Valentine's Day Menu

I always make a special meal for my family for Valentine's Day.

This year I am at a total loss as to what I should make...any ideas?

Just as a reference ---

2 years ago I made poached salmon and asparagus served over rice with a butter chive sauce. For dessert I made chocolate covered strawberries that I decorated with each person's initials ... and other ones had hearts and swirls, etc.

Last year I made some really nice steak with balsamic glazed onions, roasted baby red potatoes and roasted asparagus. Then I made little mini pudding pies with strawberries.

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

I let DH pick whatever he wants... this year he requested lobster ravioli with my homemade vodka sauce and garlic bread! I am getting off easy!

We actually are having it Monday or Wednesday I think.. he plays basketball Tuesday's!

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

I would try thinking about the main protein you want to have, or a theme that your family would like to help plan the menu.

In the past I have also done salmon and steak, but you have already done those.
I have also done mussels and finger foods.

What are your families favorite "special" or expensive restaurant meals? Is there something you can re-create?

There are just so many options, you need to start narrowing down your path to get suggestions. Foodnetwork.com, MarthaStewart.com, all of these sites have Valentines Day menus and ideas. Maybe see if anything seems interesting to you there.

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Well, Dh isn't a fan of a lot of protiens other then chicken, beef and pork. CHicken is by far his favorite.

He doesn't like much seafood at all. The year that I made the salmon for all of us, he ate his own chicken that I made him...he won't touch salmon.

I went onto allrecipes.com and saw a good recipe/video for roasted garlic and herb chicken breasts. It looked super easy which is great right now since I am 34 weeks pregnant so I think I will go with that.

You marinate the chicken in some crushed garlic, fresh parsley, olive oil, salt & pepper for 30 minutes. Pan sear to brown it then put it in the oven to finish cooking.

I will make some roasted baby reds or fingerling potatoes with garlic and olive oil and toss them with some fresh parsley when they come out of the oven and also serve side salads of mesculin mix, halved cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onion, balsamic and oil.

I am still deciding on dessert. I saw cheesecake stuffed strawberries that looked delicious on Pinterest. Or maybe just some angel food cake parfaits with homemade whipped cream and strawberries...everyone in the family will love that and it'll be super easy to throw together.

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

We are going to be having green salad, shrimp cocktail, rib steaks, ,burnt broccoli, and for dessert molten lava cakes . We are doing this over the weekend b/c during the week it is so hectic, by the time we sit down to eat dinner we are exhausted, we are up at 5AM most days except, Sundays, DH is a teacher and tutors on the side- so his schedule is crazy this time of year.

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

How about petit filet mignon seared and served medium rare with homemade potatoes au gratin and haricot verts with a simple drizzle of lemon? You can also serve butter poached lobster for you and your husband so you have a nice surf & turf.

Or..

Chateaubriand with a burgundy reduction, a salad of micro greens and cherry tomatoes dressed up in a raspberry walnut vinaigrette, some duchesse potatoes and bundled baby carrots with a butter chive sauce?

Or..

Coq au vin (chicken braised and simmered with wine and herbs and pieces of bacon) served with homestyle noodles and buttered peas?

For dessert you can do peanut butter truffles or a chocolate souffle. OR bananas foster. OR.. a crepe filled with banana and nutella and topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries..

ETA: I THINK I am probably going with popular demand and making chicken enchiladas with yellow rice & pigeon peas. For dessert I am thinking a chocolate fondue with fruit, marshmallows and biscotti. And sparkling apple cider for all!

Message edited 2/9/2012 10:59:33 AM.

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I don't know about dinner yet but I know dessert

http://pinterest.com/pin/154459462189808217/

This is one of my fav desserts!

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The last few years, we've gone to the Melting Pot for Valentine's Day. DH just got me a fondue pot for Christmas, so I think we'll stay home and have fondue and then go out another night to some place different.

We'll hopefully do cheese fondue with veggies and bread. I'm trying to decide on something small to serve after that. I'd like something easy and not too heavy. Maybe crabcakes? For dessert, chocolate fondue of course. I haven't tried chocolate yet but I'm excited to give it a shot!

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I forgot about Valentines Day when making my menu but the dinner I already have planned for Tuesday is perfect. I'm making Pork Chops with Beer and Bacon Gravy and mashed potatoes. I've made it before and it's amazing!

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Starting with heart shaped lobster ravioli from Uncle Giuseppe, then filet Mignon with asparagus and loaded baked potato. May have lobster tails. Will decided on Wednesday (when we're celebrating since DH is working on Tuesday)

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

Posted by LadyBug1209

Posted by Little-J-Mommy

Posted by rojerono

How about petit filet mignon seared and served medium rare with homemade potatoes au gratin and haricot verts with a simple drizzle of lemon? You can also serve butter poached lobster for you and your husband so you have a nice surf & turf.

Or..

Chateaubriand with a burgundy reduction, a salad of micro greens and cherry tomatoes dressed up in a raspberry walnut vinaigrette, some duchesse potatoes and bundled baby carrots with a butter chive sauce?

Or..

Coq au vin (chicken braised and simmered with wine and herbs and pieces of bacon) served with homestyle noodles and buttered peas?

For dessert you can do peanut butter truffles or a chocolate souffle. OR bananas foster. OR.. a crepe filled with banana and nutella and topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries..

ETA: I THINK I am probably going with popular demand and making chicken enchiladas with yellow rice & pigeon peas. For dessert I am thinking a chocolate fondue with fruit, marshmallows and biscotti. And sparkling apple cider for all!

Can you PLEASE write a cook book already!!!! Seriously, your passion for food and family screams off the page!

I seriously drool whenever I read your food posts!

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A due of butter poached Lobster and seared sea scallops with a lime butter sauce.

Served with an arugula, pine nut, and parm cheese salad. I might do roasted potatoes, not sure. I may just leave it protein and a salad.

Dessert is Belgian chocolates and flour less chocolate cake

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* Baked Garlic Shrimp

* Rib Eye Steak with Garlic Marinade

*Grilled Asparagus with Double Lemon and Parmesean

*Fudge-covered Brownies

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I'm making

*penne a la vodka
*fresh garlic bread
*caesar salad

*chocolate cupcakes filled with cherry glaze and topped with whipped frosting and coconut flakes

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Probably bar food...it's our bowling night

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I'm either going to go with a braised pot roast with red wine and buttered egg noodles or a mini Thanksgiving type of dinner with turkey breast, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing and glazed sweet potatoes.

Dessert will probably be chocolate chip cookie brownies

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

Baked lobster in a butter sauce
Garlic bread
Oven baked corn on the cob
Baked bananas sprinkled with cinnamon/ honey served with vanilla ice cream

Message edited 2/14/2012 9:19:28 PM.

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DH is making rib eye steak, shrimp, and twice baked potatoes! I'm SO excited. DH has never cooked before-except for on the grill, so it should be an interesting evening!

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I am AMAZED at what your guys are making for dinner!! I sit here and drool over it. Just one question...how do you find time to cook all this stuff??

Tonight I got home from work at 6:30...tomorrow I get home at 8:30pm. I'm up and out of the house at 6:30am too. Teaching and tutoring takes so much of my time!

I'm so jealous reading your posts!! Anyone want to invite us over for dinner?!

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Well, here is our valentine's day dinner!

Garlic and Herb Roasted Chicken Breasts

Parslied Roasted Red Potatoes

Side Salads with halved cherry tomatoes, red onion and balsamic

Dinner went over well and was super easy to make!


And as per DD's request I made brownies and topped them with whipped cream and strawberries. She saw something similar at Stop N Shop and wanted me to buy them so I told her I'd make them homemade instead!





And Yea, your grandma had those plates when you were little, right?

Re: Valentine's Day Menu

Looks great!

On Sunday I made my time consuming fancy meal:

I made a pesto from: toasted almond slivers, cherry tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and one cup reserved pasta water.
I then sauteed mushrooms and onions. In the oven I roasted red peppers. I then made breaded chicken cutlets. After that I used the same mushroom/cutlet pan and added a dry white wine reduction and added back all the ingredients. Served over spaghetti. It received rave reviews.

Tonight I made:
mozzarella caprese salad (sliced mozzarella, sliced tomato, basil, dripped balsamic dressing in heart shape on plate)
6 oz fillet minion from Omaha Steaks (YUM!)
baked potato
heart shaped cookies
The kids asked me to make this every night.