Planning a great Valentine’s Day for your partner can be a bit tricky. Some prefer going out for dinners to their favourite restaurants but with Corona still not going away anytime soon, it’s always a better idea to avoid the crowded places and take shelter in the safety of your homes.

A great date doesn’t require spending extensively; all it needs is careful planning and effort. We have done the planning part for you with our four indoor date ideas and four recipes that go perfectly with setting up to make your Valentine’s day extra special! You can obviously mix match and improvise with the ideas and make something extra special.

Candle Light Dinner Date

Old but gold! If you haven’t watched the lady and the Tramp, I seriously recommend you to. The scene where lady and tramp share the same strand of spaghetti pasta is probably the most romantic non-human thing ever! So get some amazing fragrant candles to set up the mood and follow the recipe for easy spaghetti!

• Spaghetti
• Tomato Marinara sauce
• Parmesan cheese
• Extra virgin olive oil and
• Fresh garlic
• Dried oregano
• Salt and pepper

1. Fill large Dutch oven or pot with cold water 3/4 full and bring to a boil.
2. Add 2 tsp salt and spaghetti. Separate pasta with tongs a few times during first 2 minutes of cooking. This will ensure spaghetti do not stick together.
3. Cook pasta uncovered for 5 more minutes or until al dente, stirring occasionally. Taste for doneness while cooking. Do not overcook until too soft. The key to tasty pasta is firm cooked pasta. Drain in a colander.
4.      Return pot to medium heat and add olive oil, 4 garlic cloves and oregano. Cook for 20     seconds, stirring constantly.
5. Turn off the heat. Add drained pasta, tomato sauce, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, pepper and 1 garlic clove. Stir gently until warmed through.
6. Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese. This is the best cheap and quite healthy spaghetti I have ever had anywhere!

Picnic Date

If you and your partner love soaking in the winter sun and be around nature. This is a perfect date idea for you guys! Pack in the choice of your beverages, books and board games along with a comfy mat. Pack in some of your favourite snacks and the utterly delicious Banana Bread. Find the recipe below!

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup of Brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup very ripe mashed banana (about 2 large or 3 medium)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

(You can skip the case in case of dietary restrictions)

1. Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before you begin.
2. Preheat oven to 350?F. Line a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, letting the paper drape over the sides to create a sling.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
4. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar, beating it on high speed until the mixture lightens in color and texture.
5. Add the flour mixture gradually to the butter mixture in three additions, beating on low speed until just combined after each addition.
6. Gradually beat in the lightly beaten eggs.
7. Add mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Fold in with a spatula until just combined.
8. Scrape the mixture into the pan and spread evenly.
9. Bake 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
10. Let cool in the pan on a rack for 5-10 minutes before unmolding to cool completely on the wire rack.

Fort Date

Collect all your comfy sheets and blankets and DIY and indoor Fort, decorate the creation with fairy lights and put on your all-time favourite film. But before that make these perfect mini pizzas that literally takes only 15 minutes!

• 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
•  1 tablespoon olive oil
•  1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in rich puree
•  1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
•  1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
•  1/2 teaspoon dried basil
•  pinch of salt
•  pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
•  12 4-inch flour tortillas or use your regular buns but cutting them in half
•  Pizza topping of your choice, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil

1. Preheat oven to 200°c. Bake pizza sauce.
2. Place flour tortillas or buns on a rimmed baking sheet. Place a tablespoon of pizza sauce into the center of each tortilla round. Sprinkle cheese on top of the sauce on each one. Top each pizza with toppings and fresh basil if using.
3. Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown and the crust edge is browned and crisp.

Bonfire Date

If winter isn’t your season, bring in some fancy old Bonfire. Play your favourite tune, sip on those wines and grill these delicious Hara Bhara Kebabs!

•  
• 1 bunch palak leaves / spinach / baby spinach
• ?2 tsp oil
• ?1 green chili / hari mirch, finely chopped
• ?1 capsicum, finely chopped
• ?¾ cup beans, chopped
• ?¾ cup peas, fresh / frozen
• ?2 potato, boiled and grated
• ?¾ cup paneer / cottage cheese, crumbled
• ?3 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
• ?1 tbsp corn flour
• ?2 tbsp breadcrumbs
• ?½ tsp kashmiri chili powder / lal mirch powder
• ?½ tsp coriander powder / dhaniya powder
• ?1 tsp aamchur / dry mango powder
• ?½ tsp garam masala powder
• ?¼ tsp turmeric / haldi
• ?salt to taste
• ?1 cup breadcrumbs, to coat
• ?8 cashews, halved
• ?oil for deep frying

First, in a large kadhai heat oil and add green chilli. Add capsicum and sauté till the moisture disappears. Further, add beans and peas. sauté well. Transfer to the blender and allow cooling completely. Blend to a coarse paste along with blanched palak. Transfer the blended paste into a large mixing bowl. Also add grated potato, paneer and coriander leaves. Further, add cornflour and breadcrumbs. Add in the spices and salt and mix well. Grease hands with oil and make small patties. Cover the patties with bread crumbs and garnish with cashew. Deep fry the prepared patties into hot oil or grill them on a tandoor or in the oven for 15 minutes at 200 C. Finally, serve Hara Bhara kabab hot with sauce.