I love Valentine’s Day. Yes, it’s gotten too commercial but what holiday hasn’t? Valentine’s Day is special because it makes me stop and take a day to say, “Hey, I’m not taking you for granted.” Or, “How about we have a lunchtime date today?“ It also gives me an excuse to wrangle an extra hug or two along with an “I love you” out of my teens. (No, I’m not above bribery when it comes to hugging my nearly as tall as me children.) We celebrate Valentine’s day simply with a special dinner cooked at home, chocolates, and homemade cards. You might call it very stylishly frugal.
Sweetheart’s dinner
This year we’re having my friend, Stephanie’s, beets and whole wheat pasta, dish with pureed beets. Beets are delicious and nutritious and there’s nothing like their natural color in cooking. This dish will be served with a green salad and some sort of meat, because it’s a special occasion.
Gingham bags filled with chocolates
A box of chocolates from the grocery store is transformed into festive little treats when a couple of pieces are placed in a gingham bag and tied with a ribbon. They’re easy to sew and I use these same little bags at Christmas time, when they’re filled with malt balls, tied with a Christmas ribbon, and tucked into a stocking.
Homemade cards
We always make cards (even for Christmas) and Valentine’s Day cards are the sweetest when they involve hearts and gingham.
Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you for reading Go Gingham!
How do you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Any special traditions?
Related posts:
Beet salad recipe
Homemade cards
Better late than never
You’ll find all of the “Love” posts here
Sara! I’m so thrilled my beet pasta made it to your table
I can’t wait to try your beet salad recipe. Love your tip on rubbing the peel off in a bowl of water. So smart! Hope all is well with you! -s-
Steph! We loved it. I skipped the walnuts and cheese and just served it with Parmesan at the table. I also used roasted garlic (had it on hand from making pesto and had lots of garlic left so I roasted garlic and froze it) that I had in the freezer. It was so yummy and the whole wheat pasta made a lovely accompaniment to the beets. Thank you!!
Sounds delish!
Hi Sara,
My husband and I celebrated on Sunday with a movie and dinner date – then dessert and coffee by the restaurant’s fireplace. Just wonderful. Tonight, we’ll celebrate at home with a lovely dinner and a heart cake that my son and I will bake today.
Also – - – and this might sound funny…but I plan to give my husband a haircut tonight. Not a tradition – he just needs one – LOL!!! And a few years ago when I read Mary Jane Butters’ book: Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook : For the Farmgirl in All of Us…she motivated me to learn how to cut hair because in the book she says, … Every woman should know how to cut her man’s hair. I just love that!
Have a great day…and Happy Valentine’s Day to you too!
Love,
Mary
Mary just posted..{lastpost}
Mary, that sounds lovely! And, that doesn’t sound funny about the haircut at all. I got a book about cutting hair so I could do the same thing although no one lets me do it anymore. There was a little mishap with the scissors but I swear there was only a little blood on the ear….no stitches required! Enjoy and thanks for your comment.