nice restaurant?

 

[Vulcan Princess]

I don't have any recipe suggestions, but if your date keeps kosher, don't serve any dairy products if you're serving meat.

Almond milk, soy milk, or rice milk can be substituted for any dairy in a recipe, and margarine can be substituted for butter.

 

[bigdaddy]

I don't think he is a strict Jew, I already asked him if there was anything he wanted and he said no but no pork or shellfish. He has eaten cheese on his pasta.

But thanks, I didn't think about that.

 

[Canadave]

Is fish like salmon okay? If so, I know a damn good recipe that's pretty easy to put together.

 

[bigdaddy]

Is fish like salmon okay? If so, I know a damn good recipe that's pretty easy to put together.

I think so, but I don't have a place around to get good seafood. We are going to a LEGO event in CT (Do not judge us ) and then lunch/dinner afterwards.

 

[Kestra]

Make those molten chocolate mini-cakes for dessert! My husband doesn't eat desserts often but he loves when I make those.

 

[Holdfast]

Let me start off I know how to cook, I actually now what to be a cook... I think... anyways... I can't cook for dates, food normally comes out bad, REALLY bad.

If you're a good cook who can't cook for dates, it's probably because either you're taking on too much or having difficulty concentrating on the recipe/timings while at the same time trying to keep the chit-chat flowing.

It's for this reason that either I stick with REALLY simple recipes if I'm cooking, or wait until a good few dates in when there's little of that initial awkwardness to distract you from the cooking. Personally, I think restaurants are a much better option early on.

If you do want to cook on a second date, stick to dead-easy/simple stuff or stuff that can be prepared earlier in the day and just needs finishing off.

 

[An Officer]

I'm terrible about this sort of thing, I tend to cheat. I would normally go for a pre-pared meal from Waitrose or Marks and Sparks if I'm hosting at home. Stick that in the oven, in your own (best) dishes of course, take it out at whatever time it says on the box, bottle of chilled champagne to go with it - nothing simpler. As long as you are buying good quality, fresh food, there is nothing wrong with pre-prepared meals, especially if it saves your guest from having to force down a botched dinner.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

If you need a taste tester, i gladly offer my services.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Forgot all the fancy stuff. Bagles. Butter. Adobo spice (red cap). Parmesan cheese. Cook for ten minutes at 375 or higher. Consume. With milk.

 

[Lookingglassman]

Get some BBQ Shake and Bake, cover some chicken pieces with it and bake it until is it done. I love BBQ shake and Bake chicken.

 

[trekkiedane]

A nice fillet of fish (any fish will do!) with a few goodies (herbs, ½-slice of lemon/lime...), julienne veggies (leek, carrots...), perhaps a bit of wine, stock or water and a dash of olive oil or butter) en papillote.

Serve with fine potatoes or some nice bread.

Use a can of concentrated seafood soup (do not dilute) or a powdered version with only ½ the liquid mentioned on the pack (perhaps substitute some of the water with milk/cream -for thickness) as sauce.

Preparations are over and food is in the oven (or ready to be put there) when guest(s) arrive (I luv making this sort of ting for that reason).

When it's time to eat all you have to do is put the 'envelopes' (papillottes) on pre-heated plates and serve; then you sit down and you and your guest(s) can enjoy the release of aromas as you open your meals and eat it directly from the paper-'baggies'.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Get a bag of Great Value brand popcorn chicken from your local Wal-Mart (or any other good popcorn chicken). Cook those, make some white rice, plate the nuggets on a bed of the rice, top with plenty of cashews, some green onion pieces (cut small), and the sauce in the recipe below. Make a canned veggie (I prefer young sweet peas) to serve on the side (remember to use margarine, not butter or yogurt, if you add any to the veggies). Blend a pound of strawberries with a half-cup of sugar, and serve over pieces of white loaf bread, either as another side, or as dessert. This should all be kosher, but not for Passover, as the sauce contains corn and soy.

Sauce: In a 1 qt saucepan, fill halfway with water. Add five cubes of chicken bullion, two tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar. In a measuring cup, mix one-half cup of cold water with two heaping tablespoons of corn starch (til smooth!) and set to one side. Bring your saucepan to a boil over med-high heat, then add the contents of the measuring cup, and bring back to a boil. Let boil for one minute, then turn to low to keep warm.

Get some BBQ Shake and Bake, cover some chicken pieces with it and bake it until is it done. I love BBQ shake and Bake chicken.

Me, too. And I can't find it around here anymore. Seems like every type of Shake and Bake except that one is available.

 

[bigdaddy]

Let me start off I know how to cook, I actually now what to be a cook... I think... anyways... I can't cook for dates, food normally comes out bad, REALLY bad.

If you're a good cook who can't cook for dates, it's probably because either you're taking on too much or having difficulty concentrating on the recipe/timings while at the same time trying to keep the chit-chat flowing.

It's for this reason that either I stick with REALLY simple recipes if I'm cooking, or wait until a good few dates in when there's little of that initial awkwardness to distract you from the cooking. Personally, I think restaurants are a much better option early on.

If you do want to cook on a second date, stick to dead-easy/simple stuff or stuff that can be prepared earlier in the day and just needs finishing off.

There is no awkwardness, we act like we have known each other for years, it's very odd, but so is the whole relationship. But yeah it's because I try to hard.

I'm terrible about this sort of thing, I tend to cheat. I would normally go for a pre-pared meal from Waitrose or Marks and Sparks if I'm hosting at home. Stick that in the oven, in your own (best) dishes of course, take it out at whatever time it says on the box, bottle of chilled champagne to go with it - nothing simpler. As long as you are buying good quality, fresh food, there is nothing wrong with pre-prepared meals, especially if it saves your guest from having to force down a botched dinner.

I wanted to cook him diner, he lives in a dorm and gets enough pre-made crap food from the dining areas.

I ended up making some lemongrass chicken, could have been a little more lemony, but he liked it. I made a marinade last night and let it sit in that. Then I added some more herbs while cooking, and it came out a very nice brownish color. I used birch beer to deglaze the pan, he loved that. I normally use Sprite (I don't have any wine), which also would be better for lemon chicken, but he really liked the birch beer, said it gave it a slight sweet flavor.

I then made orzo with garlic, onions, lemongrass, chives and lemon thyme. No flavor at all. I really need some fresh basil and tomatoes (Only 8 months to go, and he won't be around here anyways!) and it would have been amazing, but whatever he enjoyed the chicken.

I also used a bag of really good microwaveable bag of mixed veggies to complete the meal.

We had grape juice to drink, because he had to drive back and is underage. Plus once again, no wine, not a huge drinker.