When I see the giant heart boxes of cheesy chocolates in the grocery store during this time of year, I roll my eyes just a little. But at the same time i’m bursting inside because I am your typical girl and go nutso over mushy gushy stuff and love any excuse to celebrate anything and everything! So while I do love this day dedicated to love, I feel like every day should be like valentines day. It doesn’t have to be this grand gesture of buying flowers, chocolate, expensive dinner and gifts ALL on one day. But we do expect this throughout the year, right ladies? 😂 Just kidding – but in all honesty doing special things together should be EVERY WEEK, not just on February 14th and your Anniversary every year.

Making a romantic dinner at home is something we do as often as possible.. There’s nothing better than breaking open a bottle of wine, turning on some good tunes, and making a great meal. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out to a fancy dinner occasionally, but for us this is our definition of a perfect date night 💕🍴 Here’s a list of our favorite recipes to make together!

1. Seared Scallops

Whenever i’m thinking of a romantic dinner at home, scallops are the #1 thing that pops into my mind! These little vessels of sea goodness are super easy to prepare if you’re careful, they look pretty, and you won’t feel super bloated after dinner – you know, so you can save room for dessert… 😉

My recipe for seared scallops with butternut squash purée is so good with sautéed mushrooms and an arugula salad on the side. Keep the salad simple with just lemon juice, good extra virgin olive oil, grated parmesan, and salt and pepper.

2. Pasta

Nothing says ‘date night’ more than a good pasta dish and a bottle of red wine. It’s our go-to for Friday night or anytime really! I love those nights after we’ve finished our pasta and we’re sitting by the candle light finishing off the bottle and instead of turning on the tv to watch a movie or show, we just keep talking into the night. Sometimes life gets so hectic and you forget to just slowww down and enjoy each other. So my friends, break out your best bottle of cab or bubbly, make this sweet potato gnocchi with balsamic sage brown butter or oxtail ragu pappardelle and have yourself an old fashioned date night at home! 💋

3. Lamb Shanks

The first time Thomas made me a lamb shank I seriously thought to myself “hot damn I better marry that man” 😉

I don’t know how, but for some people lamb isn’t there thing, and I just don’t get it. Lamb shanks especially, is melt-in-you-mouth-fall-off-the-bone perfection. For date night, I love our slow braised lamb shanks with basil mint pesto, with small roasted potatoes, and roasted mini carrots.

Or if you are wanting more of a stew, this lamb and butternut squash curry made with lamb shanks is one of my all time favorite cozy dinners.

4. steaks

It’s hard to go wrong with a good steak for date night. We don’t have a grill since we have downtown apartment living, but I have found that a pan seared steak can be pretty darn good. I love searing a filet in a really hot pan with little butter and olive oil and then adding a spring of rosemary and smashed garlic cloves to the hot butter, spooning it over the steak as it finishes cooking. GAHH that’s good. All you need is silky mashed potatoes and broccolini on the side and you’ve got yourself a snazzy date night meal.

Or for a really show-stopping date-night meal, beef wellington is always so fun! I love this deconstructed beef wellington I crafted up this past holiday season. A lot easier and pretty to look at 🙂

5. Chocolate Cake

okay, i’m sorry – I know this isn’t a dinner, but who needs dinner when you’ve got dessert?! If you feel like forgoing the dinner and going straight to dessert, than there’s nothing better than chocolate cake! We have made two chocolate cakes together and both are equally delicious. Chocolate rose cake for two is a fun treat for Valentine’s Day, but the double chocolate cake is extra rich and decadent.

I know i’m being extra lovely on the blog for Valentine’s Day, but I hope you treat most days like V-Day with your other half and make date nights a weekly routine ❤️

Tell me in the comments what your favorite date night meal is or favorite thing to do together?!