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With Valentine's Day right around the corner, it's time to think of what to make my sweetie for dinner. I've come up with a romantic menu that includes Peppered Filets with Cherry Port Sauce for 2 from our J/J 2010 issue and Spiced Chocolate Molten Cakes from F/M 2012. Or maybe we should go out this year. Do you plan a special dinner for someone special in your life or make dinner reservations?
we NEVER go out....not on Mother's Day or Father's Days either....to many people and the prices get jacked up..
I will be making beef stroganoff for dinner and double chocolate cupcakes for dinner...
your dinner sounds very tasty too...
It's not how you start, it's how you end....so end strong!!
Walk yourself strong!!
Well, I no longer have a "sweetie" to worry about, tho I have had many in my lifetime.... all wonderful memories. When I did have one, staying home was always my first choice. Ya never know when the mood to romp will hit Romantic dinners consisted of foods that we wouldn't usually have - like lobster tails with tons of garlic butter, or prime rib with baked potatoes, or a filet mignon. Never anything "ordinary."
The most romantic meal we ever shared was just after we had moved from Turkey back to the United States and were living temporarily in Visiting Officer's Quarters (with three kids) at the now closed Fort Ord, in Monterey, California. We found a baby sitter, and walked to the beach, with a picnic basket full of ice cold shrimp, horseradish sauce, cheese cubes, wine, apples and grapes. We watched the most glorious sunset into the Pacific Ocean, while skinny dipping on the shoreline. Ah, such sweet memories.
♥ Life is a song, sing it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a dream, realize it, Life is a sacrifice, offer it. Life is love, enjoy it. And, life is cooking, eat it. (Sai Baba & Judy)♥
♥ Judy Batson, Field Editor, Taste of Home, 2009 ♥ Reader Council, Simple & Delicious, 2011♥ Contest Winner, Country Woman, 2011♥ Meet me at Cooking for Two.
I am so jelous of your stories. I have work all day and college class in the evening so I will only see my hubby at 4:45 in the morning and 10 oclock at night when I get home. I got him a card and I will leave it on his side of the bed when I make it in the morning but I wont see him much. Maybe we can celebrate this or next weekend. :(
Desiree :)
Since our anniversary is so close to V day (17th) that we have always just done the card-flowers-candy thing..but the first anniversary I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and had a 11 year old step son to care for so my MIL took our oldest son for the night knowing that alone time was not going to be a option for a while to come, and I felt very good and I made DH Beef Wellington, Buttered carrots, asparagus spears roasted , a nice tossed salad, iced tea and for desert we had cherries jubilee (flaming) over french vanilla ice cream..it was a wonderful evening and for the table he had brought me 1 long stem rose in a vase... our second son was born on the 23rd........every year he added another rose after a while I ask him to get plants instead of cut flowers so we could plant them in our yard after 38 years of marriage we have plenty of wonderful memories and plants in our yard
Linda
LOL -- yes, we WILL be going out Tuesday night, to a brightly lit gymnasium (with live entertainment).
Our younger son plays high school basketball, and there's an away game that night. Jim and I generally hit up a school's concession stand, in hopes that the other team's parents will do the same at our home games. So probably nothing on the menu as romantic as Wendy's yummy choices -- for us, it'll be more like pizza slices or nachos in a paper tray.
On the other hand, no dishes to wash, no reservations to make, no trouble getting seated -- and an evening drive through the countryside!:)
Have plans to make a crock pot of chili but will make DH his favorite dessert, Cherry Delight. Am working on trying to clean out the freezer and need to use up frozen juice and meat and that is what I had put on the menu. But he likes soup with corn bread and will be suprised with the dessert since I don't make it as often in the winter time, it seems more of a summer dessert.
It seems we have been eating out at several winter meetings and parties so staying home on the 14th will be a welcomed slow down.
Nancy
Beema, I love your romantic picnic on the beach! Picnics for two can be so romantic but on the beach blows it out of the water. Unless we take a trip to a warmer climate on Valentines day, the beach experience is not going to happen. In Wisconsin, our picnics are in front of a crackling fire indoors which, now that I think about it, doesn't sound like a bad idea. Like Shelley, we never go out for Valentine's day. I agree, they hike up the prices for special occasions like Valentines day, Mother's day and so on. I can make a special dinner for less than half of what it costs to go out. And when life is hectic, staying home can be a welcome alternative. Desiree, don't fret about not having the perfect scenario for Valentine's day. After raising four kids, I've found out that just saying "I love you" everyday and showing your love with the things you do go much further than that one Valentine's day.
Beema: those memories sound beautiful! I went to Monterey once, about 20 years ago, and it was lovely.
My husband came home from work around 4:30 and had to rush off for more work about 3 hours away. He will try to be home tonight around 1 am. I made a jello cake (it uses white cake mix with a box of jello for flavor and color) in a heart shaped pan- but I guess we'll just have more of it tomorrow night.
Keep Smilin'! A good laugh- for any reason- will do anyone good!
I choose to stay in for Valentine's Day. Like someone mentioned above, I avoid Mother's Day, NYE etc. as well, because I find the restaurants are so packed that you don't often get the attention or service you would on a typical night out. I also find that there is usually a fixed menu, which on special nights I personally find means poorer quality because the kitchen is just focused on getting meals out of there as fast as they can!
I think there is something special about sharing a meal that you have made together. A lot of fun is in the prep-time. Plus no need to worry about drinking and driving allowing you to fully enjoy a glass (or bottle!) of champagne or wine!
You can usually find me reading or in my kitchen creating something sweet (sometimes savory) when I'm not working at PartSelect!
The restaurant industry will not like us, but I think the vote is in and staying home wins. Hooray. We are all more comfortable with being romantic in the privacy of our own homes, I think, and the point of not worrying about driving while even the least bit impaired is reason enough in itself.
Hope Everyone had a wonderful and memorable Valentine's Day !!!