Valentine's Day Recipes

Valentine's Day is the most romantic time of the year.It's a time for celebrating love and expressing how we feel about our partners. A popular activity is eating out at a favorite restaurant but eating out can get expensive plus all the waiting to get served since it is a busy day.How about cooking a meal at home instead?

A home-cooked meal adds a more personal touch and can involve both partners. or even surprise your partner.If you decide to cook on Valentine's day,choose simple recipes.Choosing difficult recipes would involve more time in the kitchen and less time together.Don't forget to thnk about the other partner's food preferences and dietary restrictions.

You can also save time buy buying all the ingredients a day or two ahead of time so you won't be rushing around to buy ingredients.The following recipes should be easy to prepare in no time and
and suit any tastes.

PASTA FOR TWO

1/2 pound linguini
6 Roma Tomatoes - cut and diced
6 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive oil
1/3 cup fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Few turns of fresh ground pepper

Heat oil in a medium-high skillet, add pepper flakes, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute (don't brown the garlic). Add the tomatoes and cook till tomatoes start to wilt. Add Basil and cook for 1 more minute. Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss.

VALENTINE'S SALAD
1 package gelatin -- lemon flavored
2 cups water -- fruit juice
10 marshmallows -- cut in pieces
1/2 cup apricots -- cut and drained
1/2 cup dates -- cut
1/2 cup maraschino cherries -- sliced
1/2 cup celery -- finely cut
1 cup grapefruit -- canned, drained

Directions:

Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup hot water or fruit juice and add the remaining cup of cold liquid. Chill
until partly set, then add remaining ingredients. Pour into individual heart-shaped molds and
chill. Unmold for serving on chicory or curly endive which will give a lacy effect. Garnish each
salad with an arrow of mayonnaise forced through a pastry tube.

PINK MASHED POTATOES
4 potatoes
1/2 cup milk (heated in the microwave)
4 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper
Red food color

Directions:

Peel potatoes and cut into 10-12 pieces, put in pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce
the heat, and cook for about 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Turn off the stove, pour
the potatoes into a colander and shake to get the water off. Out the potatoes in a bowl; with an
electric mixer or hand beater, beat the potatoes, butter and a little salt and pepper, adding the
milk while you mix. Add food color carefully until it is a pretty color

HEART- SHAPED CUPCAKES
Ingredients:

1 box Cake Mix
Frosting, white or pink colored
Cinnamon Hearts or other heart candies
Aluminum Foil
24 Paper cupcake liners

Directions:

Prepare cake batter according to the directions on the box for cupcakes; pour into cupcake liners in cupcake pan.Roll small pieces of foil into a ball about the size of a marble. Place one foilball on the side of each cupcake, between the pan and the paper cupcake cup. This presses in thebatter and makes the heart shape as the cupcake cooks.Cook as directed on box; cool as directed,
then frost with prepared frosting and decorate with cinnamon hearts.

VALENTINE SHAKE
Ingredients:

3 cups milk
1 cup strawberries
3 ice cubes

Directions:

Put all ingredients in blender. Mix. Pour into glasses.

Don't forget to set a Valentine's Day atmosphere. A vase of pink or red flowers make for a nice table decoration and a matching tablecloth. Light candles and play some romantic music in the background.Just remember to think romantic when planning a Valentine's Day meal!