6 No-Reservations-Necessary Valentine's Day Menus That Won't Break the Bank

Posted Wed, Jan 30, 2008, 4:40 pm PST

74 Comments

1. Posted by princess on Thu, Jan 31, 2008, 6:53 am PST

My boyfriend and I both work late, so there won't be enough of time to prepare a dinner, so we are going out for seafood. These recipes look delicious, though.
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2. Posted by Ruth B on Sat, Feb 02, 2008, 8:16 pm PST

Valentine's day is ridiculous-never celebrated it, never will. But this food looks so good right now. My husband who makes special meals for me all the time needs to see this page.
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3. Posted by quymek94 on Mon, Feb 04, 2008, 2:01 pm PST

IT ALL LOOK GOOD TO BAD IM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SINGLE AT THE MOMENT
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4. Posted by jess_9284 on Mon, Feb 04, 2008, 2:58 pm PST

i think i might have to some of these! yum
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5. Posted by Carriezee on Thu, Feb 07, 2008, 6:49 am PST

Sounds like some really good recipes,but a couple of them I might have to improvise with a few of the ingredients.
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6. Posted by ur_shinin_star on Thu, Feb 07, 2008, 5:32 pm PST

Damn!!All this looks so good that is going to be hard to pck only one...
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7. Posted by Jenn on Thu, Feb 07, 2008, 9:39 pm PST

my husband and I have always taken turns on who is going to spoil the other on Valentines Day. This year, it is my turn...I think I am going to make the almond chocolate cherry bread pudding for dessert...it looks absolutely fabulous...and that will be a perfect ending to many other things.....; )
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8. Posted by JAMECA AGOSTINI on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:10 am PST

I am definetly going to try one of these recipes. Valentine's Day happens to be our anniversary, WOW seven years. Anyways, I think I will try the one with the oysters, buy I'm going to make a red velvet cake. I hope everyone enjoys the holiday.
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9. Posted by geogia_sf1 on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:13 am PST

Didn't you just write an article saying a home cooked meal for VDay is a no-no? Yeah, thought so. Shouldn't you be in school right now?
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10. Posted by geogia_sf1 on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:13 am PST

Didn't you just write an article saying a home cooked meal for VDay is a no-no? Yeah, thought so. Shouldn't you be in school right now?
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11. Posted by felonyboy on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:14 am PST

The same editor has a blog "Things Not to Get Your Sweetie for Valentine's Day," which includes food and home cooked dinners as no-nos. Hypocrite!
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12. Posted by Ralph Sommers on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:19 am PST

Maggie, I can't help but notice that item #6 in the avoid list recomends NOT COOKING for your significant other. Editing mistake? 6. Food. Unless you're the Iron Chef or Francois Payard, skip anything home-baked. When her friends ask what you got her for V-day, she does not want to have to regurgitate. Literally.
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13. Posted by mr_matt_piro on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:20 am PST

Looking over the menu all of them have the nessity for a great night. And all the desert seem to be a good romantic begining to the rest of the night
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14. Posted by matt on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:28 am PST

WAIT, you just told us in the "Things Not to Get Your Sweetie" column, NOT to cook!?! (number 6 under for her, I believe) Make up your mind Maggie. Contradictions are confusing.
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15. Posted by Vanetia W on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:31 am PST

I'm confused! Are we to give our valentine a dinner or not? The editor did say no food.
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16. Posted by Now I'm Found on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:32 am PST

My husband and I will be spending Valentine's day with a few other couples, a nice dinner that we all worked on, and a chocolate fountain. With so many marriages and relationships in the dumper these days, it's nice to be surrounded by people who are actually in love - it helps us realize that love does work, even without superficial gifts.
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17. Posted by kimi_akers on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:32 am PST

Not only would I be impressed that my man cooked me dinner, I would be tickled that he thought this dinner through. I think that a homemade dinner is way better than going to an overly crowded restaurant and trying to be romantic over all that noise!
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18. Posted by Vanetia W on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:36 am PST

Honestly, though, I think its really romantic when a man cooks for a woman - just for a treat.
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19. Posted by chqtabnana on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:37 am PST

I think that the blog saying that homemade dinners are a no-no means that giving your sweetie ONLY a homemade dinner is lame. But a nice home-cooked meal AND the best gift in the world equals the perfect Valentine's Day. :)
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20. Posted by Sunshine2Johnson on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:40 am PST

Where are the vegetarian meals? Though the desserts do look yummy! Our son was born on Valentine's Day so we have to incorporate him too....hmmm, romantic and yet set for a 1 year old....
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21. Posted by Jennifer on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:42 am PST

A vegetarian option would have been nice. Well!
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22. Posted by Teresa on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:45 am PST

Yeah.... we're just gonna go out.
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23. Posted by lady bug on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:51 am PST

These look delicious. My boyfriend is cooking me dinner and I think he needs to see these. I would take a romantic dinner at home anytime over going out for dinner for V-day. It's a zoo out there. BTW, in the other article she said don't cook a meal and say "here's your present" buy her something too.
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24. Posted by dbowser58 on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:52 am PST

I am at home all day (we have no children & married 28 years!) and I think it would be fun to prepare some of the meals plus dessert for my hubby who puts in a long day...thanks for the neat recipes & Happy Valentines Day!!
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25. Posted by phoen1xrising on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:52 am PST

Sounds great. I like the salmos dishes most of all. Please remember fols that sometimes V-day falls on a Friday ~ during Lent. Some Catholics will not duck-and-dodge the fasting just because it's Valentines Day (and most bishops will not dispense with the rule, as they do on St. Patrick's Day. St. Patty's Day is for roistering. St. Valentine's Day is, well, for "romantic foreplay. Holy Mother Church ain't gonna say "Go ahead and make your day with a T-bone." (On the other hand, let's face it, oysters are considered an aphtrodesiac, despite what the moderns say ...)
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26. Posted by Dan C on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:56 am PST

Hey Maggie, let me quote your other article about what not to get her: 6. Food. Unless you're the Iron Chef or Francois Payard, skip anything home-baked. When her friends ask what you got her for V-day, she does not want to have to regurgitate. Literally. http://food.yahoo.com/blog/editorspicks/8322/things-not-to-get-your-sweetie-for-valentine-s-day
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27. Posted by silver_horn_amato on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:57 am PST

This Chocolate heart cake looks very appealing. I ju st might have to try it out.
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28. Posted by CW94568 on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 8:59 am PST

Just to add to the comments, I do believe it said for girls not to give guys dinner I don't believe that was in the things for guys not to give girls. Anyways, just because you cook doesn't mean that, that is the present it could be in addition to the present. I have worked in the food service industry for a number of years and honestly believe that going on v-day is ridiculous, restaurants are busier and therefore service isn't as good and everything is more expensive.
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29. Posted by Jennifer F on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 9:01 am PST

Don't know what her idea of cheap is, but at $5 for a small bottle of Pom juice..and $10/lb for flank steak.. oh well, it all sounds good, but I'd rather go to McDonalds than have to clean up the mess (as we all know, men never clean up well enough, if at all :) )
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30. Posted by LIPS on Fri, Feb 08, 2008, 9:03 am PST

UMM..........!THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY!
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