Valentine's Day Love Fest: Create Your Own Aphrodisiacs

You may believe aphrodisiacs are all in the mind, or you'd rather think they're more realistic when applied somewhere else in the body. Whatever your plans, it's worth a try to make your Valentine's Day an aphrodisiac-enhanced time with that special person.

Some legends and realities you may consider for the occasion could include the following potions, presents and performance-enhancers.

Candy, cake and cookies: Make and bake your own from the basic ingredients, plus spices that are said to have aphrodisiac properties. They could include fennel, ginseng, saffron and cardamom. If legal in your area, add what famed poet Gertrude Stein put in her cookies, cannibus sativa. You can use your artistic skills or cookie cutter to create special loving, or gently suggestive, shapes.

Alcoholic drinks: Humorist Dorothy Parker wrote, "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker!" Serve your Valentine's Day companion some exotic mixed drinks and wines that will enhance the romantic atmosphere. For example, who could resist a Harvey Wallbanger and its implications. It's a combination of vodka, hazelnut liquor and orange juice. Another could be the fuzzy navel, composed of peach schnapps, orange juice and lemonade.

If you'd prefer to use wine in your seduction plan, probably the best would be champagne. Just the popping of the cork and the bursting bubbles can be enough of an aphrodisiac moment to get things started.

Tomato soup: If serving dinner is part of your plan, start with tomato soup. The bright red globules were once called love apples, so there must be some truth to the legend that they are aphrodisiacs.

Just to be sure, add some fresh tomato bits to your canned soup, and sprinkle on chopped red radishes. If the ancient kings considered radishes holy aphrodisiacs, give them a try.

Oysters: Of course, everyone knows the sexual powers of those bivalves. Serve them in a cream stew or fried in batter. Some oyster species constantly change sex from male to female and back again, and the legend insists this melds the masculine and feminine partners in love. Be oysters for an evening, and do some role-playing games to enhance the mood.

Asparagus: As a vegetable with your oyster main course, serve some cooked fresh asparagus in butter sauce. This was served to Old World bridegrooms on their wedding night as an extra boost to their efforts.

Bananas: For dessert, serve sliced bananas mixed in whipped cream, with strawberries on top. If eating the combination isn't sexy enough, get into the shower together and smear it all over each other.