Pool Side Romance On a Budget

Budget Romance

If you are on a budget, it doesn’t have to be expensive to transform your pool area at night. White or blue Christmas lights can change a drab setting into a magical atmosphere. Purchase the smaller bulbs before, or after Christmas (when they are discounted) and drape them from trees or plants surrounding your pool. If you attach them to an extension cord, keep in mind that the cord should not be set in or around any water.

Do you desire music outside but can’t afford speakers? Shop around at yard sales for an inexpensive stereo or speakers. By purchasing cheap speakers, you don’t have to worry about how long they last or if they hold up in the weather (you might be surprised how well they hold up!)

Romantic Outdoor Dining

Let’s face it, outdoor dining under the stars is just romantic! Follow the instructions in the next article about Romantic Dinners At Home but set it up outside. If you plan it when a full moon is above, it just doesn’t get any better. Check the local paper or keep a calendar with moon phases handy.

Be sure that your candleholders on the table are covered on the sides so the flame doesn’t blow out. Put dimmer
switches on any outdoor lighting, dim it down just right and you are almost there. Are your twinkle lights working? How about the floating candles in the pool? Are they lit? Is your romantic music ready so you don’t have to worry about changing it later? Well, if you’ve made it this far, you’re just about ready to go. The next article will give you the final details for the perfect romantic dinner.

Romantic Dinners at Home

A romantic dinner at home with that special someone is an experience not soon forgotten. The advantage of course is that you are in the privacy of your own home without any distractions. These are tried and true techniques that, if followed closely, will provide an unforgettable evening.

Romantic music in the background helps to set the mood. A low key, minimal commercial, radio station works well, or make your own personal romantic CDs.

Matching table settings are a nice touch. Many elegant utensils and flatware can be purchased at large department stores individually priced. If you keep an eye out for sales, sometimes you can make a score on single place settings, silverware and stemware. Candles, a tablecloth or place-mats are a must in order to set the proper atmosphere. For some reason, a romantic dinner without dim lights isn’t easy to pull off.

Try to avoid complicated recipes you’ve never cooked before unless you are sure you can pull it off. There are many cookbooks in bookstores that offer simple and easy recipes.

Some grocery stores also offer a variety of prepared main courses that only need to be placed in an oven. Highlighted with vegetables and fresh bread, you still can have an impressionable meal. Should worse come to worse, and your meal doesn’t go as planned, just go with the flow. If the music’s good, the lights low, the champagne cold and the company good, the mood is already set for an intimate romantic interlude.

Dinner Recipes
Here is a great 3 course meal you can make right at home:

Stuffed Mushrooms (appetizer)
• 8 medium mushroom caps • Fresh Cilantro and Basil • Olive Oil • Thyme • white wine • soy sauce • black pepper • cayenne pepper • 8 oz. sharp cheddar

Clean mushrooms. Chop Cilantro and Basil and grate cheese. Heat saute’ skillet to medium and add 2 tables. of oil. Remove stems from mushrooms and place open side down. Simmer 2 minutes and turn. Place small pinch of Basil in each cavity and spoon in liquid from pan. Add Cilantro and a pinch each of cayenne, black pepper, Thyme and cheese. Lightly saute and then remove from heat. Gently put cheese into each cavity and with your thumb over the wine bottle, drizzle wine over mushrooms. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.

Chicken in Wine Sauce with Grapes
• 10 - 12 tbls butter • 1 egg • 1 medium onion • 1 cup water • 1 cup milk • 1/2 lb seedless grapes • 1 cup dry white wine • bread crumbs • flour • 2 chicken bouillon cubes • 6-8 chicken thighs (boneless) • 1/4 lb mushrooms

Cut onion and saute in 4 tbls butter until golden, stir in 3 tbls flour. Dissolve bouillon in boiling water and add to onion mixture. Add wine. Mix milk and egg together, dip chicken in it and roll in bread crumbs or flour (or a mixture of both). Slice and saute mushrooms in at least 2 tbls butter.

Lightly brown chicken in remaining butter and dry with paper towels. Set chicken in baking dish and pour wine mixture over it. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, remove from oven and lay grapes on top. Cover with aluminum foil, cook for 30 minutes. Steamed cauliflower lightly covered with Bearnaise or Hollandaise sauce goes well with this.

Note About Bearnaise/Hollandaise Sauce: Often a real pain to make from scratch, KNORR products has an excellent package mix that is easy, practical and the best around. Accept
no other brand!

Dessert
A tasty and simple-to-make Chocolate Mousse package mix is made by Knorr products. As you are blending the ingredients, stir in an ounce of Kahlua and/or Creme de Cacao into the Chocolate or Vanilla mixes. These liqueurs can be used as an after dinner aperitif, as well. If you desire to make Chocolate Mousse from scratch, The Joy of Cooking has two recipes in it, the simple one is the best, easy and very impressive!