COOKING FOR 2 (OR A FAMILY)
Starting with the totally DIY: a home-cooked
dinner for two. (Or more, if you have kids or
others at home; this year, Valentine’s Day may
well be a family affair.)
Is there a place you’ve vacationed that holds a
special place in your hearts? A honeymoon in
Thailand, an escape to New Mexico, a bike tour
through Tuscany? Let that be the inspiration for
your dinner. Plan a menu featuring your favorite
dishes from that region: Recreate that pasta dish
you adored in Lucca or those enchiladas from
Santa Fe.
Or maybe there was a trip you were planning to
take, and still hope to. Think about the meals you
want to eat once you do get there: chakalaka
and pap from South Africa, maybe, callaloo from
Trinidad and Tobago, paella from Spain. Dive
into a cookbook or a reputable website and
make that your mission for dinner.
Another idea: Treat yourselves to a new kitchen
appliance, and make Valentine’s Day the day to
play with it. It could be an Instant Pot, say, or
an Air Fryer, sous vide machine, pasta maker.
Homemade pasta for Valentine’s Day? That
seems pretty romantic to me.
TAKEOUT TWISTS
For less work, order in something special from a
local restaurant, maybe one you’ve never tried
before that specializes in a cuisine you might be
unfamiliar with.
Some local eateries might be offering Valentine’s
Day take-out meals, or menu items for special
occasions. For instance, if you are feeling splurgey