SEXY & SOBER VALENTINE'S MEALS

This section was created by Marjorie J. I only changed the page
font and border to match the entire Food & Bev section ~Alceon

A shared 'meal for two' can always add to a special romantic occasion.  Whether a candle-lit formal dinner or finger foods in front of the fire,  a special meal for just the two of you is always a great accompaniment to loving conversation and other delights.

For so many of us, such meals always included spirits of the bottled variety & it's difficult to imagine the occasion without them.  It's now time to fire up the imagination and  invent your own new tradition for a sexy, sober, 'can't-even-tell-my-best-friend' celebration.

Here are some menu ideas for your romantic repast.   All have been pre-tested & are sure to please.

Formal Dinners

Start your candle-lit dinner for two with an elegant appetizer.  Delicious, yet homey Scalloped Oysters can be prepared ahead of time & baked while the rolls are heating.  Vegetable Antipasto Salad offers a variety of taste & textures.  If your honey likes shrimp, either Shrimp Scampi or a traditional Shrimp Cocktail might be just the thing. Or, a cold & spicy Shrimp Remoulade.  Check out  Shrimp Appetizers for these three recipes.

For the main course, you might want a traditional 'special' meal such as Prime Rib or a Rack of Lamb.   We have recipes that are just right for two!  If you lean to lighter fare, Chicken and Asparagus en Papillot is full of flavor yet low in calories. 

Bring out your special glasses and serve a flavorful fruity drink with your dinner, followed by a rich, flavored coffee.  Check out some special beverages further down the page.  Additional ideas can be found on the main F&B section.   (F&B Beverages).

Casual & Sexy

Sitting on floor pillows in front of a roaring fire may be more your style.  If so, a big platter or bowl of food to share is the ticket.  Tostada For Two is a fun meal that doesn't need forks or knives, just fingers.  Serve with lots of extra tortilla chips & salsa.  A Crab Omelet makes a nice, light meal and can be prepared quickly.  This recipe comes from one of San Francisco's oldest restaurants and is wonderful!

If you like seafood & cracking shells, what could be more delicious than sharing a large bowl of bouillabaisse for two?    Add two or three baguettes or a big loaf of sourdough bread & you have all you need.  Or, you can re-enact that famous Tom Jones' scene with this very flavorful Crusty oven fried chicken.  It's especially good with  quick & easy Orange Drop Biscuits . 

Any of these ideas would be enhanced by an accompaniment of a fruit salad of grapes (both green & purple), orange wedges, and strawberries.

Beverages

Serve your meal with wonderfully cool fruit concoctions that are easy to prepare with your blender.  Bring out your pretty glasses & toast each other with these tasty treats. 

Pineapple Snow                             Raspberry Spritzer                         Ruby Refresher

Orange Swizzle                             Fresh Fruit Frappe                       Strawberry-Lime Slush      

After dinner, serve your favorite coffee, tea or other hot drink.  Make your coffee special by adding spices.  For brewed coffee, add whole cloves (2 to 4), and/or a stick of cinnamon to the coffee grounds.  For instant coffees, add ground spices -- a tiny pinch of ground cloves, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, and/or 1/8 teaspoon  cinnamon per cup.  If you're a chocolate lover, add cocoa mix -- about 1 tablespoon per cup.

Other hot drinks you might want to try are:

Mulled Cranberry Juice              Spicy Hot Tea

If you don't want to be bothered preparing your own hot drinks, check out the flavored coffees and special teas at your local supermarket.  They have a wonderful selection that includes low fat, non-sugar and decaffeinated.

Be sure to check out the main F&B Beverage page for additional great ideas!

Whatever you decide for your menu, LifeRing wishes you and your honey
a satisfying & sober Valentine's Day celebration!