Finally, it’s here! Date night! But you don’t want to go out – nope, you want to stay in. And you want to have snacks, binge watch Netflix, and relax.
You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to get some amazing snacks prepped for date night. Here are some of the best snacks to make for the perfect night, in.
Easy Snacks:
Chips and Salsa
Corn and Black Bean Salsa is the best topping or dipper for tortilla chips. Plus, you can dress it up with a drained can of black beans and a bag of frozen corn, and then there’s more salsa for everyone. This salsa always has the best flavor and it’s filled with bright yellow corn and hearty, filling black beans. More chips and salsa anyone?
Cheese and Meat
Cheese and meat plates are easy and delicious. You have so many combination choices to make and enjoy. Get some cheddar, gouda, and parmesan cheese along with meats like salami, deli BBQ chicken, and ham. Add some light, flavored crackers, fruits like grapes, melon, or strawberries and you’ve got a feast! A snack feast that is.
Wine and Cheese
Sometimes you don’t even need a “full” snack, so wine and cheese is perfect. Pair a red wine like Cabernet with cheddar cheese and a white wine like Sauvignon Blanc with a sharp parmesan and you will love it. Beer works, too, if it’s all you have in the house or if you’re not a wine fan. And beer always pairs well with cheese and will fill you up.
Popcorn
Popcorn with lots of butter and salt is not only delicious but it’s a staple at my house. And taking the time to make it homemade is so worth it (and it really only takes a few minutes.) I watched my Dad make it growing up and prefer it that way to this day. And there is no measuring involved making it easy to do!
Just take a large soup pan and turn it on medium heat. Add a high heat oil like peanut or avocado oil to the bottom of the pan, just enough to cover the bottom. Place one popcorn kernel into the middle of the pan and cover. When the kernel pops, you know the oil is ready. Pour in popcorn kernels, just enough to cover the bottom, just like the oil, and cover.
Once it starts popping, make sure to shake it around with the cover on, so that all the kernels have a chance to pop and nothing burns. Because as good as popcorn is, there is nothing worse than burnt popcorn. Finish off with melted butter and salt for the perfect homemade popcorn. Or dress your popcorn up with pepper and parmesan cheese, caramel and peanut butter, or even taco seasoning and cheese. Anyway you eat it, popcorn is the best.
If you want to spend some time in the kitchen:
Cookies
Making cookies is fun. You just mix everything together and they’re ready for the oven. Plus, there’s cookie dough, and who doesn’t love cookie dough? You could take it up a notch and make sugar cookies. This way, you can decorate them! Sprinkles and frosting or cream cheese frosting and fruit. Everyone loves cookies and everyone loves fruit pizza cookies and if you get to make your own, that’s even better. Only add what you want and leave out what you don’t want. Plus, no one will judge you for how many you eat (or how many are eaten before they are even cooked.)
Homemade Pizza
Because who doesn’t like pizza? And who doesn’t like to make it exactly the way they want it? Yum! Grab some premade dough from the refrigerator aisle (or go full on and make the dough from scratch,) and don’t forget to grab all the toppings. Prep sausage, peppers, onions, banana peppers, pineapple, ham, pepperoni, mushrooms, and anything else you like. Add cheeses, garlic, black pepper, and have any dipping sauces ready for your pizza feast, too.
And at the end of the day, nothing is more important than time spent on a date with your person. So, if you don’t want to cook at all, then grab some store snacks and call it a night. But if you want to make your own personalized snacks, then have these, you will love them.
