So you want to impress a girl by cooking for her. And you want to do it on the cheap. If you’re a cooking novice, have no fears. Cooking can be an easy, simple, and inexpensive way to impress a girl and show your thoughtfulness at the same time. Below are some helpful tips and recipe ideas to be a successful culinary Casanova:

Keep It Simple: If you’re not a whiz in the kitchen, now is not a time to pretend that you are. The best way to succeed at impressing your lady friend is to keep it simple. Look for recipes with no more than eight ingredients, and be sure that they’re ingredients you can find in your local supermarket.

Plan Ahead: Don’t plan the menu, go food shopping, and try to cook all in one day. You’ll get overwhelmed. Instead, take it easy and plan ahead. Give yourself a day or so to think about what you want to cook. A day before the meal, buy your groceries so that they’re fresh and so that you’re sure everything you need is in stock. This way, the only thing you’re doing on the big night is cooking.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: If you’re really intimidated by the kitchen but are committed to cooking a meal, ask a cooking-savvy friend to help you out. With a wingman at your side while you’re food shopping and cooking, you’ll be much more at ease. Just be sure to send your friend home before your girl arrives.

Don’t Be Fancy: If it’s the early stages of the relationship, you probably don’t know her food tastes all too well. So don’t go wasting your money on fancy ingredients because she may not even like them. Simple, basic ingredients are the safest bet at this point. The menu below is both cost effective and simply elegant.

Recipe Ideas: So now that you’re in the right frame of mind, you’re probably wondering “what should I cook to impress a girl?”… I’ve helped out a bit and designed a sure-fire dinner menu that’s easy and tasty:

Good Luck!

Laura Troyani heads up Marketing and Business Development for Plummelo. Not content with just being another behind-the-scenes pencil pusher, Laura decided to give blogging a shot and writes practical, everyday tips for the home cook (or aspiring home cook). Laura’s favorite foods are ice cream, olive oil, ice cream, parmesan cheese, ice cream, and occasionally ice cream.