Dinner for Two

So I love to cook and to bake!  For my husband, Josh's birthday we decided instead of going out to dinner, that we would cook a meal and enjoy preparing a beautiful meal together.  And we certainly did!  

We planned our menu and then headed out to Trader Joes.  Once we got home it was right to work, but first we had to open a bottle of wine and turn on Joshua Radin's pandora station!

Josh is a little crazy in the kitchen!

Our menu was comprised of...

caprese salads, 

"the best chicken-pesto pasta," (and crescent rolls)

and red velvet cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting.

 It was so fun for us both to be in the kitchen together, multitasking and preparing different aspects of our meal simultaneously.  I primarily made the cupcakes and Josh primarily made the caprese and we put our efforts together to make the pasta.  The pasta is one of our favorites.  It is a recipe that Josh created for our first married Valentine's day.  It is a chicken, pesto pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and pine nuts topped with shaved parmesan cheese.

Multitasking--boiling water, cooking chicken, baking cupcakes (not pictured: caprese on the other counter )

Since it was a special occasion, I decided to use our china (which I just love) and have a candle lit dinner.  I loved the time we got to spend together preparing, cooking, and enjoying a meal as a couple.

At the end of the night we both decided that we had a much better and more enjoyable meal than what we would have had if we had gone out.  Plus we got to practice our Top Chef skills which obviously includes plating and presentation!

We were able to make a memory and spend some good, quality time together without having to spend a fortune.  It was a success and the birthday boy got to enjoy his special treat!

Happy Birthday Love!