Food for thought: Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Can you feel the love in the air? Along with the love, I also sense some doubt, mild bouts of panic and an eagerness to please. Because, get this: Valentine's Day is not all about love. There is an element of showing you care, wanting to "take things to another level", and creating a perfect cocoon of romance. All those things take planning, and they often involve food. So here are some ideas for nice and naughty things for Valentine's Day, especially for those wanting to seal the deal...

Preview for a newish sweetie:
Before Valentine's Day, make a super dinner. This will take some pressure off you and will show off your skills but make them seem like an everyday feat. Italian food might be nice. People often suggest avoiding garlic and strong spices/seasonings for a super-romantic time, but this time, you can make some solid comfort food. I'd avoid soup, as boiling liquid and constant stirring often make it look like the work is too hard.

Pasta with Bolognese sauce Tip: try fettucine to catch more of the sauce, if you want the "Fox and the Hound" effect of slooping up pasta and staring into each other's eyes
Pappardelle with Vegetable Bolognese vegan before you top with grated parmesan

Salad? Try this versatile recipe-- Seasonal Country Salad with Spiced Walnuts. The walnuts can be prepared ahead of time. There are various options based on what's in season

Wine? Serve your Bolognese sauce with Beringer Sangiovese

For dessert, make a tiramisu sundae: half a slice of plain cheesecake (no fruit) with coffee ice cream. Sprinkle cocoa powder on top. If you want to take it up a notch, try the following: buy a whole plain cheesecake, but not too big. Trader Joe's has some nice small ones. Allow a pint of premium coffee ice cream to get a little soft. Use a spatula or large knife to spread ice cream over cheesecake. Sprinkle with cocoa powder--Nesquik will do in a pinch. Freeze for 3 hours, or until firm.


Valentine's Day

The rules for a romantic meal usually are:

• eat light (you can nibble on grapes throughout the night) to keep you spry
• if you opt for rich food, serve in smaller portions
• keep garlic & onions to a minimum
• keep it simple, so you can avoid stress
• make some things you can keep at room temperature
• make some things you can eat with your hands
• impress with little touches like a roaring fire, candles, flowers, good music

Most tasks can be prepped beforehand, so relax!!!

Make a salad of cucumber ribbons and a light vinaigrette. It's something you can make ahead of time.
I like the looks of this cucumber salad with jalapenos and minced peanuts. Only make this salad if you know your sweetie likes it hot and doesn't have a nut allergy! Also, use seedless cucumbers to save time and make ribbons (use a peeler and peel along the length of the cucumber).

A raita, a cucumber salad with yogurt (with sliced/ribboned instead of grated cucumbers), could work as well.

For a simple Italian salad, combine 1 pint grape tomatoes, 1 handful kalamata olives with brine/oil and 1 8-oz container baby mozzarella balls--usually in water--, drained into a medium-sized glass bowl. It can all fit in a small mixing bowl. Use 4 fresh basil leaves and tear them into bits over the other ingredients. Add some black pepper, salt and olive oil to taste & look like you exerted some effort. Great food you can eat with your hands, if you really want.

Main Course
A petit filet mignon hits the spot for me. Salmon, tuna, or chicken also work. If you like finger food, try shrimp. Just remember, you may not want to linger in the kitchen, and small, quick-cooking items may need your attention.

Vegan or vegetarian? Try a rich lasagna, as it fills a plate but won't fill you up too much. Plus, you can leave it in the oven a while.

Vegetable
I love green beans amandine, baby carrots, and mixed lettuce salads. Grilled zucchini, too. I avoid mushy medleys and pungent smells, liked cooked cabbage.

Dessert
Why not go with fancy chocolates, a nice, warm dessert, or fresh fruit and liqueur?I love Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur. Try it straight in beautiful little goblets, on the rocks, over ice cream, or try soaking cantaloupe in some and chilling while preparing the meal. Or put it in coffee or hot chocolate. Other substitutes include Godiva liqueur, Chambord--great wi, and Kahlua (but not with cantaloupe!). I love Chambord, Frangelico and half-and-half or milk over ice. It's a version of a drink called nuts & berries. So good!

Other menu sources:

Gourmet's Valentine's Day Dinner for Two

Bon Appetit's "Cook it Together" menu for Valentine's Day


After all that effort, make sure you smell good!
Next week, I head to Sephora and sniff out the best perfumes to give, get and wear.