Valentine’s Day is coming up. Are you wanting to stay home and cook something special? I have some ideas for you!
I consider Beef Wellington to be very romantic – it’s decadent and it takes a lot of work, so it’s definitely a special occasion food. Check out this post for the recipe.
Steak is a quintessential Valentine’s dish. I have long used a method of quick aging with salt to tenderize and season even cheaper cuts. Find the method in this post, along with recipes for Spinach and Gruyere Souffle and Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Mixed Berry Compote. I used a compound butter to top the steak in that post, but since then have more often made a pan sauce by deglazing with sherry, then adding butter.
For one of our earliest Valentine’s, I made an herb crusted standing rib roast; along with a chopped salad, heart shaped roasted potatoes, roasted asparagus, and Yorkshire pudding. All of the recipes are in this post, along with some pretty decorations.
For a simpler take on steak and potatoes, try this Skirt Steak with Chimichurri, and Fingerling Potatoes with Olive Tapenade.
Or this Spinach Salad with Bacon, Steak, Potatoes, and Blue Cheese Dressing.
I also have several seafood recipes that would work quite well, if that is more your style.
Garlic Butter Salmon with Dill
Panko Crusted Salmon
Salmon and Lentils with Mustard Butter
Phyllo Wrapped Salmon with Goat Cheese
Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Seared Scallops
Japanese Braised Salmon
Halibut en Papillote – 2 Ways
Miso Butter Scallops or Salmon
Prosecco Poached Salmon
Lastly, if you are looking for cute, but cheap, gift ideas – here is a post about a serious of silly gifts that I got for Jasper, complete with dorky puns.