"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

Friday, February 10, 2012

Valentine's Pre-Game Planning

I love Valentine's Day! Sure, it's a Hallmark-created holiday that obligates everyone to show their love/affection/tolerance of others in a materialistic and frequently gaudy manner…

Around here, we make it about the family, not just the married ones. The kids are completely involved and feeling downright smothered in love by the end of it. But the best part? Dinner.

Dinner on Valentine's Day takes days of planning, searching, and prepping. See, I get a little obsessive about having everything heart-shaped and in the appropriate color range. I try things a little differently each year because I be crazy just for fun but some items stay on the table, like my soaked pear halves and goblets with heart-shaped ice cubes. Also, if there isn't jell-o in some form, the kids tend to mutiny. However, I've given up on attempting to make carrot slices look like hearts instead of an orange Pac-Man and eating chicken hearts is a bit too literal for me.


For six years, we've done this. The first year, I made a heart-shaped meatloaf (and I didn't have a blog then, so no pictures). While it was easy and tasty, it didn't look so great. Ever since then, we've gotten into a pizza rut, which I managed to change last year, but might pay homage to this year with a Stromboli. I'll have the pears, jell-o, and ice cubes, maybe even the salad with heart strawberries. But where I'm really stuck is dessert. I wanted to make a cake with a heart in the center but the pan is backordered and I don't think I can manage to do it myself. My second choice is to bring out the chocolate fountain again, but alas…it has gone missing. (And I'm offering amnesty for it's safe returned! Really, I'm not mad. I just want it back.)

Any suggestions for dessert?

Also? Valentine's Day was when I first started this blog! And since my blog will be turning five years old, I thought a giveaway was in order. So be sure to check back on Monday, Feb 13th. I'll post a review of a pretty snazzy piece of software along with the chance to win it for yourself.

9 comments:

Kristina P. said...

See, I think this stuff is fun. But as far as just me and Adam celebrating? Meh. I don't really care.

Rebecca said...

aw how cute hert shape metloaf. hubby and i don't do anything special for valentine day bu ti do get chocolate for little man he thinks it's fun. as for dessert how about strawberry shortcake you could make the shortcakes into hearts as well.

Kristie said...

I was going to do a heart shaped pretzel jello for our dessert that is WAY yummy!!! I can't wait to see your pictures from this year!! :)

Jillybean said...

We usually have spaghetti with slices of heart shaped garlic bread. We also have small heart shaped jellos for everyone.
We end up getting strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Not heart shaped, but at that point, no one cares.
Here's a fun idea :) Put a drop of red food coloring in the bottom of each goblet. Pour in some sprite, and it magically becomes pink!

I can't believe that you are so calm about the missing chocolate fountain. Whoever has it should return it clear full of chocolate!!

Lady of Perpetual Chaos said...

Well, if you wanted to do a heart shaped cake, you can bake a square cake & a circle cake (cut in 1/2) and make them into a heart. We're having peanut butter cookies with heart shaped peanut butter cups in the center. And heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's because Tuesdays are the crazy busiest day ever. I would totally lend you my heart shaped pan, but its a bit of a drive. ;o) And I think I'm going to steal your idea for the ice cubes. Actually, I steal a lot of your ideas....

Diana said...

How about a heart shaped cake instead of the cake with the heart on top. You just need to use a square and a round cake pan.

Jessica said...

I'm loving the cheesecake idea that you posted on FB. Can't you make heart cupcakes fairly easy with marbles between the liners and the pan?

We are sticking to a color theme: salmon and mashed potatoes. I think we'll have jello too.

Mamarazzi said...

heart shaped meat loaf sounds adorable. how fun!!

Miss Angie said...

OOoh, a Bloggiversary!

Cheesecake! I love Cheesecake.

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