Happy (almost!) Valentine’s Day, foodies!
Anyone can make dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant. But it takes someone with confidence, creativity, and ambition (pssssst--that’s you!) to make your sweetheart a romantic meal at home. Are you ready, foodies? Here are my top 10 Valentine’s Day recipes:
Start the evening off with my Bacon-Wrapped Blue Cheese-Stuffed Dates. Every ingredient you need to make these is in the title of the recipe: blue cheese, dates, bacon. Some things just needn’t be overdone! Plus, if you make my bacon-wrapped filets, you’re making the most of your ingredients!
My French Onion Soup Dumplings are the ultimate appetizer—they’re a finger food and soup in one. If you have trouble making the “purses,” as directed, just fold the dumplings in half from corner to corner and make triangles. Your sweetheart will still be impressed!
Talk about the ultimate indulgence. Spoil your sweetheart with my Easy, Elegant Lobster Bisque. It's smooth and sinfully delicious. Make it the day before to save time on Valentine’s Day and just set it over low until warm. And, if shrimp or crab meat is more attainable, use it instead of the lobster.
My Bacon-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce tastes like something you’d order at a five-star steakhouse. Merlot, Malbec, or Shiraz are all great options for the red wine sauce. Serve the rest of the bottle with dinner and you’ve got a no-brainer perfect pairing.
Try my Filet Wellington Bites if you’d like something a little more unique. If you’re making a lot of dishes, you might consider this entrée because it’s smaller than the previous recipe. You might even serve these as an appetizer, considering you can eat them with your fingers.
If you or your sweetie has more of a chicken and white wine kind of palate, you’ll love my Chicken Breast with White Wine and Mushroom Cream Sauce. Talk about easy! I would suggest a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio with this recipe.
Whether you opt for beef or chicken, my Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with the beef tenderloin. You’ll fill your “veggie” requirement and it won’t seem like you’re eating vegetables. Lighten the dish up, if you like, with low-fat cream cheese and light butter or margarine.
Again, great with beef or chicken. My Side Stuffing with Artichokes & Cremini Mushrooms is as fresh and different as it sounds. Take the time to grate your own Parmesan cheese—don’t buy the kind in a jar. The flavor will just be so much richer!
If you’re a planner (and if so, go YOU!) you can make these Chocolate Cherry Valentine’s Heart Bars now and freeze them until Valentine’s Day eve. (Heck, you could even make them this June for next year—they’ll last about eight months in the fridge!) Or, as with the soup, make them the day before so you’re less stressed the night of your big dinner.
You know what would be really romantic? If you made these Chocolate-Champagne Truffles and put them in a gift box! You just might get out of a card and flowers with this idea. MIGHT.
You can find all of these recipes on one easy-to-reference pin. Check out my Pinterest page if you haven’t already!
Keep it flavorful!
—David