What is on your Valentine's Day menu?

[hpymomof3]

I would like to plan a nice dinner and dessert for my family for Valentines Day. I won't have a lot of time to spend on it so I need it to be fairly quick and simple. Any ideas?

[Karenciavo]

I kind of hoping someone will cook for me. :D

[Mom2jnb]

Not very exciting...Not very original but we are doing heart shaped Pizza and I always make a heart shaped cookie.

But....the fam LOVES it. :)

Alison

[Lady_Dulcinea]

A cheese one for the meal and a chocolate one for dessert. That won't be quick and easy for you though!

[Mad Charity]

Whatever they have on the menu at the Japanese restaurant down the street. They have specials and they are yummy. It is a little scary eating off the cheapo section of a sushi menu... I'm tooooo busy to cook these days and anyone who loves me would not expect me to do so! :D

[Kendra]

But I too need it to be simple. So here's this year's menu:

--watermelon hearts from Family Fun magazine (http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50501)
--broiled salmon (squeeze a little lemon juice on them and broil about nine minutes total)
--pilaf (melt 1/2 stick butter, brown broken fideo noodles in butter, add 2 c rice, then 4 c chicken broth, cover and steam 45 minutes)
-- green beans and matchstick carrots (sauteed with a little butter, turbinado sugar, and water)
-- homemade crescent rolls
-- cream puff pies with sliced strawberries:

Makes 2 Pies

1 c water
½ c butter
1 c flour
¼ t salt
4 eggs

400 degrees. Grease two glass pie plates. In a small saucepan, heat water and butter to a rolling boil. While stirring, add flour an salt. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat; put mixture into large bowl and beat in eggs, all at once, until smooth. Spread smoothly in bottom only of pie pans. Bake 35-50 minutes or until outside edges are puffed and golden.

Filling

2 large boxes instant vanilla pudding
1 quart whipping cream
1 c powdered sugar
2 t vanilla
2 c milk

Chill metal bowl and mixer beaters. Pour whipping cream into bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until cream forms peaks. In a separate large bowl, mix pudding and milk until well blended. Spoon whipped cream into pudding and fold in. When blended, spoon mixture into crusts. Chill several hours or ideally overnight.

Hope that helps!

[nancypants]

Originally we weren't going to do anything but a couple (friends) offered to babysit so we are going to our favorite downtown restaurant. Yay!

[Kendra]

To make it easier, make the store-bought crescents or buy artisan rolls from a bakery. Make the pies the night before.

[Kristafish]

I haven't even thought that far in advance :)
Hopefully I will get a few good ideas here :D

[Rachel]

make Valentine's special for my hubby. Kids are going on a date or to a dance so we will have the evening to ourselves.......hmmmm

So I'm planning on doing candles, music, sprayed sheets, etc... in the bedroom

But I'm wondering what we should do for dinner.......my husband usually cooks during the week, but I was hoping to keep cooking to a minimum (at least in the kitchen KWIM)........LOL

Any suggestions?

[Tonia]

My menu isn't really quick or easy, but it is what dh requested - lasagna, salad, garlic bread and strawberry shortcake for dessert. To make it quick and easy - I'll make the cake today and stick it in the freezer until V. day. My spaghetti sauce is all made so I will probably make the lasagna up the day before and keep it in the fridge so my actual preparations on V. day are very small.

[Ferdie]

We are having lasagne, salad and french bread. I am going to try to assemble the lasagne the day before so I can get a break from cooking dinner on Valentine's Day.

Ree is posting a Valentine menu on her cooking blog:

http://thepioneerwomancooks.com/

I usually have heart shaped pancakes for breakfast. I love the idea of the heart shaped pizza - maybe for lunch.