Candlelight dinners conjure images of a laid-back ambiance where you can just relax with your partner or family and throw away your worries for the day.
And while the candle sets the mood for the night, it’s never complete without good food. But deciding on a menu that doesn’t disappoint might put you in a bit of a dilemma.
After all, you need the perfect balance between fancy and simple because too complicated means you’re just making things hard for yourself.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 unique recipes to try out for a candlelight dinner at home to help you out.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Nothing screams fancy like a lobster, and one of the high-end restaurant staples is a bright red dish cooked to perfection.
But one of the more popular entrees these days is lobster mac and cheese. The name is pretty obvious; it combines lobster with one of the most popular and easiest dishes ever. It’s certainly not a combination that seems to go together, but you’ll see it makes perfect sense soon.
The first point you need to know is that as long as you know the basics of pasta, it’s a pretty simple dish. First, you need to boil the pasta al dente, and choosing corkscrew pasta is best because it holds the sauce well.
Next, you’ll make the roux by mixing butter and flour. Add some seasonings, like mustard powder, onion powder, and Italian spices, then add milk and cream. Stir until the sauce thickens.
Then, add the shredded cheese. You can go with classic mozzarella or go a bit fancy and add cheddar and parmesan.
Finally, mix the pasta with half the shredded lobster in a baking dish. Top it with the rest of the lobster and bread crumbs, then bake until the top is browned for the perfect, creamy lobster mac and cheese.
Filet Mignon
Another dish straight out of a Michelin-star menu, the name itself seems fancy. The main reason this steak is so expensive is that the cut itself is rare since it’s just 2% of the animal. It has a unique texture that makes it popular in high-end restaurants.
The recipe for a great filet mignon is relatively simple; the trick to getting a perfect dish lies in the technique. But you don’t need to be nervous since you’ll be able to get it right as long as you pay attention.
It’s best to use a cast iron skillet since it has a thicker bottom, but a regular oven-safe pan also works.
First, cover your room temperature steaks with salt and pepper, and pre-heat the oven to 400 °F. Next, add butter, garlic, rosemary, and thyme in a pan and heat. You need to infuse the butter over medium-high heat to get the flavor just right.
Add the steaks to the butter, searing both sides for around 4 minutes while spooning the butter onto the top continuously to get the flavor infused thoroughly.
Let the steaks rest for around 5 – 6 minutes, then bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
Shrimp Scampi
Another seafood recipe, shrimp scampi, is amazing on its own. But you could mix it with a salad for a great appetizer or add linguini for a filling entrée.
The trick to a good shrimp scampi lies in the marinade and, of course, good-quality shrimp. You’re relying on the shrimp’s natural flavor for the most part, which makes the recipe simple.
The first step is to mix crushed garlic, salt, and olive oil and toss the shrimp. Let it sit for around an hour.
Next, heat the skillet and cook the shrimp for a minute on each side, making sure it’s pink but slightly underdone. Transfer the shrimp to the side, leaving the oil in the pan, and add sliced garlic and red pepper.
Cook until fragrant, then add lemon juice and white wine. Reduce the mixture until halved, add butter, and mix until a sauce is formed. Add the shrimp and cook it the rest of the way through.
Serve it topped with parsley as a garnish and fresh bread as a side.
Cheese Fondue
Cheese fondue is as yummy as it sounds, and if you’re having a candlelight get-together with a few close friends, there’s nothing that can bring you together like a good fondue.
One thing that must be said is that fondue is easiest with a proper pot since you don’t have to keep reheating it, but you can also manage without one. First, you must remember that the trick to a great cheese fondue is good-quality ingredients since that’s where all the flavor comes from.
Next, you need to be patient and grate the cheese, not chop, since it helps it melt easily. Don’t be tempted to dump all of it into the pot at once; you need to work in handfuls to get the perfect texture.
You need a firm, alpine-style cheese like gruyere, and you can add fontina and gouda for a lush texture. Add some cornstarch and the cheese mixture to a pan with wine, garlic, and lemon juice. Once the cheese is melted, add seasonings like Dijon mustard, nutmeg, and brandy for an extra kick.
You’ll need ingredients for dipping foods, which can be anything; apples, bread, mushrooms, broccoli, cherry tomatoes; you name it!
No-Bake Cheesecake
What’s better to round up an amazing meal than a cheesecake? A no-bake cheesecake, of course! And the best part is that it just takes 10 minutes to prepare.
You’ll need cream cheese (not spread), sour cream, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Mix these ingredients in a bowl until a smooth paste is formed.
Next, fold in whipped topping. You can also add whipped cream, as long as you whip it until stiff peaks are formed.
You can make a large cheesecake or several smaller ones; all you need to do is mix crushed graham crackers with some butter. Press the mixture to the bottom of your container (it’s best if you have a cheesecake pan) and add the cream mixture on top.
Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 6 hours. You can also make any filling to make a flavored cheesecake or top it with fresh fruits.
Nexware – Making Cooking So Easy, You’ll Never Eat Out Again
Part of the reason people hesitate to make fancy dishes at home is the pots and pans. You never know when something might stick to it, and washing is another problem since it takes so much time.
But what if we gave you an easy solution? Choosing Nexware will make cooking so simple you’ll never eat out again.
Nexware has the first hybrid non-stick pan in the Philippines, and their cookware collection has everything a kitchen needs. Their line includes pans, woks, and casserole or sauce pots.
And with a wide range of sizes available for each product, you can choose one that suits you, whether for you alone or a large family.
But what sets Nexware apart from other brands is its unique honeycomb design, which ensures it’s scratch-resistant and metal utensil-safe, so you don’t have to worry about scraping the bottom when you’re stirring something.
Nexware is Atome’s partner merchant
Updating cooking utensils is certainly exciting, but the cost of buying a cooking range can disturb your monthly budget. Fortunately, there is an easier and more convenient way to own the things you desire now.
Nexware has partnered with a BNPL called Atome to offer its users convenient payment options. When you shop through the payment service, you can split your bill at Nexware into three parts; the first has to be paid immediately, and the other two can be paid over subsequent months.
Upgrading your kitchen was never this easy! Continue reading to learn more about Atome and how the service works.
What is Atome?
Headquartered in Singapore with over 15,000 partnered merchants, Atome offers its users the choice and convenience of flexible payment options for a variety of products and services. The app allows shoppers to split their purchases across flexible interest-free monthly payments by scanning a partner retailer’s in-store QR code or upon website checkout. By splitting their payments, Atome users will be able to better manage their budget while making quality products and services more reachable. In addition to Atome’s flexible payment plans, the app (Get the app) keeps you updated on the latest promotions and offers, so you always get a good discount.
To become a part of the payment platform, download the app today and set up an account. As soon as your payment details are verified, you can shop at any partner store of your choice. For Atome, customer satisfaction is essential, so you never know what surprises await you when you shop through this service.
How to pay with Atome
- Scan the QR code from Atome’s app for in-store purchases.
- For online purchases, choose Atome as your payment partner when checking out.
- Enter your user details and continue.
- Pay the first part of your bill and defer the remaining amount.
- Enjoy your purchases!
Shop with Atome for a hassle-free customer experience
Thousands of users around the world trust Atome as it empowers them to own high-quality products and premium services without the constraint of their monthly budget. All payments are without any interest charges, so you only need to pay the amount on your bill and nothing more. In addition, the service doesn’t charge a fee, making it a hassle-free way to shop.
So, download the app today and explore all the merchant partners waiting for you at the other end.
