Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Skipped the Crowded Restaurant and Cooked Valentine's Dinner at Home
36
items Reservations at 9:45 PM, a prix fixe menu you didn't pick, and shouting over the couple next to you. That was my Valentine's Day for years. Last year I stayed home, lit some candles, made a three-course meal, and it was the most romantic night we've ...
Sections
12
Steak That Rivals Any Steakhouse
Side Dishes That Look Fancy but Took 20 Minutes
Appetizers to Start the Night Right
Dessert Without the Stress
Wine and Drinks That Set the Mood
Candles That Don't Smell Like a Bath and Body Works Explosion
Steak That Rivals Any Steakhouse
My partner once said the filet I made at home was better than the $65 one we had downtown. That comment alone saved us hundreds in future reservations.
Grab these a few days before Valentine's and let them thaw slowly in the fridge. First time I pan-seared one at home, my partner literally put down their phone mid-bite. That never happens.
USDA Choice Beef Cuts for Cooking
Swap out whatever mystery spice blend you've been using. I was over-seasoning steaks for years until a friend told me to just use this and butter. Now I season like someone who actually knows what they're doing.
Copycat Mccormick Montreal Steak Seasoning Recipe
Use this for basting your steak in the last two minutes of cooking. The difference between regular butter and this is the difference between a Tuesday dinner and a date night. Stock up because once you try it, you'll put it on everything.
Kerrygold Grass-Fed Salted Pure Irish Butter, 8 oz
Side Dishes That Look Fancy but Took 20 Minutes
Nobody needs to know your sides came together while you were still in sweatpants. These three made me look like I spent all day in the kitchen.
Toss these in olive oil, salt, and a little balsamic, then roast at 400 for 18 minutes. Before this method I genuinely hated brussels sprouts. Now they're the side dish my partner requests by name.
Green Giant Simply Steam Brussels Sprouts Salt & Pepper
Keep a box of these as your secret backup. When I ran out of time last year, these plus a splash of cream and real butter fooled everyone at the table. Perfect for anyone who panics about timing four dishes at once.
Great Value Roasted Garlic Complete Potatoes, 4 oz
Steam these, hit them with lemon juice and a pinch of flaky salt. Took me three Valentine's Days to realize asparagus is the easiest vegetable to make look restaurant-worthy on a plate.
Birds Eye Steamfresh Asparagus Spears
Appetizers to Start the Night Right
We used to skip straight to the main course and the whole dinner felt rushed. Adding a small appetizer slowed everything down in the best way.
Pair this with crackers and some fig jam and you have a cheese board that takes exactly four minutes. For anyone who wants to look like they planned ahead but actually just opened a package.
Boursin, Garlic & Fine Herbs Spreadable Cheese, 5.2 oz
Toss these in a bowl next to the Boursin and suddenly your kitchen counter is a charcuterie station. Way better than those fancy crackers that taste like flavored cardboard.
Stacy's Simply Naked Sea Salt Pita Chips
Grab this from the deli section and fan the slices out on a cutting board. My partner walked into the kitchen and said it looked like a magazine spread. It took me 90 seconds.
COLUMBUS Italian Dry Salame Stick, 8 oz
Dessert Without the Stress
One year I tried making chocolate soufflé from scratch and it collapsed so hard it looked like a pancake. Never again. These are foolproof.
Bake these slightly underdone so the center stays gooey. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. My partner said this was better than the $16 lava cake we once split at a French restaurant.
Duo Cookie & Brownie Bars
Keep a pint in the freezer for brownie topping duty. The vanilla bean specks make it look like you bought artisan ice cream. For anyone who wants dessert to look effortless but taste expensive.
Häagen-Dazs, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, 14 oz, Kosher
Dip these in melted chocolate chips while your brownies cool. Took me years to realize homemade chocolate-covered strawberries are just. melted chocolate and strawberries. That's it. That's the whole recipe.
Shop Driscoll Berries Fresh and Frozen
Wine and Drinks That Set the Mood
I used to grab whatever bottle was closest to the register. Learning even a little about pairing made the whole dinner feel intentional.
Pair this with your steak and thank me later. Before I found this bottle, I was spending twice as much on wine that tasted half as good. Open it 30 minutes before dinner so it can breathe.
Josh Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon California Red Wine
Pop this while you're cooking together. Something about bubbles in the kitchen while music is playing just shifts the whole energy of the night. Get two bottles because one disappears fast.
La Marca Prosecco | Total Wine & More
Keep a couple of these cold for between glasses of wine. Sounds boring but staying hydrated during a multi-course dinner means you actually remember the whole evening. Learned that one the hard way.
Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water Glass Bottles, 12 fl oz
Candles That Don't Smell Like a Bath and Body Works Explosion
The wrong candle can make your dining room smell like a pumpkin patch during a steak dinner. These keep it subtle and warm.
Use this one in the dining area. It has a warm, slightly musky scent that doesn't compete with food. Switched from a vanilla candle that made our whole dinner smell like frosting.
Yankee Candle, Scented Candle, 22 oz, Midsummer's Night
Put two of these in simple holders on the table. Unscented is the move near food. I made the mistake of using scented tapers once and our risotto tasted like lavender.
Mainstays 10 in Unscented Ivory Taper Candles, 4 Pack
Scatter these around the room for extra glow without fire risk. Perfect for anyone with pets or kids who might wander in. They flicker realistically enough that my partner didn't notice they were fake until I told her.
"Mainstays Unscented LED Tealights Flameless Candles
Table Setting That Looks Like You Tried
Paper plates were my move until I realized a simple cloth napkin and a real plate completely change how a meal feels.
Swap your mismatched plates for these. White plates make food look better, period. A steak on a white plate looks like a restaurant dish. A steak on a blue plate with flowers on it looks like Grandma's house.
Mainstays Glazed White Round Stoneware Dinner Plate
Fold these simply and put one at each setting. First time I used cloth napkins at home my partner raised an eyebrow and said ‘oh, we’re doing this for real.' Worth every penny for that reaction.
Better Homes & Gardens Woven Jamey 4 Pack Napkin Set
Ditch the coffee mugs you've been drinking wine from. These are cheap, sturdy, and look clean on a set table. For anyone whose current wine glass situation is just whatever's clean.
(4 pack) (4 pack) Mainstays Clear Stemless Wine Glass Set
Music and Sound for the Background
Dead silence during a candlelit dinner is weirdly intense. The right background music fills the gaps and keeps things relaxed.
Pair your phone and put on a jazz or R&B playlist. This speaker fills a room without blasting. I set mine on the kitchen counter and the sound reaches the dining table perfectly. Worth having year-round.
JBL Flip 6 Portable Waterproof Speaker Black
If your roommates are home and privacy matters, share a pair of these while you eat. Sounds ridiculous but we did it once and it was actually the most intimate dinner we've had. Completely in our own world.
AirPods Max 2
Keep this as a budget backup if you don't want to spend JBL money. Honestly the sound quality surprised me for the price. Toss it on a shelf, connect your phone, and you're set for the night.
Onn Large Party Speaker Gen 2 with LED Lighting
Cooking Tools That Make You Look Competent
Trying to sear a steak in a flimsy nonstick pan is how you end up with sad gray meat. These tools actually perform.
Sear your steak in this and you'll get that dark crust you see at steakhouses. Before I bought a cast iron, every steak I made looked boiled. This pan single-handedly fixed my cooking reputation.
Lodge, Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 inch, Black
Use this so you stop cutting into your steak to check if it's done. Every slice lets juice escape. I ruined a beautiful filet on our anniversary because I kept poking it like a nervous surgeon.
Taylor Stainless Steel Digital Foldable Probe Meat
Slice your steak on this and serve it right on the board for that rustic look. Way better than transferring to a plate and losing all the juices. For anyone who wants presentation without buying fancy serving ware.
Kitchenaid Classic Rubberwood Cutting Board with Trench
Flowers and Small Touches
A single arrangement on the table does more than you'd think. These small details are the difference between dinner and a date.
Pick these up the day before so they have time to open up. Pro tip: trim the stems at an angle and drop them in warm water. My first attempt at home roses involved scissors and cold tap water, and they wilted by dessert.
Dozen Red Roses
Grab a simple clear vase and let the flowers do the talking. I used to put roses in a drinking glass and it looked exactly as sad as it sounds. This vase cost almost nothing and made the whole table look intentional.
Mainstays Clear Glass Pillar Vase, 3.67 in x 6 in
Write something real in this, not just your name. Tuck it next to their plate so they find it when they sit down. My partner kept the card from last year in her nightstand drawer. That hit harder than any restaurant bill ever could.
Hallmark Romantic Valentine's Day Cards
Outfit and Comfort at Home
Wearing your rattiest sweatpants sends the wrong message. You don't need a suit, but changing into something intentional says you care.
Throw this on with dark jeans and suddenly you look like you made an effort without trying too hard. Comfortable enough to cook in, sharp enough to sit across from candles. For anyone whose date night wardrobe is just a cleaner t-shirt.
George Men's Long Sleeve Stretch Poplin Shirt
Wear these instead of your beat-up house shoes. Sounds small but looking put together from head to toe, even at home, changes how the whole evening feels. My partner noticed immediately.
Dearfoams, Moccasin House Shoe, Genuine Suede, Brown
Pair this with comfortable pants and it's the perfect at-home date outfit. Dressy enough to feel special, relaxed enough that you're not tugging at fabric all night. Way better than changing into a full dress for your own kitchen.
Time and Tru Women's Adjustable Strap Cami
Cleanup Without Killing the Vibe
Nothing ruins a romantic evening faster than spending 45 minutes scrubbing pans while your partner scrolls their phone on the couch. Plan the cleanup in advance.
Spray this on your cast iron and pans right after cooking, then deal with them later. It cuts through grease so fast that cleanup the next morning takes five minutes. Wish I had this the year I let the pan soak for three days.
Dawn, Powerwash Spray, 16 Fl Oz
Line your trash can with a fresh one before dinner starts. Nothing worse than a full trash bag situation mid-date. Toss all the packaging and prep scraps before your partner even sits down.
Hefty, Trash Bags, 13 Gallon, Tall Kitchen, Ultra Strong
Wipe down the counters fast between cooking and eating. The lavender scent is subtle enough that it doesn't clash with dinner smells. Takes 30 seconds and your kitchen goes from war zone to date-ready.
Clorox Scentiva Disinfecting Wipes, Lavender and Jasmine