my brother is introducing me to his girlfriend tomorrow and we need a good homemade dinner idea or some nice restaurants to go to in Houston, Texas

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Try some of these. these are from my own recipe book. My kids and friends love them.

CREAMY CARBONARA
Serves 4 - 6

500 gm fresh fettuccine cooked according to packet directions (if you don’t have fettuccine try angel hair)
1 tblsp olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion finely diced
2 cloves crushed garlic
3 tsp mixed herbs
6 rashers middle bacon
2 cups button mushrooms sliced
300 ml cream
½ cup white wine (try to use one that you will be serving with the meal)
A little chicken stock powder
Salt and pepper to taste.

Heat oil in a large pan and add garlic, herbs and onion. (If you are making a chicken carbonara , then add the chicken now) and cook on medium-high heat until onion has sweated ( if using chicken cook until chicken has lightly browned)

Add the bacon and mushrooms and cook well. Reduce heat and add cream, heat through at a simmer. When cream is heated, add the wine and the stock powder. Make sure you don’t use too much stock powder or it will be too salty. Make sure you taste all the time. Simmer for about 7-8 minutes until all the alcohol has burned off and the cream has thickened.

Serve over the drained pasta and sprinkle with fresh shaved parmesan cheese. Fresh crusty bread would be a lovely addition to this meal also.

I would suggest a Semillon or a moselle with this dish. If you want a nice dry white would also be good.


CHICKEN BASIL
Serves 4

4 skinless chicken breasts (of approx. equal size)
4 slices white bread
3 rashers middle bacon
Fresh basil

Pre-heat oven to 180°c
Cut crusts off bread and blend in a blender to make breadcrumbs. (It is not advised to used packaged breadcrumbs for this recipe as they are too dry) Place in a bowl
Chop the bacon really fine and add to the breadcrumbs. Finely chop the basil and also add to the breadcrumbs. Combine well.

Place chicken breasts in a slightly greased oven dish and top with the mixture.
Place in the oven with a bowl of water underneath the tray of chicken. This will help keep the chicken moist and succulent. (make sure the bowl is ovenproof)
Bake for about 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
Serve with Potato Bake (see recipe below), steamed snow peas, broccoli and honey sesame carrots.
Steam the snow peas for about 2 minutes and the broccoli for 3 at the most. This will ensure that they stay green and crunchy., retaining their nutrients.
I would recommend a nice crisp Sauvignon Blanc with this dish.


POTATO BAKE

5 large potatoes peeled and thinly sliced
1 large onion peeled and thinly sliced into rings
Salt and pepper
Cream
Butter
Sharp cheddar cheese, grated or shredded (depending on what you call it!!!)

Lightly grease the bottom of a medium oven dish. Place a layer of potato in the bottom of the dish. Then sprinkle some of the onion rings over the top of the first layer of potato. Season with a little salt and pepper. Repeat these layers until all the ingredients have been used finishing with a layer of potato, making sure no onion is visible.

Randomly dollop bits of butter over the surface and drizzle with a little cream. Sprinkle the cheese over the entire surface and bake in a moderately hot oven for approximately 45 minutes or until potatoes are soft when tested with a knife.

HONEY SESAME CARROTS

Baby or Dutch carrots peeled and cut julienne style (matchsticks in laymen’s!!)
Honey
Sesame seeds

Steam carrots for about 2 minutes then toss in a warm pan with a little olive oil. Add the honey and allow this to melt and heat through. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds and serve immediately.

BEEF SOUP

500 gm chuck steak, diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tblsp oil
1 tblsp butter
6 cups boiling water
6 maggi beef stock cubes
6 tsp paprika
140 gm tub tomato paste
½ cup small pasta shells
1 tin champignons, pieces and stems
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped finely
Shaved fresh Parmesan cheese to serve

Heat oil and putter in a large pot and add beef and onion. Cook until onion has sweated and beef browned. The beef doesn’t need to be cooked at this stage.
Dissolve stock cubes in water and add to the pot. Add paprika and tomato paste. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 1 minute. Add the pasta, cover and cook until pasta is almost done, stirring occasionally. (about 8 minutes)
While pasta is cooking, you may need to skim the surface from time to time.

Reduce heat to medium, drain the champignons and add to the pot. Simmer for a further 3-4 minutes or until pasta is fully cooked.
Remove from the heat and add the parsley.

Serve in warm bowls and top with fresh grated or shaved parmesan cheese. Try some fresh crusty Vienna bread with this soup.

The good thing about this soup is that is like a meal in itself. It is also a great winter warmer and quite delicious.

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um sorry im not sure ive nvr been to texas and no offense ive been scared of texas ever since i watched texas chainsaw massacre!!

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I love a cooking challenge! Depending on your and their tastes, a great "getting to meet you meal" is something that would involve others, like a mexican "station" where all the ingredients to make a taco, burrito or nachos is laid out and everyone can help themselves. You can do this with other types of food too. If you want this to be casual and fun, think of finger foods, or even exotic finger foods, (kebabs, mini quiches, Indian food) if you are going for a more formal affair, I would create an easy, but elegant 4 course Italian meal (bruschetta {toasted baguette slices with a drizzle of olive oil and tomato,basil & onion salad}, a toasted almond and baby spinach salad, a simple pasta marinara and a nice dessert with chocolate, fruit and fresh whipped cream. As far as going out, (We're from Dallas, so not too familiar with Houston digs) I would select a place that has good food, big seats and a relaxing atmosphere so that you can get to know the girl without too much distraction. P.S., we just had one of "those" dinners, meeting my little brother's newest girlfriend, it was weird, but ended up nice! Good luck!

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