Happy Valentine’s Day….oops! Last Minute Valentine’s Gifts

Well, today is the day and if you haven’t planned ahead, you may be sweatin’ depending on where you are in the country, you might just be a few hours away from the big moment, with a little less than a big bang for your sweetie or family. Okay…chill and remember this!

Valentine’s Day is not just for lovers, but for LOVE! It’s all about the love, so connect to that glowing ember in your heart and dig deep in there to find the real words, thoughts and sentiments that say “I love you!”

Since its too late for online shopping, try these ideas:

FEED THEM

They say the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, so here are some lovely meals that might make their heart’s swoon.

LOVER’S BEEF BURGUNDY FILLET from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lovers-Beef-Burgundy-Filet/Detail.aspx

Ingredients

• 4 cups Burgundy wine
• 1 1/2 cups canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups soy sauce
• 2 cups oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 8 (6 ounce) fillets filet mignon
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon Burgundy wine
• 1 tablespoon minced shallots
• 1 tablespoon minced green onions
• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, mix together Burgundy wine, canola oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic and oregano. Bring to a boil, and then remove from heat. Place in the refrigerator 1 hour, or until chilled.
2. Place filet mignon filets in a 9×13 inch baking dish, and pour the chilled marinade over them. Cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for a minimum of 5 hours.
3. In a medium bowl, cream butter and 1 teaspoon of Burgundy wine with a hand mixer. Mix in shallots, green onions and white pepper by hand; cover tightly, and refrigerate.
4. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
5. Grill marinated filets to desired doneness, turning once. Place filets in a clean 9×13 inch baking dish. Dollop with the Burgundy butter mixture, and place in the preheated oven for a minute, or until butter is melted

APHRODISIAC VEGETARIAN MEALS http://blisstree.com/eat/meatless-monday-10-aphrodisiac-vegetarian-recipes-for-valentines-day/

FIG SALAD WITH GOAT YOGURT AND PEPPER CRESS

Ingredients

DIRECTIONS

• Whisk together first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Season with salt and reserve.
• Sprinkle figs with fleur de sel; set in center of plate. Drizzle dressing on figs; scatter pepper cress and mint over. Season with olive oil and Indonesian pepper.
• * Also known as Balinese long pepper; available at specialty foods stores, Middle Eastern markets, and from zingermans.com.
  CHICKEN AND CHOCOLATE MOLE SAUCE

Chicken Mole Recipe

Chicken:

Ingredients:

• 1 chicken quartered
• 3 cloves of garlic peeled lightly smashed
• 2 tomatoes, small, halved
• 1 spring dried oregano
• 1 half onion

Method:

1. Cover ingredients with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for half an hour.

Mole: (You can cheat and buy Mole Sauce…shhhh!)

Ingredients:

• 5 ancho chili halves, dried, seeded
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 half onion, sliced
• 10 tomatillos, halved
• 1 plantain, ripe, sliced
• 3 pan dulces (little sweet breads, can be substituted for 5 dried tortillas and some sugar)
• small piece of cinnamon bark (substitute 1 tsp. dried cinnamon)
• 3 oz. chocolate
• Pinch of dried oregano
• 3 Tbs. sesame seeds
• Pinch of black pepper

Method:

1. Lightly fry anchos, bread, plantains
2. Place in a bowl and cover with cooking liquid from chicken. Lightly break up ingredients and let soak while preparing other items.
3. Toast sesame seeds in a frying pan for a minute. Add remaining ingredients (including chocolate) and fry to soften.
4. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend smooth adding chicken broth as needed. You will probably have to do this in a couple batches.
5. Simmer the blended mole in a large pot with remaining chicken broth for ten minutes. Add salt and sugar to taste.
6. Add chicken pieces and simmer an additional 10 minute

Read more at Suite101: Mole Sauce Recipe: Sophisticated, Traditional Recipe from Chiapas http://www.suite101.com/content/mole-sauce-a16706#ixzz1DyK5zlhz

OTHER APHRODISIACS TO TRY:

Almonds, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocado, Banana, Basil, Chocolate, Carrots, Coffee, Coriander, Fennel, Figs, Garlic, Ginger, Honey, Licorice, Mustard, Oysters, Pine nuts, Pineapple, Raspberries, Truffles, Vanilla and Wine

GIVE A CARD

You can create your own cards here: http://www.dltk-cards.com/custom.htm, customize them and print them up 🙂

Nothing says, I love you more, than just plain ol’ saying it. Try writing about things that you remember from the first time you met, or what your favorite thing about your husband, boyfriend or buddy is, just find different ways to tell them you care.

For the kids….they like to hear that stuff too, so make a list of all the special things you love about them and play songs tonight that remind you of special times in your family’s life. I promise, your Valentine’s Night will be special, just because you showed them how much  you love them.