Valentine's Day

All the best recipes needed to help you have the best couples dinner ever. From intimate appetizers, dinner for 2 ideas to desserts and handmade gifts!

I've have you covered for February 14th!

What a perfect holiday to celebrate with your loved ones. Whether it be you and your significant other friends or your little kiddos!

Before I share recipes, I wanted to give you a few ideas on how to make the day a little extra special. Here are our tops tips for an amazing Valentine's Dinner:

Use champagne glasses for sparkling cider or another yummy drink to make it more special. (Plastic for the kids)
Add some candles to your dinner to make it a little more special.
Add a coloring book and box of crayons to the table for the kids to color before or during dinner.
Keep all the food pink or red to make it extra festive!
Include fondue with the dinner. Whether it’s savory cheese or sweet caramel or chocolate with fruit, everyone will love it!

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When it comes to building a menu for Valentine’s, it all starts with the main dish.

Are you cooking for 2? A couple of gal pals? The entire family?

Once you’ve decided that, you can go on to pick your appetizers, drinks, sides, and dessert.

I feel it's always a good idea to do a mix of homemade and store bought food so you don’t have to create every part of the meal. For example, make the main dish and buy a bagged salad and fruit for sides. Make the dessert and buy the drink. Makes for less work, but just as good. Semi-Homemade is the best!

Main Dishes

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Spaghetti & Meatballs

Side Dishes

Zuppa Toscana Soup

Stuffed Mushrooms

Parmesan Crusted Roasted Asparagus

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Ramen Noodle Asian Salad

More Side Dishes

I want to share all of my best tips and tricks that have helped me over the years to help you with all your special holiday meal planning.

VALENTINE'S DAY DESSERT DRINKS & GIFT TIPS

I love to make this a special day for my Husband. And one of the best ways to do that is with a dessert or special treat! Here are a few tips:

Use Cute Decor: Pink, red or heart plates make the table festive. Even a few balloons or a pretty bouquet centerpiece make it look special.
Don’t stress if you don’t have time for dessert! There are great ideas on this list, but other store-bought ideas include: chocolate covered strawberries, mini chocolate heart boxes or favorite candy bars for each guest or kid.
Another easy dessert idea is FONDUE!! Use my homemade cookies and cream dip, cream cheese fruit dip or cannoli dip and have fruits, marshmallows, mini cookies and more to dip in.
Use champagne glasses for sparkling cider or another yummy drink to make it more special. (Use plastic for the kiddos.)
Sprinkle the table with candy conversation hearts or other Valentine’s candy. You can even add a small box of Oreo truffles to each plate as a treat for after dinner.
Make sugar cookies for a treat and let the kids frost and decorate them after dinner.
Make a special jewelry piece as a gift for each of your friends, and set at each of their place settings with their names on them.

Desserts

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Sugar Cookies

GIFTING VALENTINE'S TRUFFLES & COOKIES

Gifting cookies is big tradition for me, so here are some of my top tips for packaging and gifting cookies for any holiday or occasion:

The easiest is to put the cookies in a store bought box or tin. Dress it up by putting piece of tissue paper, or holiday/occasion inspired napkin, in the box before placing the cookies inside and finish it off with a pretty bow of ribbon or twine.

Wrap in Cellophane: On a cute ceramic plate cover with plastic wrap or doily. Stack cookies in a pyramid form. Place the plate in the center of a piece of cellophane, bring all the sides up over the plate and gather them together. Tie with ribbon, tulle or twine.

Bake the cookies the same size and stack them in a large mouth mason jar. Cover the lid, or with fabric or paper, or wrap jar in a pretty kitchen towel. Tie a ribbon around the top and add a cute tag.

Save those Pringles cans! Wash and dry, then wrap the can with decorative paper. Stack the cookies in the can, cover with the lid, and top with a gift wrapping bow. So easy! Great for teacher gifts!

Tube bags make the perfect pretty cookie packages. Stack your cookies, since the top closed and tie with a ribbon and personalized tag.

A brown lunch bag is pretty in its simplicity. Stack cookies in a brown lunch bag. Fold the top over and punch two holes. Thread a simple ribbon through, tulle or raffia also work, and tie the top closed. Add a cute tag to the front of the bag.

OTHER GREAT GIFT IDEAS

Jewelry - always makes a wonderful gift! Check out my handmade jewelry gifts for your sweetheart!

Wreaths - are a huge trend right now and so easy to make. Makes a great supra gift they can use every year!

Gift boxes/baskets - fill a cute container with all their favorite things. From spa products, to snacks and everything in between. Wrap in cellophane, tie with a ribbon and personalized tag.