Valentine's Day Dinner

I made a simple meal for the children and then after they went down for bed, Daniel and I had a fancy dinner. It was delicious!




To start we had a deliciously light Tomato Basil Salad.


In a bowl combine:
4 diced tomatoes (you can peel them, I did not)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp wine vinegar (I only had white vinegar on hand and it was perfect)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (I don't ever have fresh basil so I used dried, still so good)
Cubes of mozzarella cheese (optional..I used some string cheese we had in the fridge:)

Next, we had French Onion Soup.


In a skillet saute until slightly brown:
2 onions
2 Tbsp butter

Add:
2 cups beef broth
1 bay leaf 

Simmer for 10 minutes. Pour into bowls and place a piece of bread on top of each bowl of soup. Cover with mozzarella cheese (or whatever cheese you'd like). Set under broiler until cheese is melted and lightly browned.


Maple-Glazed Chicken


In a bowl combine:
1/4 cup maple syrup (or be like us and use regular cheap-sugar-pancake syrup. I've used maple before for this recipe and honestly, I like the cheap stuff better.)
4 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Microwave until butter is melted. Pour over 4 pieces of chicken. Bake in 450 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until done.


Glazed Carrots


Peel and cut:
1/2 lb fresh carrots or baby carrots

Place in skillet with some salt, pepper and water. Cook until tender. To the skillet add:
1/2 stick of butter
6 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger (optional)

It's done when shiny and well glazed.


New Potatoes


Boil until tender:
6 quartered red potatoes

Drain. Toss with:
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp parsley (I just used dried)
1/4 tsp salt
dash of pepper


And finally, we had delicious Red Velvet Cake.


Cream together:
3/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar

Add:
1 1/2 tsp cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
1-2 oz red food coloring

Mix well. Add alternately:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with a tsp of vinegar)

Beat until all lumps are out. Pour into and greased 9x13 pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick. Frost.






This was a great Valentine's meal! Daniel and I both loved it! We're already looking forward to having it again next year:)

Happy Eating!

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