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DIY Date Night: 11 Restaurant-Style Meals You Can Make (And Make Better) At Home

It’s easy to default to dining out when cooking just doesn’t seem to be in the cards, but the calories that come with restaurant food aren’t always worth the convenience. Next time a craving hits, try one of these better-for-you versions of restaurant classics. DIY never tasted so good.

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  • Layered Vegetable and Aioli Appetizer

    Calories 30 Fat 1g Saturated Fat 0g Sodium 160mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/layered-vegetable-and-aioli-appetizer/848da975-a071-4b7c-b16c-a0490f8bf274?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Bread

    Calories 170 Fat 6g Saturated Fat 1 1/2g Sodium 310mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/cheesy-roasted-red-pepper-bread/f2c3f6f3-260c-4ca3-8143-02cd12d77cdb?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail

    Calories 25 Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0g Sodium 150mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/bloody-mary-shrimp-cocktail/818bc724-3c98-4fe1-a2c5-e9b7d23833e9?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

    Calories 360 Fat 5g Saturated Fat 1 1/2g Sodium 480mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/beef-and-broccoli-stir-fry/da6ddfe6-c702-4175-92d1-00cb137e5d1c?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Chicken Parmesan with Linguine

    Calories 340 Fat 8g Saturated Fat 1 1/2g Sodium 580mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/chicken-parmesan-with-linguine/35743152-8ab5-4323-96ff-ab7bd5e40638?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Béarnaise Steaks with Mushrooms

    Calories 210 Fat 8g Saturated Fat 2g Sodium 290mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/bearnaise-steaks-with-mushrooms/da3a704a-3465-46db-8ad5-8eec97e380c7?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Mango Chutney-Chicken Curry

    Calories 370 Fat 5g Saturated Fat 1g Sodium 290mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/mango-chutney-chicken-curry/34ed0231-f654-4879-95fa-74aa1826a2da?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Healthified Blue Cheese Burgers

    Dietary Fiber Added 3g Fat Reduced By 7g Saturated Fat Reduced By 2 1/2g <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-blue-cheese-burgers/8936fe79-f3c7-451e-9688-1a745cf7119c?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Shrimp Scampi with Rice

    Calories 290 Fat 3g Saturated Fat 1/2g Sodium 95mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/shrimp-scampi-with-rice/bc4040e7-39c6-4509-9854-4fb5a2e43f67?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Chocolate Souffle Cakes

    Calories 150 Fat 3 1/2g Saturated Fat 1 1/2g Sodium 35mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/chocolate-souffle-cakes/062a852c-aa25-47e8-8d94-27690dc6a64f?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

  • Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

    Calories 150 Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0g Sodium 180mg <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/pumpkin-creme-brulee/7fbe2923-b06e-41ab-a4c4-08fa6f8c0fa7?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the recipe</a>

 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dahpunkster
author, cartoonist people watcher
07:36 PM on 03/22/2013
greek salad

2 bell peppers cut into sliced one yellow for color) discared pithy white stuff and seeds
2 carrots shaved with a peeler
a half of red onion sliced thin
feta or gorgonzola cheese
a bag of romaine lettuce or field greens rinsed and dried off
8 or 9 deli olives pitted and halved
toss with oil and vinegar or get little 50 cent bags of dressing they can pick whatever they choose serve with one of those cooked deli chickens garlic bread or italian bread and butter
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dennydorite
To Serve Man--A Cookbook
05:26 PM on 03/22/2013
My wife makes a great appetizer. Roasted red bell pepper, peeled, with balsamic vinegar, fresh cracked black pepper and goat cheese. The flavors are delicious. Cost $15 at a restaurant near us.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
legthrilless
07:03 PM on 03/22/2013
That sounds lovely.

I'm a fan of simple ingredients--fresh and simple. One fav of mine is arugala, a light lemon juice/olive oil dressing and fresh cracked black pepper and kosher salt. Even better with a chunk of roquefort crubled over it. I'll try yours...you might want to give mine a try.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dennydorite
To Serve Man--A Cookbook
09:02 PM on 03/22/2013
Okay, sounds good, but maybe substitute spinach for arugula since it doesn't agree with me.

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