Women Living Beautifully

When I told a friend of mine what I was posting on the Blog she said she thought I should share my favorite romantic dinner recipe with you because it’s become her favorite too. It’s really very simple and you can do most of it ahead of time.

Personally, I start out with an appetizer and Champagne or wine. I usually pick shrimp or sushi. Something simple but elegant, just make sure it’s something that both of you enjoy. My husband is a meat eater so his favorite is beef tenderloin, which you can usually have cut at any meat counter. It doesn’t have to be more than a couple of pounds. I rub it with olive oil, a little garlic and pepper. Then I roast it in the oven uncovered for about 45 minutes at 450*. Be sure to cook it just until it’s rare. This is important; because you are going to turn off the oven and let it sit to keep it warm and it will still continue to cook, (however let the oven cool down a bit or it will end up too well done)

You want this part done right before he’s due to arrive because it will keep you from getting bogged down in the kitchen when you’re trying to be romantic! Just remember not to leave your dinner in the oven for too long, no more than 30 to 45 minutes in a warm 250 to 300* oven, you don’t want it well done or dried out. Keeping everything covered, (including your potato or rice, and your sauce if you choose to do them.) And put a piece of aluminum foil lightly over the top of your roast to keep it nice and moist.

Prepare your favorite salad and have it pre-plated in the refrigerator so you just have to add dressing. If your guy is a potato or starch man like mine, then you can always prepare or purchase a potato or rice dish that can be fixed and ready at the same time the roast is done. (Keep it warm in the same oven.) If I’m serving rice, I usually use an ice cream scoop to put it on the plate, which keeps it nice and neat. If you need butter it’s fun to use a small cookie scoop and make butterballs ahead of time, or neatly slice stick butter in little squares so you don’t have to put out a big butter dish. You can serve your tenderloin with a nice horseradish sauce (Sour cream and horseradish mixed together works great, do it to taste and serve it chilled on the side or do a packaged sauce you make before he arrives and keep it warm.) You can put a little on the plate place the sliced tenderloin on it and drizzle a little more across the top of the meat. Add your potato or rice and a little garnish such as a couple of orange slices and a strawberry or some other little fruit garnish you put together ahead of time and your plate will look beautiful. You can serve your salad before your entrée, or with it, (if we take a while over the hors de oeuvres I usually serve them together) either one works, and of course I add his favorite beverage or Champagne.

Pre set your table with your prettiest dishes and glasses and add a red rose. Keep it intimate and pretty and lit with lots of candles and you’re ready for a lovely evening. If you have a small table you can set up by the fireplace, try serving your dinner on that. For dessert, once again for this occasion, stick to simple, something pre prepared or his favorite chocolates.

Don’t have time for dinner; try a romantic lunch at your favorite restaurant. Bring him a red rose and a hand written personal note from you telling him how much he means to you. In cold weather, if there is a Botanical Garden near you, try lunch nearby and then take a walk in the gardens. Near the water, do lunch by the water and take a walk down the beach, or a marina and look at the boats. During the time you are together make a pack between you that you will only talk about other romantic things you’ve done or would like to do together in the future. Don’t talk about anything that will destroy your romantic atmosphere, leave that for another time.

Between special someone’s? Don’t let that get you down. Spend some time with a special child for Valentines Day. I’ve done that several times, especially when my husband was traveling. They are some of my favorite Valentine memories. Kids are really into Valentines. They love to get them and give them. I’ve done this with my nieces and nephews and also my daughter and even with her little friends.

I set the table with pretty dishes and put cutout hearts all over the table. Then I make all their favorite little sandwiches, like peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese etc. I use cookie cutters to cut them out, or slice them in different shapes. You can use toothpicks to make little fruit skewers, and little carrots with ranch dressing or whatever dressing they like the best is good. Celery cut in one inch pieces filled with cream cheese or peanut butter is another kid favorite. Along with apple slices and the prepackaged Carmel sauce for dipping.

Kids love the flavored cakes that have fun frosting. Or try making heart cutout cookies and let them decorate the cookies. “Strawberry milk”, works well because it’s pink. You can get the strawberry flavoring at any grocery store where the chocolate flavoring is. Put it in a pretty pitcher or teapot and pour it into little cups or small glasses. If moms join us, then I serve tea for the mom’s or if they’re from the neighborhood and don’t have to drive, maybe even a glass of wine.

You can spice it up a little by having the kids play dress up, they will love it and so will you. Give them each a little bag of Valentine candy to take home and if Mom or Dad aren’t there celebrating with you, you can always have them make a special card to take home. A little construction paper or plain white paper, crayons or markers and a few hearts and stickers work great.

If you have a favorite fun thing to do for Valentines Day, please share it with us.

Have a Beautiful Day, Until later …
Heart Hugs,
Susan Marie