Saturday Date Night

Remember when dinner and a movie was the standard for couples on a Saturday night?

But the economic downturn has forced couples to rethink date night, if not drop it altogether. Expense cutbacks, children, time and other reasons keep people from spending their extra cash, and many couples opt to stay home.

Does that mean dinner and a movie is dead? Noooooooooo.....

Make arrangements for the kids to stay at a friend's house or grandparents for the night to free up your evening. Plan a romantic dinner for two. Make the dinner together. Watch a romantic comedy while you eat your dinner and have each other for desert. Or... you can share some meaningful conversation over dinner then watch the movie, but still have each other for desert.

Spaghetti is well known as being one of the most romantic meals. It's fun to make from scratch and fun to eat. (Think of the scene in the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp.)
Serve with French Bread and wine.

For fun, I suggest also tring Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding... Yummy!

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups (1/2-inch) cubed Hawaiian sweet bread
2/3 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon Kahlúa (coffee-flavored liqueur)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1 ounce semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.

Arrange bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes or until toasted. Remove bread from oven; decrease oven temperature to 325°.

Combine milk and next 5 ingredients (milk through egg) in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add bread, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

Divide half of bread mixture evenly between 2 (6-ounce) ramekins or custard cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with half of chocolate. Divide remaining bread mixture between ramekins; top with remaining chocolate.

Place ramekins in an 8-inch square baking pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325° for 35 minutes or until set. Serve each pudding warm with 1 tablespoon whipped topping.