It is time to cook dinner for your sweetheart. It should be easy. Stress is not romantic. It should make your house smell good. It should be delicious, but not something that inspires gluttony. It should be a meal that is appropriate to your relationship. With all of that in mind, here are some menu suggestions…
YOU JUST MET- KEEP IT SIMPLE WITH SHERRIED SHRIMP
Sherried Shrimp with Roasted Cauliflower with Gremolata Breadcrumbs and polenta or bread to catch the sherry sauce. This is a very low stress, light and elegant meal. This says “I’m not trying to be perfect….it just worked out that way”. Desert would be too much effort, but you could serve Kerthy Fix Sidecars to drink. If you are not dating, I also think this would be a great meal to enjoy with your friends or (as I recently did) all by your classy self!
COY SOUP AND SALAD
Tomato Cognac Soup and Arugula Salad with Smoked Fish, Radishes and Avocado. This menu has a nice variety of colors and textures to sip and nibble from. This menu is also very quick and simple. I would make some Cheap Thrill Sangria rather than labouring over dessert, but if you feel inspired some adorable Almond Cardamom Macaroons with Berry Filling would go well.
APHRODISIAC MUSSEL MENUS
Mussels are simple to prepare and are considered aphrodisiacs. Try Belgian or Provencal Mussels and Green Salad with Asian Pear, Mint and Almonds….
….Or Thai Mussels with Quinoa, Fennel and Pomegranate Salad
These mussel menus are fairly simple, so you might consider making a Poached Pear and Cardamom Apple Butter Tart for desert ahead of time. Cardamom is also considered…stimulating.
A CARNIVOROUS FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Garam Masala Baked Chicken with Pickled Plums and Green Salad with Roasted figs and Asparagus. I think that two people tearing into an entire roasted bird is hot. The salad is totally out of season, but figs are just so damn sexy! You could skip the fresh figs on the salad and make a Ricotta Tart with Drunken Spiced Figs for desert. This meal will make your house smell amazing! 
BREAKING OUT THE BIG GUNS
Squash Panade with Red Wine (Duck Fat Soup) and a green salad. This is not exactly easy. It takes some time, but if you make it with duck fat, fresh chanterelle mushrooms and use good bread (not gluten-free) it is the most seductive and sensual soup ever. I consider this the big gun. This meal is rich and filling so just serve poached pears for desert, you can find directions in this post.
BREAKFAST FOR DINNER- FOR COUPLES WHO SNUGGLE
Smoked Salmon Hash with Fresh Herbs, poached eggs and Simple Swiss Chard. Breakfast for dinner is romantic. No need for desert.
A DINNER FOR ROMANTIC WORKAHOLICS
Chicken Baked with Prunes, Capers and Green Olives and Potato Leek and Mushroom Gratin with a sautéed greens or a salad. These both can be made in advance so this menu is a good choice if you cannot dedicate your entire Tuesday to cooking. The sauce from this chicken is so delectable that you and your sweety will drink off of your empty plates. You could also make some Guava Cream Cheese Tarts ahead of time for desert.
PORK CHOPS MEAN FOREVER
Pork Chops with Boozy Jam Sauce with Rima’s Indian Green Beans and Butternut Squash and Sage Gratin. In my opinion, this menu expresses commitment. It’s an update on what your grandmother might have made for your grandfather (or vice versa in my family) when they were courting or newly wed or just showing their love after 50 years of marriage. I think that Baked Apples would be the sweetest desert for this meal.
Big Sis Little Dish 