Valentine's Day Reflections

Yesterday was really busy. It began with a shopping trip and ended with an incredible, memorable meal.

In our home, Valentine's Day has become a celebrated holiday much like Easter or Thanksgiving but not up to the level of Christmas. I really hadn't realized I'd created such tradition until my oldest daughter in college lamented not being home for Valentine's Day for the first time. She related that, since they split other holidays with their dad, Valentine's Day was the only one they were consistently home to enjoy with us and I had created several memorable traditions... including the meal. I like that I have made my family feel loved and appreciated on one special day each year and that it's been a special, memorable part of our lives together.

I splurged a bit on the meal but not too bad. I was able to prepare the following menu for slightly less than $10/plate:
Shrimp Cocktail
Wheatberry Salad
Snow Crab Clusters
Filet Mignon
Twice Baked Potatoes
Rolls
Tiramisu
Sparkling Grape Juice

We usually serve rock lobster tail, but I couldn't find it this year and my youngest daughter prefers crab. So, the substitution was made when I went shopping in the morning. My shopping trip began at our local bargain store, where I found the sparkling grape juice for $1.29/bottle. I finished by picking up the crab and steaks and headed home to start cooking.

After scrubbing and wrapping potatoes, they were tossed in the ashes of my woodstove to bake as I prepared my wheatberry salad. The day was off to a grand start!

I paused in the afternoon to go pick up a gift for my husband. A friend had offered to let me have his sliding glass doors when he replaced them. My hubby has been collecting windows and sliding glass door panels with which to build a greenhouse for several years. With these two panels, I believe he has enough glass to build his greenhouse now.

Upon my return, my hubby helped me to finish preparing the meal and we enjoyed it with my daughter and her boyfriend. Our gift exchange was minimal this year, but that's okay because the meal and time spent preparing it together and eating together is really what we enjoy on this holiday.