Easy Recipes for a Romantic Evening at Home

Impress your special someone with a cozy homemade meal. From golden mini focaccia to a tender ribeye steak, savory sides, and a stunning baked Alaska-inspired dessert, this guide has everything you need for an unforgettable evening.

Here’s what you need to make this at home:

Mini Focaccia :

Prep time: 20 mins Rise time: 3 hours Cook time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup warm water (105F to 110F)
• 1 tbsp olive oil + 2 tbsp more for baking and drizzling

Toppings:

• Rosemary
• Garlic
• Sea Salt

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, activate your yeast using the warm water. Once your yeast is activated, add in your all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil and fold the ingredients using a spatula or dough scraper until a sticky dough forms.
• Once the dough forms, transfer it into a large oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a towel for 2 hours to let the dough rise or double in size.
• Once risen, oil your baking pan, tins, or ramekins. If you are using tins or ramekins, separate your dough into equal amounts (for precise weights, use a kitchen scale) and place the dough into your baking pan, tins, or ramekins.
• Cover and let rise for 1 hour, and preheat oven to 425F.
• Once risen, drizzle olive oil over your dough, dimple, and add toppings. Bake at 425 for 20 to 25 mins.
• Serve with olive oil dip and enjoy!

Ribeye Steak:

Ingredients:

• 1 Ribeye Steak
• 1 tbsp avocado oil (or other neutral oil)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 sprig rosemary

Instructions:

• Pat dry your steak with a paper towel, and season with salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Once seasoned, heat your skillet on high heat with avocado oil before laying the steak in the skillet.
• Sear one side of the steak for 3-4 minutes before flipping, and sear the other side for 3-4 minutes. Then lower the heat to medium, add in your butter, rosemary, and garlic, and begin to baste the steak for 1 minute.
• You can either finish the steak in the skillet or in the oven to reach your desired doneness. Once done cooking, let the steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

Parmesan Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of Asparagus
• 1 to 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp parmesan

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425F
• Wash and dry the Asparagus; once dried, snap off the bottoms of the Asparagus.
• Spread Asparagus over a baking sheet, oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 425 for 10 to 12 minutes, once roasted top with parmesan.
• Enjoy!

Cacio e Pepe

Ingredients:

• 6 oz Linguine
• 1 oz pecorino cheese grated
• 1 oz parmesan reggiano grated
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup reserved pasta water
• 1/2 tbsp freshly cracked black peppercorn

Instructions

• Begin by prepping your ingredients.
• In a pot, cook and boil your pasta. Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of pasta water and set pasta aside until ready to use.
• In a skillet, on medium heat, toast your freshly cracked black peppercorn along with 2 tbsp of butter. Once toasted, add 1/3 cup of pasta water to your pasta.
• Add 1 tbsp of pasta water to half of the grated cheese to create a paste, then toss the paste through your pasta. Add in the other half of the cheese and 1 tbsp of pasta water to finish the pasta.

Baked Alaska

Ingredients:

Baked Alaska base:

• 1 pack of Oreos (crushed)
• 1 pint of ice cream of choice (ben and jerrys)
• 1 cup of meringue

Meringue

• 4 egg whites
• 1 tbsp vanilla paste
• 1 cup sugar

• Mix your ingredients in a heat-safe bowl or stand mixing bowl. Once mixed, place your bowl over a saucepan of boiling water and whisk until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved or you can no longer feel the grains of the granulated sugar. 
• Once combined, mix your meringue at medium to high speed for about 5 minutes or until you reach stiff peaks.

Assemble:

• In a coupe, place your crushed Oreo as the bottom layer, then top with the ice cream of your choice. Place in the freezer until ready to assemble.
• When you are ready to assemble, top the ice cream with a layer of meringue and toast with a blow torch.

Enjoy your romantic evening!