I wish we got pictures however being without the kids for the first time for hours we got drunk on a bottle of concord red wine. We don’t drink much either so that didn’t help lol.

Here’s what we had to work with and what we did.

He had.

Meat- Italian sausage. He also had ribs but apparently the ribs in freezer were for me but he didn’t hid or warn me so I used them last weekend. Good thing I picked up extra.

Vegetable- Deluxe stir fry mix.

Starch- Cauliflower

Wild card- Ricotta cheese

Wild card-Pineapple and charred pepper relish

Dessert- Devils food cake mix

Dessert- Shredded coconut.

Secret- Coffee.

We could also use anything in pantry.

He browned the sausage in onions and half a poblano pepper. He then mixed in the stir fry mix and cauliflower. He made a sauce with the pineapple relish, coconut shreds, soy sauce, sesame oil and cream cheese. Served it with stir fry noodles. He made a cake using the cake mix and ricotta cheese and mixed some finely grounded (such a pain with blender) coffee in some cream cheese icing to top with.

He won the dessert round with the icing but his meal kinda mushed together. He did really good and he boosted my confidence complementing my cooking skills 🥰🥰. I only helped him a little lol.

What I had.

Meat- ribs

Vegetable- California mix (cauliflower, broccoli and carrots)

Starch- 4 cheese instant mash potatoes

Dessert- chocolate almond granola

Dessert- brown sugar (idk why he insisted this)

Dessert- vanilla yogurt

Wild card- lime curd

Wild card- mushrooms

Secret- coffee

What I made.

I took the coffee that we grounded and mixed it with some brown sugar and that Memphis seasoning blend you get from the dollar tree (legit one of the best places for seasonings) and coated the ribs in it. I then put them on top of the onion and poblano pepper I sautéed in a stick of butter and popped them in the oven. I made the instant potatoes with butter, 1/2 can evaporated milk, garlic pepper season and chives (both dollar tree), topped them with a homemade mushroom gravy. I didn’t do anything with vegetables except butter and garlic. I took a white cake mix and mixed it with 1/2 can evaporated milk, yogurt lime curd and 1/2 a lime juiced and zested. I powdered brown sugar (pain!!) and mixed it with more yogurt and lime curd for icing (husband licked bowl clean). I took the granola and blended it down with some coconut shreds and put that on top of the icing on cake.

Should have measured everything out more as the cake was perfect in the middle but burned on bottom and top. My meal won as it was more put together and my dessert would have won but my family LOVES coffee and chocolate lol.

If you’ve made it this far I HIGHLY!!! Recommend doing this date. It was really fun! You don’t have to be competitive, we helped each other out with ideas and he helped cut up things after I burned my hand.