Whether you’re attached or single, Valentine’s Day should be celebrated with the one or ones you love.
Party Ideas
Single Awareness Party – Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. It is a day that is typically about “romance”, however, if you are single, you can still celebrate “Valentines Day” with those you love. For a “fun” night, invite your closest friends and tell them to bring another friend of the opposite sex, that they would not date. Either have ingredients ready at your home so all the guests can prepare and cook together or order in from your favorite local restaurant. You can create specialty martinis, cocktails and spritzers and put out lots of chocolates in dishes around your home. This get together is so much fun. Who knows it might become your annual get together. Don’t be surprised when some of your friends get dates from your party, as well. Cupid?
Host a RED Party – Why not host a party on Valentine’s Day where everyone has to be “RED”! Ask your guests to join you and bring a red dish, with at least one red ingredient. Ideas for some red food are: red pepper soup (see below recipe), red pepper dip (available at Bristol Farms and Whole Foods markets), lasagna and/or pasta in a red sauce, red velvet cake and a chocolate bag filled with mousse and topped with red berries: strawberries, raspberries and/or cherries (see below recipe). For drinks, we suggest: Valentinis (see below recipe), Cosmos, Champagne or Prosecco with Pomegranate Juice or Chambord and Cranberry vodka cocktails. Also, you can assign someone to bring a red floral arrangement to add to your red décor! Get your creative juices flowing. Don’t forget all your guests must wear RED!
Red Recipes
Red Pepper Soup (a JP favorite!)
Ingredients:
- 8 Red peppers
- 3 Carrots, peeled
- 3 Shallots, peeled
- 1 Clove garlic, peeled
- 1 Pear, peeled and quartered
- Dash of cayenne pepper
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Sprigs of fresh tarragon, to taste
Directions:
Serves 4-6.
Chocolate bag Filled with Grand Marnier Chocolate Mousse and Red Berries
Chocolate Bag
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Cut the bags to about 3 ½ inches for a dessert for two, or 2 ½ inches for a single person dessert (save the top pieces for chocolate hearts)
- Spray the inside of the bags with pan spray, and spread it thinly around the inside with a paper towel
- Melt the chocolate in either a double boiler or microwave, zapping for 30 seconds at a time and stirring
- Pour half an inch of the chocolate melt into each bag and spread the chocolate up the sides with a spoon or narrow spatula
- Refrigerate until chocolate is hard
- Once hard, remove from refrigerator and do another coat of chocolate inside the bag until the sides and bottom are an 1/8 inch thick
- Refrigerate until chocolate is hard
- Carefully peel bag off the chocolate and place back in refrigerator
Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients:
- 1/3 c + 1 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces
- 1 ½ Tbsp sugar
- 2 Egg yolks
- 3 Egg whites
- ½ Cup whipping cream, whipped (do not use canned whipping cream)
Directions:
- Melt the chocolate
- Stir in the butter with a wooden spoon until completely incorporated
- Allow mixture to cool completely to room temperature
- Stir in the yolks, one at a time
- Beat the whites until stiff, sprinkling in the sugar about halfway through
- Fold the chocolate mixture into the whites with a spatula, then fold in the whipped cream, very slowly
*Top with your favorite red berries and whipped cream!
- Makes 2 desserts
- 1 hour including chill time
Sweet Love Potions
Valentinis
Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ c. Currant Vodka
- 1 ¼ c. Champagne
- ¾ c. Raspberry Schnapps
- ¼ c. Lime juice
Directions:
- Add the currant flavored vodka, raspberry schnapps, and lime juice to a pitcher half-filled with cracked ice. Stir briskly to combine and to chill.
- Add 1 1/4 cups of Champagne, and stir lightly to preserve the bubbles.
- Strain into chilled cocktail glasses and garnish with a slice of lime or a twist.
Love Décor
Carnations are known as the “corsage” flower but are inexpensive and can be striking when arranged in a fun way. We suggest a pave arrangement in a low crystal or solid white vase with red carnations arranged tightly creating a solid pave look. You can create a few of these arrangements, varying in size and height, and group them together on your table as one centerpiece or place the different sized arrangements around your home. Red votives are another inexpensive way to add romantic touches.
This centerpiece idea brings fun and flair to the table! Don’t be afraid to mix different flowers (roses, dahlias, mums, ranunculus). It’s a less expensive option than all red roses and a way to add texture and pizzazz to your table. Solid white vases really make the colors pop!
Red Music
For a modern set of love tunes, the Valentine’s Day movie soundtrack is available February 9, 2010. Our favorite songs off the album are Amy Winehouse’s “Cupid” and “The Way You Look Tonight” by Maroon 5!
Do Your Children Want to Spread Their Love Too?
Chocolate dipped pretzels and Valentine’s Day sprinkles make for simple, homemade gifts for your children, their friends and yours friends too!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup White chocolate chips
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles
- Wax paper
Directions:
- Melt the milk chocolate chips
- Dip each pretzel rod about 2/3 of the way up in chocolate
- Melt the white chocolate chips
- Lay on wax paper lined baking sheets
- Allow to set a little, but not completely dry
- Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle over the milk chocolate pretzels
- Decorate with Valentine’s Day sprinkles
- Lay back on wax paper to set completely
Wrap in plastic bags and tie with a nostalgic Sweethearts candy-inspired card or red ribbon.
Happy Valentine’s Day from
Jowy Productions!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 10:11PM 
