what is everyone doing for Valentine's Dinner?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

I was thinking about going all out, but I just got done with Super Bowl. Now I'm thinking of just putting out a mess of crabs, some really, really good sourdough bread, a bottle of great wine & then something chocolatey (of course) for dessert. I'll have to think of something for an appetizer, but have time.

Anyone else have plans?

PS if you don't have an SO I think everyone should just make a nice dinner for themselves. :hug:

[NMDemDist2]

1. we're gonna be on Deathwatch for our store and away from home

12 hours a day, M-F for the next month or so, so I really doubt I'll be able to do much more than throw some pasta in a pot and open some jarred "gravy"

We are hoping in a couple weeks we can alternate days so one of us is home to get other stuff done but we'll see how it goes.....

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. Deathwatch doesn't sound good.

What's going on?

:hug:

[NMDemDist2]

3. we're closing our retail store

it's time and I'm really ready to do something different, but still.......

[eyesroll]

4. My SO and I are collaborating!

Not sure how or on what...but this will be fun.

When he met me, he was a pasta-and-jarred-sauce/grilled cheese cook. In other words, he didn't starve to death, but he wasn't a gourmet either. He's learning. (And, truth be told -- he's a lot of fun to cook for, so my skills have come a long way in the last year, too.)

We will be planning a menu for V-day and for the day after (having a vegan friend over) tomorrow. I'll keep everyone posted.

My year-ago V-day menu, for anyone who's interested, was a salad of heart of palm, artichokes and olives; sandwiches with proscuitto and fresh mozzarella; citrus segments dotted with pommegranate seeds; and a cheater pot au creme (from Rachel Ray, of all people) for dessert.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

6. That sounds fabulous.

But, I just did 7 appetizers, dinner, homemade bread & dessert for 20 (& spend a bundle) & just can't get into doing a lot of work. & sometimes simple is really, really good. I've done fancy stuff with crab & lobster too, but the taste of fresh seafood can be so great that sometimes all that work just covers it up, you know?

[eyesroll]

7. I'd go simple with fresh seafood, too...

We'll probably go fairly simple ourselves. We'll see.

I might do a fancy dessert, though...it's been awhile for that.

[Warpy]

5. Eating the dregs out of my dad's freezer

and let me tell y'all, I'm down to the stuff that neither one of us liked much.

I'll wash it down with diet soda and get back to work.

The good news is that I'm outta here on Friday, ready or not, and back to a real kitchen with sharp knives and a gas stove.

[NMDemDist2]

8. I happy you're almost done Warpy

I know it's been frustrating and difficult for you :hug:

[catnhatnh]

9. Not Valentine's Day.....

....But the official start of summer is just 7 days away when they throw the flag at Daytona!!!And THAT calls for a big dinner...(5-8 guests)....And I haven't fleshed out the menu yet but I Damn well know the main course has to be steaks marinated in basalmic vinegar and cooked on the barbecue with wood smoke pellets...With that as a start,how can I go wrong???

[Lugnut]

11. Thank goodness!

I'm going help-yourself for our Daytona 500 party so I don't miss a single mile of it. I'm doing pulled pork BBQ, cole slaw, red potato salad, some kind of grab and go dessert, plenty of munchies and cold beer. Your menu planning is off to a fine start, cat. Enjoy the race. :)

[politicat]

10. In theory I have a meeting....

But. I'm not entirely certain I want to spend my evening with a bunch of bachelors who complain about politics even if the restaurant is really fabulous. Okay... I tell a lie. I'm very certain I don't want to spend the evening with a bunch of bachelors complaining about politics.

Plus, I have a blood donation appointment Tuesday afternoon.

DH is a meat and potatoes boy at heart, so I'm thinking I may just go pick up a sirloin steak, poke it into submission, grill and serve with oven roasted potatoes and some green vegetable he won't hate too much. We've been laying off the beef for some time, so it would make a nice change. Maybe break out the springforms and make a flourless chocolate cake or the cathedral bundt and make a devil's food.

He hates Valentine's Day, and I'm pretty not happy about it (I really don't like the feeling of smearing the fact that yes, I am happy in my marriage in the faces of people who aren't, or don't or can't) so going all out is not an option.

[babylonsister]

12. Maybe nothing. Today is our anniversary (talk about

not thinking ahead!) so will be making linguini and clam sauce, salad, garlic bread. Tomorrow, meh. My birthday was earlier this month, so poor DH had/has 3 'events' to deal with.
It's called celebration overload here.

[NMDemDist2]

16. we have that too, Wedding anni on 2-4, then Valentine's, then my sobriety

"birthday" is the 28th

and then my birthday birthday in April. he usually just gets me one big gift for all 4 :bounce:

[wildeyed]

13. Going to my grandmother's funeral.

Seriously.

[babylonsister]

14. My condolences, wildeyed.

:hug:

[NMDemDist2]

15. oh wild, I'm so sorry.

I knew she was ill over the holidays

I'm sorry for your loss :hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

18. Wild .... sorry about your loss. Our thoughts are with you.

:hug:

[Lugnut]

21. I'm so sorry

Please accept my condolences.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. In our house, every day is Valentine's Day ..... and I'm so lucky to .....

.... have my sweetie .... my Sparkly Fairy Princess.

[Sparkly]

19. Awww.....

[NMDemDist2]

20. get a room you two!

:evilgrin:

[mike_c]

22. where'd I put the insulin...?

eom

[mike_c]

23. bah humbug....

Not much to add about that! And who's been sticking these hearts on my posts? And yer little dog too!

[The empressof all]

24. I'm with you on this Mike

I'm the originial Valentines Day Grinch now that I've sworn off the rich, creamy, velvety, chocolate morsals I could be eating if I wasn't trying to be so god-damn good....

I'm opening up a bag of Trader Joes Manderine Orange Chicken and if they're lucky I may even throw some rice in the rice cooker.

Bah Humbug X2

[eleny]

25. Big, fat juicy hamburgers with lotsa raw onions and some fries

Green tea, iced. And some white zinfandel tonight.

Only people married 25 years+ could stand each other's breath after that!

Happy V Day to all the lovely people here - and this mean all of you.