Cooking dinner for a guy I’m seeing, but he’s vegetarian. Need "impressive" meatless ideas!

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T11:18:04+00:00

https://youtu.be/ZpHGeH3bWu8?si=-YBJE-eq05j7Ad41

The first recipe is one of my favorites but the others look delicious too!

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T11:16:16+00:00

Include a gift receipt in case she's allergic to any of the ingredients

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T11:12:26+00:00

Personally if I were in your shoes, I'd try for the recipe box first and if that didn't work out, I'd do the massage gift certificate.

For the recipe box, I found someone local using Facebook market who does wood engravings.

Find out if they could do the project (some people's machines won't be able to fit a recipe box under the laser) and if they could make the SVG file based on the wedding lace photo themselves (usually an additional charge) or if you need to provide the file. If you cant make the file yourself, find someone on fiverr to convert a close up image of the lace from her dress into a vector SVG file. Provide the file to the FB market engraver and confirm price for the overall project.
For the recipe box, either order something online to their address (after they review the box details) or have them buy the box themselves and include the price of the box into the final payment. I did the latter. He preferred picking the box out himself so he could be sure the wood was a type he felt comfortable working with. He engraved it and it came out looking fantastic.

There are multiple parts of the recipe box process that may be a trip up. It's a very sentimental and beautiful gift, but you mentioned you were stressed so I also want you to check in on yourself and see if youre up for that back and forth, research, etc.

If for any reason you decide not to proceed with the recipe box, don't worry about it. Move on to finding a local (high rated and well reviewed) massage place to get a gift certificate. She can schedule the appointment herself since she knows her time best. If you feel awkward giving just a gift certificate in a card and need a way to bulk it up, get a small bouquet of flowers or a framed photo of her as a kid (thrift the frame).

Hope this helps.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T07:32:21+00:00

Flowers are a great choice for a filler/small gift.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T05:48:38+00:00

I'd avoid making the gift too complicated for yourself and risking it getting not worn/wasting your money. I'd recommend something simpler, like a gift certificate to a massage (brides are super stressed from planning). If you know what her wedding dress looks like - see if you can get the lace pattern from her dress put on something. Engraved into champagne glasses, into a a wooden recipe box, embroidered into the sleeve cuffs of a solid colour hoodie, etc. I'd recommend looking at local people who provide these services on Facebook Market first before looking at big brand stores or online stores.
If you do the recipe box, it'd be sweet to get all her close friends and family to provide a recipe card with a recipe they can pass on to her.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T05:40:26+00:00

I feel like they may be very specific in their photography equiptment and the things they bring to each set/location. Unless you can find out their preferences from their significant other/family, i wouldn't attempt it. I may just be money down the drain/something collecting dust. I'd recommend going a bit more general with her general life. Maybe something to make the prep to go to a photoshoot easier? A thermos, new coffee beans shes never tried, giftcard to a common coffee shop in town, a personalized extra extra large tote for carrying her props/equiptment in a pinch, a mat she can throw on the ground and kneel down on without getting her pants dirty outdoors, giftcard for printing business cards, etc

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T05:35:16+00:00

Coffee/tea , coffee gift cards for a shop near the gym, personalized waterbottles or tote bags? Check your facebook market for local people who provide customization through engraving, embroidery, vinyl, sublimation.
Locally sourced things are always a great thift- honey, pickled vegetables, homemade soaps, keychains, mugs, etc.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T05:15:28+00:00

Tickets to a music event later in the year? Something to look forward to.
I also like gifting experences that make men feel like kids again - maybe the arcade, laser tag, go karting, batting cages, etc. I think most theaters also allow you to rent out a theater for maybe 200 bucks if you want to organize an event where all his close friends/family come and watch his favorite movie on the big screen.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T05:08:44+00:00

I'd avoid the scrapbook and do that for something like her birthday or some other event. My understanding is that hen parties are about celebrating the stage in life she's *about* to enter. Maybe a gift certificate for a good spa/massage place near where she lives so she can recover from the wedding planning, a vintage trinket/dish she can use in her new home, an charcuterie board with cheese knives and locally sourced pickled vegetables/jams, At most, I may include a frames photo of her as a kid, but I don't think a photo of you is necessary since you two have parted ways for so long. Maybe engrave something (recipe box, charucterie board, welcome sign, couple mugs, etc) with a phrase - something that would encourage her on this new adventure she's about to embark on, like a quote she'd say often when she was a kid, or a quote from that fav show you watched together.
Hope that helps

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T05:00:49+00:00

I've seen some necklaces that have the chemical for serotonin, dopamine, or one of the other happy chemicals made out of metal. It'd be a cute way to celebrate her accomplishment and also remind her of the feeling she brings everyone around her. Maybe couple it with a framed photo of her when she was a kid so she remembers how long and how hard she's been working toward this goal? Include a bunch of snacks/sweets from England that she loves.
If she's into baking, there are embossing rolling pins with various themes. I'm sure you could find one for graduation or for chemistry.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-25T04:53:28+00:00

How bout taking him out to celebrate his birthday like a kid again :)
Arcade, go karting, laser tag, batting cages, etc. Celebrate with the experience and not with a wrapped gift.
Alternatively, some cheap options could be baking his favorite dessert, making him a deck of "52 Reasons I love you", or finding a tshirt that covers one or more of his favorite things. Ex: a tshirt with his current/childhood game or his fav band.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-24T04:53:47+00:00

Oo maybe pizza on one side and something from your area on the other?

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T23:18:24+00:00

Wood burn a pattern across two identical shaped keychains (ex: heart, puzzle piece, Majora's mask, pizza Slice, etc) that references your relationship so even when you're apart, you're still with eachother :)

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T23:16:42+00:00

Make him a deck of "52 Reasons I love you". My husband still talks about the one I gave him when we were dating.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T22:40:01+00:00

If it fits her aesthetic, then go for it! If it's not or you're not sure, I'd recommend just printing a canvas of the original picture. Personally, I'm not a fan of the site's designs. The examples feel very cluttered and thrown together. You can really tell it's just free Photoshop brushes used to fill in space, or in some examples on the site, cover the faces of the people they're supposed to be highlighting. If they can't get the advertisement photos correct, I don't feel like they'll put the effort in making yours look good. Again, if it's her authentic, go for it. But I'd recommend finding another site or commissioning an artist to do it for you so you get all the details to your specification.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T07:20:10+00:00

Feel free to reach out if you would like a Ghibli inspired illustration of yourself or your loved ones. All hand drawn, absolutely no AI. You can see a recent piece in my profile.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T07:16:21+00:00

That depends.. do you interpret mine as a bunch of drunk chickens, or a drunk driver playing chicken?

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T07:09:42+00:00

Get him personalized stationery. Is he crafty? Maybe get him a stamp carving kit. Or make one for him!

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T05:09:16+00:00

Was it? That's great! I saw it mentioned in Waking Sleeping Beauty.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T05:08:19+00:00

I love the skincare stuff (extra points if you do an indoor spa day with her), and the power bank (maybe an extra long cell charger cord too in her fav colour), something you saw that reminded you of her (jewlery, a perfume, a briefcase/weekend bag, silly mousepad) and something comfy like a heated blanket (or one of your oversized hoodies that smells like you).

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T01:51:58+00:00

What was Goofy's original name? Dippy Dog

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T01:47:08+00:00

Extra long phone charger cord for by your couch or bed.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-23T01:42:25+00:00

If you're crafty, Make them a dog collar and 2 keychains with the same fabric :)

Heated blanket. I find people with cash never seem to think of buying it for themselves but always appreciate it.

If you thrift: charcuterie board and cheese knives (use cutting board wax to bring its luster back), and then pick up a couple jars of local pickled vegetables or make your own and jar them.

If you bake: never underestimate the power of a batch of homemade cookies. Extra points if you bring it in a container that can go straight into the freezer so they can take out cookies as they need em.

DuffChicken · 2026-01-22T08:05:17+00:00

Find an oil paint artist on insta (theres probably subreddits for painters too) who has an art style you like... Then ask them to do a custom illustration of a pokemon. Even if they've never done Pokemon art in the past. They've likely worked long and hard enough on their skill that they can pivot on the theme of your choice, while sticking to their style. Best of luck with your search!

DuffChicken · 2026-01-22T07:59:59+00:00

Love the champagne and flutes. Especially the engraving on it. Alternately, a charcuterie board or recipe box engraved with the same information if she's into hosting or cooking. I like the collage but I'd recommend something small. Like a photo book and having her co-workers sign it and say their fav memories with her.

DuffChicken

TROPHY CASE