- 1). Plan the menu. Decide if the meal is going to be long and sumptuous, like an eight-course banquet, or if you want to do something light and fun, like an early evening picnic. Combine old favorites with some easy to prepare new dishes that use ingredients your dinner date enjoys. Avoid complex and difficult new recipes since they will demand too much of your time. Purchase the ingredients close to the date so they will keep fresh.
- 2). Set the mood. Pawn the kids off on the relatives and put the house in order. Clean the rooms you will be using, like the dinning and living rooms. Purchase a fragrant bouquet to provide sweet smells and sweeter visuals. Dress the dining table up with a fetching centerpiece and break out the good china. Dim the lights and eat by candlelight.
- 3). Eat and enjoy. Finish the cooking portion of the meal before dinner starts so you can spend time with your date and so you only have to leave the room to bring in the next course. Add wine to your dinner or champagne or other digestif to your dessert. Move to another room for the dessert portion of the meal so you can get cozy and relax. Leave the dishes for later.
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