HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

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Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day may mean construction paper cutouts

and conversation hearts, or it may mean champagne

and long-stemmed roses, but it should always mean

homemade expressions of love.

Whether your valentine is five or ninety-five,

here are some ideas for lavishing everyone with love.

 

*** The Food of Love

Maybe your plans include a decadent dinner for two, or maybe it will be afamily affair with little hearts hoping for plenty of sweet treats. Either way, your mouth will water for our Valentine's Day ideas.* Get a Sweet Start. Breakfasts:

 

Everyone will flip for special Valentinepancakes. Liven up plain batter with chocolate powder or cinnamon.

Use a turkey baster to "draw" with pancake batter right onto the hot griddle,making hearts, kisses, animals, or letters.

Serve with raspberry syrup or sliced strawberries.

For a really decadent start to the day, set up awaffle banana split bar for the whole family, piling fresh or frozenwaffles high with ice cream, bananas, chocolate syrup,

whipped cream, andchopped nuts.

Don't forget the cherry on top!* Awaken All the Senses:

 

When planning a Valentine dinner menu,

include an array of textures, colors, aromas and flavors in the meal.

Try to pair soft and smooth textures with crunchy and chewy ones;

choose foods with vivid and contrasting colors; and make sure

that rich flavors are accompanied by refreshing ones,

and that a salty meal has a touch of sweetness thrown in.

To get your Valentine in the mood, it's always a good move to make

his or her very most favorite foods, but a touch of the newand unfamiliar will make imaginations soar.

And by carefully combining the familiar and the exotic,

you'll pluck your Valentine's heartstrings just right.* The Well-Decorated Dessert.

 

Have a ball with fruit purees and chocolate, caramel, or custard sauces by "painting" the dessert plates with them.This is easiest when you put your sauce in a plastic squeeze bottle

but it can also be done with a spoon.

Make a pool of sauce in one color, and then make small polka dots

with another sauce of a contrasting color and flavor on top of the pool.

By dragging the tip of a toothpick through the middle of each polka dot

you can create a flock of tiny hearts swimming across the dessert plate.

Or, create stars by starting at the middle of each dot and dragging

the toothpick outwards several times.