3 Gadgets for Date Night Dinners

Date night is a special night, but sometimes life gets in the way, and for various reasons you end up having to create your own date night at home. There's no reason in the world you can't still make it special! If takeout just won't do, and you're looking to put a little extra effort into a next-level meal for your homemade date night, here are three kitchen tools to have on hand for creating an extra-special dinner right in your own kitchen.

Pasta Maker

Anyone who's had fresh pasta knows it tastes lightyears better than boxed. If you and your sweetheart are wondering “How can we make pasta at home?”, wonder no more. The KitchenAid pasta attachment is one of the many useful gadgets that work with your KitchenAid stand mixer to give you the tools to create the delicious homemade pasta you crave. Use your stand mixer to blend and knead the pasta dough. After the dough has rested for the required time, use the pasta attachments to roll it to your desired thickness and cut it into your desired shape. You'll be on your way to creating your favorite date night pasta dish, with a delicious homemade taste that can never be imitated.

Don't be intimidated by the French name! Sous vide is easier to do than you probably think, and it gives you amazing results on steaks, pork chops, chicken, and beyond. A sous vide machine clips onto the side of a large saucepan or stockpot, and creates a hot water bath in which to achieve a slow, low, and even cooking process. Food is vacuum sealed in a plastic bag, then placed in a container filled with the water being heated and circulated by the sous vide. After the required cooking time, a quick sear in a skillet will give it that finishing touch of a picture-perfect look and slightly-crisp texture. The slow cooking process does require planning ahead, but good things come to those who wait! Not only does it virtually guarantee that the food won't be overcooked, but it can even make a less-expensive cut of meat taste more succulent and flavorful. What's more, you can even sous vide the food days in advance and store the vacuum-sealed bag in your refrigerator. When date night rolls around, open it up and just give it a quick sear in a pan on your stovetop.

You'll have to plan it out a day or two in advance, but a fancy dessert is the perfect way to cap off a home date night, and there's nothing quite like the rich taste of homemade ice cream. There are several ice cream maker styles available from trusted brands like Cuisinart, and plenty of recipes to create your favorite flavors from scratch. Homemade ice cream is great on its own, or for an even more spectacular presentation, alongside with a baked dessert like molten chocolate cake or apple pie.

With a little planning, an extra-special dinner for two in your own home is easily within reach. Even if you don't travel any farther than your own dining room, you'll be able to make every date night one to remember!