January gets a bad rap: cold and dark, with money sometimes scarce after the extravagance of Christmas, it’s a wonder many choose to make it the month of austere eating, too.
We think the start of the year is a great time to put on a feast, and these 4 three-course menus back us up. There’s an impressive date night menu that’s as showy as it is tasty, and a Chinese-inspired vegan menu. Our weeknight Italian meal is the perfect way to liven up Blue Monday, or any blue weekday for that matter, and we’ve got a Sunday lunch menu for lovers of the roast.
January gets a bad rap: cold and dark, with money sometimes scarce after the extravagance of Christmas, it’s a wonder many choose to make it the month of austere eating, too.
We think the start of the year is a great time to put on a feast, and these 4 three-course menus back us up. There’s an impressive date night menu that’s as showy as it is tasty, and a Chinese-inspired vegan menu. Our weeknight Italian meal is the perfect way to liven up Blue Monday, or any blue weekday for that matter, and we’ve got a Sunday lunch menu for lovers of the roast.
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The date night dinner menu
January is a budget month for many, but that doesn’t need to mean BORING. Brighten things up on the flavour front with this spectacular date night menu. Start as you mean to go on with an elegant starter of scallops with squid ink sauce. It takes twenty minutes but looks so impressive, just as a date night dinner should.
Next, opt for parma ham-wrapped pork fillets on a bed of creamed spinach and butter beans. It’s simple to do, and you’ll be thankful for any leftovers as it tastes incredible.
Bring a touch of the restaurant to your dining table with a charcuterie board starter on a weeknight – because – why not? Pair that with a classic Negroni sbagliato and you have yourself a Wednesday night January dinner which dreams are made of.
Next, opt for something a little spicy with ‘nduja meatballs topped with grated parmesan and basil leaves. There’s nothing quite like a spaghetti and meatball dish to lift the spirits!
Finish up with a slice of crowd-pleasing chocolate sponge pudding that takes just 10 minutes to prepare – you’ll be seeing grins from ear-to-ear ’round yours.
The vegan dinner party menu
Little else beats Chinese starters, and these vegetable spring rolls are legit! For main course, spicy dan dan noodles finished with a drizzle of chilli oil, sesame seeds and spring onions are sure to offer tingly tongue thrills for your guests. You can make it in half an hour, and it’s easily scaled up. Enjoy those with black bean tofu and baby pak choi for lip-smacking goodness that friends will go home thinking about.