HOME COOKING: Recipes for a Complete Romantic Dinner For Two - These romantic dinner recipes will have your mouths watering and your hearts afire

It's not Valentine's Day - but you want it to be a special night for just the two of you.

You've met someone special - maybe through friends - maybe on one of those Romance relationship sites like eHarmony or WUVING.com - and you want to whip up a truly romantic dinner!  A dinner date to remember forever.  This could be true love.

You're looking for some great romantic dinner recipes to sweep that special guy or girl off his or her feet.

Nothing, after all, says romance like an intimate candlelit dinner. You've set a beautiful table, complete with tall white candles. You've picked a nice wine. And you've got that quiet slow music ready.

If you really want to show that special someone that you not only care - but you can cook - these romantic dinner recipes will have your mouths watering and your hearts afire...

And it's easy!

 --Chinese Sesame Chicken--

2 Chicken Breast, skinless & boned pieces about 6-8 oz.

5 tablespoons corn starch

Pinch of salt

6 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh garlic

1 teaspoon chili oil depending on degree of spicy of your taste

1/2 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds

Salad oil for deep fry

Iceberg lettuce

Sauce:

8 tablespoons Chicken broth

1 tablespoon Dark soy sauce

2 tablespoons Soy sauce

4 tablespoons Sugar

4 tablespoons White vinegar

1 teaspoon Corn starch

1 teaspoon Sake

1/2 teaspoon Oyster sauce

In a small bowl, mix all sauce ingredients until well blended.

Cut chicken breast into ½ inch strips. Place in a bowl with water and salt and let soak for about 15 minutes. Do not drain. Add cornstarch and mix well, coating chicken. Add 1 tablespoon salad oil to chicken and mix to smooth and separate chicken strips.

Heat wok - or frying pan - with medium flame, pour in oil for deep frying. Heat oil up to about 325 degrees. Place coated chicken strips in piece by piece and fry until it is crispy and cooked through. Remove chicken and pour off oil.

Heat up wok again with an additional 1-teaspoon salad oil. Add ginger, garlic and chili oil stir frying until fragrant. Add sauce mix, stir until thickens. Add fried chicken strips and mix well to coat all chicken strips with sauce. Sprinkle on the sesame seeds before serving on a bed of lettuce.

-- Jiangsu Fried Rice--

1 c Uncooked rice

5 T Butter

1 c Chopped onion

1 c Chopped carrots

2/3 c Chopped scallions

3 T Sesame seeds

5 Eggs

5 T Soy sauce

Salt & Pepper

Cook rice according to package directions. In a large skillet, melt butter.

Add onions, carrots and scallions. Saute until carrots are translucent.

Set aside. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place sesame seeds in a shallow pan.

Bake until golden brown (10 to 15 minutes), shaking pan occasionally for even color. Lightly grease another skillet. Beat eggs. Pour into hot skillet. Cook as you would scrambled eggs. Combine rice, vegetables, sesame seeds and eggs.

Add soy sauce. Stir. Salt and pepper to taste.

--Tossed Salad with Ginger Salad Dressing--

Create your favorite Tossed Salad

Ginger Salad Dressing:

1/2 cup minced onion

1/2 cup peanut oil

1/3 cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

2 tablespoons minced celery

2 tablespoons ketchup

4 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until all of the ginger is well-pureed. Makes 1 3/4 cups.

For a light but tantalizing dessert, it's OK to leave the Chinese theme slightly and serve an...

-- Eastern Carrot Souffle--

3 1/2 lbs. peeled Carrots

1-1/2 lbs. Sugar

1 Tbsp. vanilla 1/4 Cup flour

6 eggs

1/2 lb. Margarine

Powdered sugar

1. Steam or boil carrots until extra soft. Drain well.

2. While carrots are warm, add sugar, baking powder, and vanilla.

3. Whip with mixer until smooth.

4. Add flour and mix well.

5. Whip eggs and add to flour mixture, blend well.

6. Add softened margarine to mixture and blend well.

7. Pour mixture into baking dish about half full as the souffle will rise.

8. Bake in 350-degree oven about 1 hour or until top is a light golden brown.

9. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar over top before serving.

And that's everything you need to create a Romantic Dinner for Two!  Did you ever think that it would be this good?

Bon Appetit!

- Brian Alan Burhoe brianalanburhoe.com.