Sharing a romantic dinner is the perfect way to spend a Valentine’s Day evening with your loved one.  This year instead of battling the crowds and footing an expensive bill, why not create a romantic meal at home?  All it takes is a little planning and some excellent recipes to make restaurant quality food at your own stove.  Throw in some simple decorations and voila you have transformed your dinner table into a perfect setting for a romantic meal.

Often when eating out at a restaurant on Valentine’s Day, the chef prepares a prix fixed menu, or menu consisting of an already chosen appetizer, entrée, and dessert.  Adding courses to your homemade Valentine’s Day meal and making dishes fancier than the average week night makes it feel extra special and decedent. 

First Course
A wonderful first course is oyster stew.  Oysters have long been thought of as a romantic food, even an aphrodisiac.  Paula Deen’s oyster stew is so rich and creamy and simple to make, it is a perfect way to start your special meal. 

Second Course
Black pepper crusted filet mignon with goat cheese is a great main course to make your sweetheart feel extra special.  Filet mignon is a fancier steak that you wouldn’t prepare every day, which makes it really fitting for this occasion.  The red pepper salsa jazzes it up a bit and the hint of red from the peppers goes with the theme of the evening. 

On the Side
Romance and comfort go hand in hand, and what better comfort food is there on earth than mashed potatoes.  Mashed potatoes with sautéed mushrooms steps up the old classic a bit.  The sautéed mushrooms add a depth of flavor and make this dish much less ordinary.  A lovely side with the steak and mashed potatoes is roasted beet salad with cocoa vinaigrette.  Cocoa infused salad dressing on Valentines Day, Yum!  This is such a vibrant and beautiful salad with the orange slices and the beets.  A thinly sliced beet almost looks like the shape of a heart and is definitely the right color. 

For Dessert
Sweet treats are an age-old tradition in celebrating love.  Chocolate raspberry cake hearts is a rich and beautiful dessert.  By using a large heart shaped cutter, you can form these cakes into a fantastic ending to your romantic meal.

Set the Table
Now that you have the menu planned, some simple decorations will be the finishing touches on your night:
- Simply setting your table with a nice tablecloth and dishes will make it feel more special than an average night at home. 
- Printing or handwriting your menu on some nice red paper and setting them on the table will remind you of a night out at a fancy restaurant. 
- Red candles and beautiful flowers as a centerpiece are a classic way to spruce things up and tie it all together. 
- For some whimsical fun, use a heart shaped hole punch or scissors to cut out confetti to sprinkle all around. 

And there you have it, a decadent delicious meal and a beautiful table to make your romantic night one to remember.