Valentine's Day All Year Round

 It may be Valentine's  Day today but there's no reason that the feeling can't be carried throughout the year. A favorite dish can be cooked, A surprise of homemade candy can end a meal ot start the day. Food means love so bring on the delicious recipes made from the heart.

Yes, tonight is the night of candlelight suppers and dinners. However it can be spread throughout the twelve months. In fact it gets better as we approach Spring and summer.Think a dinner out by the fire pit.Have a bottle of wine or even champagne in a nearby bucket and pretty flutes to toast.Fire up the grill for delicious steaks . To make those cuts even more special serve them with a fileto Piemontese, This is a creamy sauce made from anchovy filets cooked with Marsala or sherry and cream. The steaks, usually filet mignons are placed on quickly pan fried buttered bread and them the sauce is poured over them. Filet mignon burgers are another tasty and lush way of showing your love. Omaha Steaks sell them and you can easily grill them the way you do regular burgers. Another lush romantic dinner is shrimp cocktail. Already cooked and deveined shrimp can be bought at your local grovery. Serve these on crushed ice whether at a candlelit dinihg room table our outdoors in a romantically lit grotto. Think romantic picnics as the temps rise. Some parks and beaches will let you stay until the stars come out. It's then easy to plan a starry date night nibbling on pate and toast , njoying fresh air and a full moon.

This is also a day for sweets. Nothing says love than baking your beloved' favorite cake, pie or cookie. It doesn;t even have to be a special day to whip up an old fashioned scratch cake complete with butter cream frosting. The same goes for cupcakes too. You can even write sweet messages in the icing too, just to show your affection. As we approach fruit season, then think of pies and crumbles. These make for a lovely way of expressing yourself to even family members and friends. Everyone appreciates a good fresh from the oven peach or strawberry pie. Serve it with vanilla ice cream for an even more sweet way of saying "I Love You". Making candy together  is always fun and romantic . Surprisingly enough those rich tasting truffles are simple enough to whip up in a home kitchen. There are only four ingredients - dark chocolate chips, heavy cream , butter and vanilla extract. The chips are chopped and placed into a bowl where gently warmed cream is poured over them. The butter is then added as is the vanilla extract. Stir until the chocolate has compeltely melted and then have it set in the fridge for two hours. Roll the ganache into balls then roll a second time in choped nuts, sprinkles ro mini chocolate chips.

Carry this romantic day though the year. Enjoy a romantic night in midsummer. Make candy for a fun fall weekned. Let it be Valentine's Day all year long.