Love was in the air, or maybe it was the smell of a delicious homecooked meal.... Either way I have been trying themed dinners for my husband for Valentine's Day after the first few years being variations of steak and potatoes, add seafood, salads, veggies in rotation and I realized I would quickly tire of making the same meal every Valentine's Day. This year we also had the addition of our adorable baby boy at the table eating, so it made me want to ensure he was able to eat some of what was made too. Last year I did a Chinese takeout theme, so this year to change it up I went Retro Diner! I made Heart shaped burgers and heart shaped fries, and triple chocolate shakes with cokes in the glass bottle, and sweet and salty popcorn for the movie after (extra butter popcorn with Valentine's themed M&Ms in it, SO GOOD). I even made menus, a "movie ticket" and had a 1950's playlist on shuffle when he got home. All told, the dinner cost about $35 to make, which is far cheaper than a dinner out, and I made the menus, movie ticket and playlist for free to give the retro vibe. I have always been hesitant to make homemade burgers as this place near us makes burgers that my husband is absolutely in love with, but I tried and was rewarded with how much he actually loved them! He even compared them to his favorite, which is high praise! Below I will give you the recipes and hope someone can use this idea for a fun date night or change up their at home Valentine's Day next year!
Heart Shaped Fries
INGREDIENTS
5-6 LARGE Russet potatoes
3 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
vegetable oil for frying
DIRECTIONS
Wash and, if desired, peel potatoes. I left the skin on mine for a natural look. Cut into even slices and, using a metal cookie cutter, cut into heart shapes. Place potatoes in an ice bath and allow to soak at least an hour, preferably 24 hours, to remove excess starches, allowing the fries to become crispy. After soaking, drain well and microwave about 6 minutes to get the inside soft and fluffy. While they are heating, preheat the oil to 370 degrees. Place potatoes in hot oil and fry until outside is crispy. Scoop out with a wire strainer and immediately season. Serve hot.
Heart Shaped Hamburgers
INGREDIENTS
2 lb ground beef ( I used 80/20 for juiciness)
2 eggs
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp dehydrated minced onion
1 1/2 tbsp McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning
2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp salt
Brioche buns
American cheese
Lettuce
Onion
Pickle
Ketchup
Mustard
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients well, ensuring egg is blended in well as a binder. Refrigerate until ready to grill. Working quickly form a large patty then, if desired, using a metal heart shaped cookie cutter, press the patty and pull off trim. Heat a griddle to high heat and place burgers on griddle, leaving 3-4 minutes before flipping. Top with a bit more Montreal steak seasoning as first side cooks. While these cook, there are two ways to heat the buns. I chose the "steamed" bun, placing them on a microwave safe plate draped with a wet paper towel for 30 seconds. They would also be delicious on the griddle for a minute or so to toast. I did keep the toppings basic as this was for a retro theme.
Triple Chocolate Shake
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of Turkey Hill Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream
1 cup of Nestle Chocolate Milk
3 tbsp chocolate syrup, plus more for glass
Whipped Cream
Sprinkles
DIRECTIONS
In a blender add chocolate milk, ice cream and syrup. Blend until well combined but not too long as we want this to be a thick shake. I took about 45 seconds. Take glass and swirl chocolate on the inside, then pour in milkshake. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles. Enjoy!
I hope this inspires a fun at home date night for some of you!
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