I was in a strip mall in Los Angeles when the proverbial light switched on.

, drained (from.store-bought or homemade.

Heat the oven to 400°F.Oil a large baking dish (about 9 x 13 inches)..In a large stainless-steel frying pan, heat the oil over moderately low heat.

Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes.Stir in the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until the meat is no longer pink, about 2 minutes.

Drain off any excess fat.. Add the tomatoes and salt to the pan and bring to a simmer.

Cook until most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes.We spoke with chefs, servers and people who've been proposed to in restaurants to compile this list of seven things you should know if you're planning on.

popping the question over dinner... Do not propose at the beginning of the meal.

A server at an upscale NYC restaurant says she's never seen anyone flip a table, get slapped or say "no" during a proposal, but she has witnessed egregious miscalculations, especially when it comes to timing.. "We knew there was going to be a proposal because he told us when he made the reservation," she says."He ordered a. bottle of Champagne.