Valentine's Day is Saturday, hence the descent of chocolate, sprinkles, cupcake confetti and pink whipped marshmallow frosting in great billows over the food blogosphere. Oh yeah, and steak, cheese fondue, and hearts, hearts, hearts. It seems like the same food gets trotted out every year for Valentine's, and we're curious why. Hearts are just too easy to make out of all kinds of food (witness the dried figs above) so they are understandable.
But chocolate, steak, and red wine? Are they in your food plans this Saturday? Tell us what you're planning, what you're eating, and where you'll be. (Well, for dinner, anyway.)
When I was single I took the opportunity to indulge myself a little on Valentine's Day -- a bottle of good wine and something delicious and ambitious. I also threw parties: this raucous, kitschy Anti-Valentine party was particulary memorable. If I was throwing a party this year it would be a more genteel afternoon tea with girlfriends and this pink party table.
Being married, I plan on a simple meal with some favorite things to eat, and a reminder to appreciate those we love. Just because it's rammed down our throats by retail consortiums doesn't mean it isn't true.
And frankly, while chocolate and steak are also rammed into our collective consciousness, I think Valentine's Day should be about whatever you and your loved ones want to eat. So, what are you eating come Saturday night?
(As for us, we are, I admit, craving a good steak.)
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If I get an invite, I'll probably go out. If not, I'm thinking mushrooms in marsala tossed with orzo sounds good served with roasted brussels sprouts and a little chocolate ice cream for dessert. Or maybe a cupcake. I've been wanting to bake lately.
we're thinking of making our own sushi at home. It's a fun, romantic activity to do together with delicious, elegant results. Perfect valentine's day date.
For dinner I'll make my hubby's fave... a simple pasta/basil/parmesan/pine nut dish. Very simple, very aromatic.
Going to a local Carribean restaurant, for a Valentine's dinner they are having. Their food is really great and it has a fun casual atmosphere. Also making Chocolate Griddle Cakes with Chocolate Sauce for my wife who is seven months pregnant and really loves anything that goes well with milk right now.
heart shaped pizza!
the BF and I are going out to a restaurant that makes these rolled pasta things (with an artichoke pesto cream sauce, or special for V-day a salmon cream sauce) that I have literally been dreaming about for weeks.
I am also baking him a chocolate cake that he has been hinting about but he doesn't know I'm making yet. Its our first v-day together so I am going to disgust myself and make it heart shaped. I usually make everything from scratch, but he REALLY wants this cake - http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dessert/the-best-chocolate-cake.html
so I think I'll oblige him this once. ;)
sorry to make all of you northerners jealous but...
on saturday my husband and i will be walking to the farmers market before noon and gathering bits and pieces for a picnic by the bay.
on our way home we'll stop at whole foods for whatever in the butcher section looks good and grillable.
dinner will be simple grilled meat and veggies. desert will be nigella lawsons' choco-hoto-pots and a cirtus sorbet (if i get around to it on friday).
http://www.oprah.com/recipe/food/recipesdesserts/food_20030718_chocolate
Not sure what we are eating yet. We have been a little under the weather so it will probably be decided about mid-morning. Where in the South do you live, Nenasadije? I wish we had a farmers market we could go to. Thanks for the ideas, guys!
I am going to try this Mark Bittman recipe: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/dining/281mrex.html?_r=2&ref=dining
the cheese in the photo with the figs looks really good. anyone know what kind it might be?
Chocolate chip pancakes with chopped fresh strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast, Short ribs braised in a chile, coffee, red wine reduction served over mashed potatoes for dinner, with flourless chocolate cake and fresh strwberries and whipped cream for dessert. And yes, I fully expect one of these dishes to give me a heart attack, either in the cooking or eating, which seems appropriate somehow for v-day.
I think we'll make some juicy pork chops that I have in the freezer and roasted brussel sprouts. I would like to try my hand at bittman's chocolate souffle so I think that is what we'll be having for dessert.
I will be making french onion soup and... something ... for dinner, with butterscotch cookies for dessert. The whole thing will probably be served with cough syrup to drink, though, since we're both sick. Or maybe I'll get fancy, and serve hot soup with hot toddies. ^_^
we are going to make a lobster mac n' cheese which i am super excited about!! and probably make his fave chocolate cookies and maybe i will make a yummy raspberry compote with them
We dont care to go out this year on the actual day. We'll be making brunch together on saturday: Cheesy Bacony Scrambles w/ a side of
Bagels covered in a lite cream cheese, Golden hash browns and Sausage links
Accompanied along side a small fruit salad
Served w/ Mimosas
Ending with Chocolate dipped Strawberries
My beau and I are having some people over for roast chicken, pumpkin orzo, salad, and chocolate chip cookies. (Plus I got two of the recipes I'm using from this site!)
I'll be eating here! http://www.patinagroup.com/cgi-bin/menu.cgi?url=http://www.patinagroup.com/east/menu/valentinesDay/brasserie8.swf&LinkName=Brasserie%208%20%bd
And baking lots of cookies of course. :D
We are staying in because I think its overcrowded and overpriced usually out. I just splurged on a black truffle that we'll be having with a simple pasta. Before that its oyster and some endive citrus salad. I'm not a bit chocolate for dessert person, so likely something creamy like creme brulee. All of that with a bottle of champagne will be a bargain compared to if we were eating it at a restaurant.
We're making braised short ribs together and I'll be attempting a chocolate souffle (this week in Bitten).
There will also be wine--first we'll drink whatever's leftover from the bottle we use for the short ribs recipe, then we got some bubbly red thing the wine store guy told us to try.
I'll be eating a pint of ice cream by myself.
those heart figs look very yummy!
"Special" pancakes (I can't explain it, but it will be cool). & Later on, strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting.
My Hun loves ribs, so ribs it is, and probably a white chocolate chip macadamia nut pizza cookie.
It will also be our 20th anniversary...
With 2 little 'uns (and at $25/ hour for a babysitter and $35 an entree in this town, we are NOT going out), we will be having a simple meal that just happens to be everyone's favourite (even the picky 2 year old): steak with a red wine sauce, oven fries, and salad. Something fast after yet another birthday party gig in the 5 year old's circle (the 3rd this week).
And a baked Alaska for dessert, like the one featured here earlier this week. I am just baking the chocolate sponge cake for it now.
clgoggans - i'm in florida, south of tampa. it's supposed to be clear and 78` on saturday.
The fiance and I are going to a place in the neighborhood for some really amazing mac n' cheese and a bottle of wine. Easy.
Put the little one to bed and try to grab a blissful hour of nothing with my husband.
We went to SF last week and had a special dinner there. I hate going out on V day.
We aren't big V-Day people, so I'm making the Rustic Winter Stew (pork and sauerkraut) from Feb. 9 and the Coconut Hot Chocolate from the NYT on Feb 6.
Though, if babysitters get $25/hour, I may have found a lucrative alternative for tomorrow.
Making Persian Love cake and having cocktails using my homemade chili tequila with friends...
the cake recipe is here... http://kitchenplay.blogspot.com/2009/02/persian-love-cake.html
Surf and Turf, Salad with a home made beet based dressing, pinwheels, and a hot-out-of-the-oven cookie icecream sandwich.
One of the best Valentine's Day meals I had was the first time my husband made me dinner. I don't remember what he made, but the effort he put into it was better than taking me out to a restaurant. We usually go out to eat so staying in is more special.