Cooking for Two on Valentine’s Day

I always know when my special beau calls me on my cell phone, for it suddenly will start playing “our song.” Every time I hear it, my heart flutters.

Do you feel that way about your special someone? If you do, you might want to share a special meal for two tomorrow in celebration of Valentine’s Day. You could go out and enjoy dinner together at your favorite restaurant or the restaurant where you shared your first date.

But then, there is something about a home-cooked meal that says “I love you” even more than an nice restaurant. The good thing is that cooking for two can be done and can be a lot of fun if you pour your heart and soul into the meal planning and preparations. (Of course, if you’re just thinking about this today, you might be a bit pressed for time.) That’s why I’m posting this today (besides it being a Wednesday, the day I usually post).

Main Course
Valentine’s Day favorites include dishes that we don’t eat every day — steak and lobster, streak and shrimp, well steak and pretty much anything. But also good food choices for this occasion include those that are believed to be aphrodisiacs such as oysters, truffles, chocolate (ever wonder why the stores fill with boxes of chocolate around Valentine’s Day?), and asparagus. (Yes, I said asparagus. What, you don’t think asparagus is romantic?)

If this isn’t your style or you just want a nice romantic dinner, you might want to brush up on your seafood recipes such as shrimp scampi, roasted salmon, lasagna, chicken alfredo, and countless other favorites that you and the love of your life may share. (You could also go to the store and get some of these dishes partially prepared in the freezer section.)

If none of these seem appealing, go through your love’s personal list of favorites and cook something from there. Even if it’s chicken and dumplings, your special someone will appreciate the effort and that you put his or her favorite meal on the table. Remember, it’s the thought that counts!

Dessert
This may just be me, but I believe that dessert is also a very important part of the perfect Valentine’s Day meal. While you do not want anything so heavy that you can’t move afterwards (you’ll definitely want to be able to move) a light dessert of chocolate souffle, or cheesecake is an excellent ending to a beautiful meal. A simple chocolate mousse can be made within minutes by whipping chocolate pudding mix with some whipping cream. Top with mini chocolate chips or jimmies and it looks good enough to eat! 😉

Setting the Table
A good meal just tastes better when it is served upon a nicely set table. Get out the formal table cloth, the good China, the formal silverware, and light a few candles in the room. Have champagne on ice and some romantic music playing in the background. If you have a fireplace be sure to light a fire so that there is a warm glow in the room. You want your dinner to be an event rather than just another meal at home.

Clear the House of Distractions
Perhaps the most important thing about making your Valentine’s Day cooking worthy of a romantic event is to send the little ones off to a sitter or home with the grandparents for an evening. There is little to make the preparation and enjoyment of a meal much more enjoyable than being able to do both without constant interruptions from those children you adore. It is good to have time alone together for a relationship to build. One night out of the year certainly isn’t a bad idea when it comes to building a better romantic life with your mate.