Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, a time when all things sweet and chocolatey are considered completely acceptable, even if you are on a diet. It’s one of only a few holidays during the year when candy is definitely on the menu. Those red, heart-shaped boxes are everywhere!
What I would like to suggest is that, instead of planning an expensive night out with your special someone or buying a gigantic box of chocolates, why not cook up a heart-felt meal at home this Valentine’s day? Better yet, make the meal together.
It’s been my experience that cooking for someone can be one of the most significant ways to show you care. All the time and effort putting a meal together comes through, and makes the occasion even more special. Ever wonder why you had the urge to cook a nice homemade meal for a person you were falling in love with? Or why making your kids’ favorite dishes gives you such joy? Because the energy, excitement and love that we put in communicates itself through the food.
Even if a meal doesn’t
turn out perfectly, the love you put into it is what counts. You have felt it yourself before: It’s why your mom’s homemade lasagna
or your dad’s secret barbecue sauce taste so good. When someone invests their
time, energy and love into creating something special and shares it
with people they care about, no other version of that same food is ever going to taste the same or seem as satisfying .
If you don’t have much experience with cooking, this is definitely
the holiday to try it out. The meal doesn’t have to be fancy, exotic or
take hours to prepare. Or maybe you cook everyday, all the time, and it doesn’t feel special
anymore. In that case, you deserve a night off and to have
someone cook for you for a change. This could be either your sweetheart,
your kids, or yes, some nice people at your favorite restaurant.
If you want some ideas, listed below are links to some fabulous recipes that are guaranteed to make your Valentine’s Day a memorable one.
For an appetizer: Oysters are often associated with Valentine’s Day because they are known to be an aphrodisiac. This recipe for Oyster Ceviche is delicious served with gluten-free crackers or pita chips. If raw fish isn’t your thing, a cheese platter with Heart Shaped Figs is an adorable way to impress your guest.
A simple soup: After an unseasonably warm winter so far, February is proving to be
not quite as kind as January. As the weather gets colder, warm up your
dinner guest with a festive red soup such as this Roasted Beet Soup with Crème Fraiche and Dill or this Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Crispy Chickpeas!
If you or your sweetheart have more expensive tastes, sorry, but I can’t help you out much there. Happy Valentine’s day to all!