My Rules of Love, Love

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chocolate covered strawberries, Valentin'es Day menu, Valentine's Day dessert, Valentine's recipes

I just love love. Don’t you just love, love? I guess that would make Valentine’s Day one of my absolute favorite holidays of the year. I love all holidays and in true me fashion, no holiday ever goes uncelebrated…for at least a week. Did you know you can make your own holiday rules? You can. And these are my rules. I like them.

Not only do my rules extend the celebration, but they offer a chance for BOTH parties to participate in the planning and full enjoyment by each person of a holiday. Right? See my plan now? These are well thought out rules y’all.

For Valentine’s Day 2014, I took Monday through Thursday. I left the weekend for Hass. I think it’s fair if one has the week celebration, and the other has the weekend celebration. Weekdays can be quick little bursts of something out of the ordinary like a wonderful weekend meal on a weeknight, or a special dessert. Maybe a bath with candles and a glass of wine, or board games in the front of the fire. A foot massage or a “free” night from chores. Maybe you camp out in your living room with tent and all, and the fireplace can be your campfire. (Note: Do not roast marshmallows over gas logs. Don’t ask.) We are still kids right? Isn’t this fun?? Again. My rules.

My personal planning of Valentine’s Week for Hass went a little something like this.

Monday night before Hass came home, I had purchased a new piece of artwork for the family room. A piece we had seen multiple times and he loved. It didn’t take long for him to notice it hanging above the fireplace in the family room. In return, I got a big hug and a kiss, and that crazy cute smile of his that I adore. It looked something like this. He’s an avid runner and loves the outdoors.

Tuesday and Wednesday brought these gifts of framed, hand sketched photos of his two sons wrapped with heart paper and a super cute blinky bow! Love. That. Bow.

Aren’t those amazing? They were hand sketched for me by a dear friend, Melissa Collins. Her work can be found here and I would highly recommend you check her out. She is spectacularly amazing. www.graphitelife.com.

And then…there was my gift of Valentine’s dinner.

We started the evening with homemade Avocado Cilantro Hummus with sliced cucumbers and pita wedges while we played a few games of Gin Rummy. My mommy would be so proud. She loved to play Rummy. Almost as much as she loved to drink Vodka while playing Gin Rummy. Miss. That. Woman.

The appetizer was followed by a light salad of Watercress, Spinach and Arugula greens topped with fresh sliced strawberries, blackberries, dried cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese drizzled with a really spectacular raspberry walnut vinaigrette dressing. Our wine selection was Prisoner, a nice red blend of Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet.

Then, came the main course. Chicken Bouillabaisse with Big, Fat Yeast Rolls!

These were HUGE. BIG & FAT!! Like a great big, billowy cloud of risen yeast. Mmm…..

Finally, for the grand finale, I served White and Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries over Vanilla Bean ice cream with a drizzle of Limoncello and honey. A few Blueberries snuck in there somehow. They jumped. I saw them. Tsk, tsk…my rules!

And with this…my part is over! Oh what fun we had!

Now it’s Hass’ turn! I AM SUPER EXCITED and I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve for Valentine’s Weekend! Tonight he has asked me on a date for dinner at a beautiful Italian restaurant and to the ballet to see Romeo and Juliet. I love that boy. He is one in a million and I’d watch paint dry with him. He also has a surprise for Saturday and who knows what that might be. I guess we will have to wait and see!

I just love love. ❤

White & Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Limoncello Honey Drizzle

Ingredients:

1 container fresh strawberries
1 container Easy melt chocolate
1 container easy melt white chocolate
Sprinkles of your choice
1 bottle Limoncello
1 tub Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
2 tbsp. Honey

Directions:

Microwave the chocolate in tubs one at a time according to package directions. Dip each berry, then shake off extra chocolate. Quickly roll in sprinkles of your choice and place on wax or parchment paper to dry. In a bowl place a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle with honey and limoncello and top with berries. EASY, romantic and delish!