Love is in the air…A Valentine’s Day dinner

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day ♥ I thought for today I would post an entire meal instead of just one recipe. I’m giving you two main dishes to choose from. Check out the total at the bottom. It’s a lot less than you’d pay at the restaurant for all this!

The main dishes:

Orange glazed chicken

What you’ll need:

1/3 c sweet orange marmalade
1 Tbl hot mustard
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
1 – 2 lb Chicken pieces (which pieces are your choice; I prefer breasts but this is good on all parts)
Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cover a 1” deep baking dish with foil. Lightly oil the foil. Wash & pat dry chicken pieces & salt and pepper; roast, skin side up, 30 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown. While the chicken is baking, mix together remaining ingredients. Remove chicken from oven and spoon marmalade mixture over all pieces. Return to oven. Change heat to broil and broil chicken 3 to 5 minutes or until the glaze is bubbly. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Marinated steaks

This recipe will make more rub than is needed for one meal. Store the leftovers in an airtight container up to 90 days.

What you’ll need:

Steaks
¼ c pepper
¼ c salt
¼ c garlic powder
2 Tbl paprika
¼ c onion powder
2 Tbl meat tenderizer
2 Tbl season salt
1 Tbl celery salt
Soy sauce

In a large zipper bag mix together all ingredients except steaks and soy sauce. Using washed hands rub the mixture over the steaks. Rub it in really good! Rub a small amount of soy sauce over the steaks. Place in a different zipper bag. PLACE IN REFRIGERATOR FOR 24 HOURS, turning occasionally. I’m screaming at you because I want you to get it in the refrigerator today so it will be ready for dinnertime tomorrow =) Bake steaks @ 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until they’re cooked through.

The sides:

Tossed green salad with red wine vinaigrette dressing

What you’ll need:

1 bag mixed greens or desired salad greens
1 pkg croutons
1 Tbl Dijon mustard
¼ c balsamic vinegar
2 Tbl red wine vinegar
¼ c water
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ c extra virgin olive oil
¼ c canola oil

Place washed & dried greens in a bowl. Toss in croutons. In a separate bowl, mix together remaining ingredients except oils. Slowly whisk in oils. If you have a salad dressing shaker you can mix this up in it. Be sure to add the oils slowly, mixing well after each addition. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Herb roasted potatoes

What you’ll need:

10 – 15 red potatoes, washed and patted dry
¼ c butter, melted
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp chervil
1 tsp chives
1 tsp tarragon

Cut potatoes in half. Brush the cut sides of each potato with melted butter. In a small bowl, mix together herbs. Place buttered potatoes on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with herbs. Bake @ 325 for about an hour or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned.

The after dinner drink:

A fuzzy thing

What you’ll need:

2 oz vodka
1 oz triple sec
1 ½ oz peach schnapps
1 splash orange juice
1 splash pineapple juice
Sweet & sour mixer (this can be found with the alcohol or on the drink aisle in most grocery stores including Walmart. It is also at the liquor store.)

Pour the alcohol first, then add the juice. Add a little sweet & sour mixer but not too much or it will overpower the juices. Shake before serving and make sure you don’t use too much ice. This drink just needs a little.

The dessert:

Cherry cobbler with crumb topping

What you’ll need:

1 can cherry pie filling
2 Tbl butter
½ c quick cooking oatmeal
¼ c flour
½ c sugar
2 – 4 Tbl chopped pecans

Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour cherry pie filling into casserole dish. In a medium bowl, mix together butter, oatmeal, flour, sugar and pecans until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of cherry pie filling. Bake @ 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Cost:
marmalade – $2.12
mustard – $0.79
soy sauce $1.89
lemons – $1.99/4
chicken breast – $5.00/4 pack
sirloin steak – $4.50
seasonings – $3.50
lettuce – $0.89/head
croutons – $1.19
vinegar – $1.19
olive oil – $3.89
sugar – $1.99/4 lb bag
potatoes – $2.00/5 lb bag
butter – $1.75/pound
vodka – $2.50/small bottle
schnapps – $2.50
orange juice – $2.99/gallon
pineapple juice – $2.50
mixer – $3.25
pie filling – $1.99
oatmeal – $1.59
flour – $2.12/5 pound bag
pecans – $3.00
Total – $28.16 with steak
$30.70 with chicken breasts

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! ♥