Valentine's Day Dinner: Cooking for Two

If you're needing to do Valentine's Day on a budget, then you're probably skipping dinner out.  After all, a nice meal with drinks, tax and tip really adds up.  But staying in doesn't have to mean scrimping on a romantic dinner. 

Go ahead. Be a cheap date.

Let's take a look at Valentine's Day or a date night menu. We want a flavorful, rich dish without falling on stand-bys. Enter in Beef and Mushrooms. A relatively classic dish that utilizes a cooking technique called "braising." We've heard of it, but have we done it? If you've ever used a crock pot, you have essentially braised something. It specifically means to cook at a moderate temperature with a flavorful liquid over time. Braising gives you the opportunity to utilize "lesser" cuts. Meats that would otherwise be tough because the musculature need a different cooking technique to get a great result.

Get this delicious Beef and Mushrooms recipe plus other great how-tos at my FoodieDaddy blog!  If this meal seems too challenging for your cooking (or lack thereof) skills, check out Heather's easy Valentine's dinner.  And don't forget dessert:  Amy Chang demonstrates how simple it is to make chocolate covered strawberries--the perfect ending to any meal!