I always look forward to Friday nights. The whole weekend lay ahead and it is a night open to so many possibilities for dinner amazingness. Friday nights are usually never for cooking in our house. We either order in or Eric and I go out together (Yes, we usually leave the kids at home).
Here are our favourite options for Friday night dinners…
PIZZA!
Everyone is happy when we order pizza. This is an especially good option on those Friday nights we find ourselves totally exhausted…which is most Friday nights. We have a few different places we like to order from and we mainly stick to local pizzerias. Our absolute favourite pizza is from any pizzeria in Buffalo. So good!
Homemade pizza
We have friends who make homemade pizzas on Friday nights. I LOVE this idea, I am just never prepared for it. There is something really nice about everyone making their own pizza and the satisfaction of baking them in your own oven. A goal of mine for this winter for sure!
ANY TAKE OUT!!!
If I am not cooking and cleaning on a Friday night, I am happy. We have even been known to get a round of Big Macs on a Friday night.
GOING OUT
Pre-children, Eric and I would celebrate the end of the week by going out to our favourite restaurant every Friday after work. (I always look for reasons to celebrate and Friday night seems like a good reason to me!) Now, we get out on the odd Friday night and it is really special. I love Friday nights in fall and winter when it is dark early and we can enjoy the atmosphere of a cozy restaurant with a nice drink, dimmed lights and candles.
DINNER AT HOME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
One of my very favourite cookbooks is Bonnie Stern’s Friday Night Dinners. In her introduction, she shares her Jewish tradition of Friday night dinners as a special night with family and friends to celebrate the end of the work week and welcome Shabbat, the day of rest. She convincingly shares that Friday nights can be for preparing delicious meals, ones where everyone chips in and time is made, without distraction from technology, to talk and catch up and just enjoy one another’s company. I love, love, love the idea of this. I just need to be prepared for a little work on a Friday night.
How do you spend your Friday nights? What is your favourite Friday night meal?
A bit more…Easy Friday night dinner ideas and here is my friend Corry’s homemade pizza dough recipe!
½ cup warm water
1 pkg active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 ½ cups flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon olive oil
Cornmeal to sprinkle
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly oil a 12” pizza pan. In a small bowl, mix warm water, yeast and sugar together. Let sit until yeast activates (about 5 minutes). In a large bowl, stir together flour, salt and cornmeal. Add yeast mixture and olive oil and knead to a smooth dough (about 10 minutes). Sprinkle a work surface with cornmeal and roll dough into a 13” cirlce. Line pizza pan with dough. Crimp edges and add your favourite toppings. Back for 10-15 minutes. Makes one, 12” pizza.
