A day of romance. The one time a year you confess your love, right? Then why is this a day that involves flowers and/or candy and dinner? It’s Valentine’s Day! With that, we at epare believe you need to be planning for the day, not making reservations for dinner.
We have put together a few recipes with this in mind. Follow our timeline as we roll out the Day of Love.
If you really want to impress this Valentine’s day, start it off the moment she wakes up. Every morning she heads to the kitchen and makes coffee for the both of you. Now it’s up to you. Head down there, grind some fresh beans, froth up some warm milk, and serve up something special. We propose this Red Velvet Latte, found from Honey Suckle Catering:
Red Velvet Latte Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp beet juice
- 2 tbsp ground coffee
- 1 cup steamed milk
Instructions:
In a mug add the cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and beet juice. Then mix well into a paste.
Next grind coffee beans and prepare a shot of coffee. Add it to the mug and pour into a heart shaped latte art.
http://www.honeysucklecatering.com/blog/red-velvet-latte
Now with the day in full swing, surprise her and show up for lunch with a small picnic. Nothing too fancy here, and since she is at work you should probably skip the alcohol. We recommend a nice light Brushett, with heart shaped toast. This is something that won’t be too heavy as she rolls into her afternoon, leaving her with a fond memory of how sweet you are:
Bruschetta Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 french baguette
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 and ½ cups minced minced roma tomatoes
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Instructions:
In a medium mixing bowl, add the tomatoes, garlic, basil, vinegar, olive oil, cheese, salt and pepper.
Mix thoroughly and let sit for at least 15 minutes at room temperature to let the flavors marinate.
Slice the bread into individual pieces then use a heart shaped cookie cutter or a knife and cut the piece into a heart shaped. Then spoon the mixture on top.
http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/best-ever-bruschetta-443987
Now as the day winds down, no doubt you have dinner plans. However can we suggest something a little bit non traditional….Don’t go out. Let’s face it, service is always lacking on Valentines day. The kitchen staff is slammed and probably a little bit less concerned with quality. It is hands down, one of the worst nights of the year to eat out.
We propose a light dinner and a tasty dessert. If you really want to have some fun on Valentines Day, don’t overeat. How about a light salad followed by something romantic like chocolate dipped strawberries?
Here is great strawberry Balsamic salad recipe to get you started, courtesy of epicurious:
Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- N/A freshly ground pepper
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/balsamic-vinaigrette-234241
In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, mustard, and garlic. Add the oil in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Strawberry and Spinach Salad Recipe
- 1 package of fresh spinach
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ½ cup pecans
- 4 tbsp crumbled feta
- 4 tbsp sliced almonds
http://simpleseasonal.com/recipes/strawberry-spinach-salad-balsamic
Wrap the night up with the chocolate covered strawberries we mentioned, some smooth jazz, and low light. There you have it, a full day reminding her of your love. If you need anymore help, let us know. We give excellent relationship device.
On second thought, we take that back. If you need the tools to make this happen, we have you covered. Head over to our Everyday Gifts section and find everything you need.
If you need actual advice, you should probably seek someone a little more qualified.