1TBSPAmaretto(or Frangelico, optional but highly recommended)
Beverage
1bottlered wine(or sparkling water with floating raspberries or pomegranate seeds if you don’t drink wine)
Instructions
Things to do in advance:
Set the table.
Prepare the salad and put it into bowls with any additional desired salad vegetables or toppings and refrigerate until serving. Don’t add the dressing yet.
Make the salad dressing (just put ingredients into a jar and shake until blended) and have it ready with the salad.
Cut the fruit and arrange it on a platter for the fondue, keeping it in the refrigerator until after dinner.
To make dinner:
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Cut the cauliflower into large florets.
Melt the butter and toss it and any seasoning you’d like with the cauliflower. I like a little garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Put the cauliflower into a casserole dish and cover.
Put in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring once.
Top with cheese for the last 5 minutes.
Turn off the oven and leave it to stay warm until the steak is ready.
While the cauliflower is cooking, butter another casserole dish.
Place the shrimp in it in a single layer.
Drizzle with 4 tablespoons of melted butter.
Season the shrimp with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning or cayenne.
Place it in the oven for 8-9 minutes total, flipping once halfway through.
Remove it from the oven when done.
Once the cauliflower and shrimp are in the oven, season the steak on both sides with a generous amount of sea salt and cracked pepper.
Put it onto a preheated grill pan or skillet and grill 4-6 minutes.
Flip and repeat on the other side.
Remove the grill pan from the heat and let the steaks rest, covered loosely, for 12-15 minutes or until they reach an internal temp of 130°F.
Remove from pan and let rest at least another 5 minutes before serving.
Once the steaks have been removed from the skillet or grill pan, pour balsamic vinegar onto the pan and heat on low.
Let the vinegar reduce for a couple of minutes to deglaze the pan.
Pour the pan sauce into two small bowls for dipping.
Divide the steaks, cauliflower, and shrimp evenly between two plates.
Keep balsamic reduction on the side for dipping.
Serve with salads and wine or sparkling water with raspberries.
To Make dessert:
Cut fresh fruit into bite-size pieces.
After dinner, make the fondue by heating heavy cream in a small pan until simmering.
Turn the heat off, break the chocolate bar into pieces and add it to the warmed cream.
Let sit for 2 minutes, and whisk slowly to stir in chocolate.
When chocolate melts completely, add Amaretto or Frangelico if desired and serve with fondue forks (or regular forks) and the cut fruit.
Enjoy a romantic dinner with the knowledge that you are giving your love the gift of health!
Notes
For this romantic meal, you can easily swap out the cauliflower for a veggie side of green beans, zucchini, butternut squash, or sweet potato and top it with feta or parmesan cheese, depending on what you already have on hand.