Our Annual Valentine's Day Feast

Valentine's Day has always felt too commercially driven to me (and Brett and I are massively in love everyday ;-) so we forgo the pricey roses and chocolates in lieu of one of our favorite meals: steak and crab legs! We've prepared our annual dinner together for the past 4 years and it's something we both really look forward to on V-day. No reservations required and no worrying about if you did just the 'perfect thing' to make the other feel loved. The love is in the meal we prepare and enjoy together. It's a bit trickier to indulge in a romantic dinner at home with a toddler, but we managed to do it this year at 8:30pm when Austin was a snoozin'! A little late for high calorie succulence, but who cares!

We paired out king crab and Omaha steak with my favorite new recipe for green beans and some tasty artisan bread. Then we topped it all off with the only dessert that can hold up to the deliciousness of the meal itself: chocolate bundles! These little puppies are made of puff pastry with your favorite candy bars melted inside. And, as if that's not enough, we top them with chocolate ganache and whipped cream (the real stuff). Thanks, Paula Dean!

Our conversation centered around family, work and each other. It was so fulfilling to be able to talk with one another at the table as opposed to reciting persuasive commands like "eat 3 more bites and you can have a..." to a 2 year old over and over again. Brett gave me a wonderful homemade card listing "The Reasons You'll Always Be My Valentine" and I, being the loving and caring wife I am, forgot to even sign his card I bought him at the store. Damn! I better get my act together next year...so unlike me. By 10pm we were stuffed and ready to call it a night. But alas, dish duty awaited. I must say, it is the ONLY drawback to our Valentine's day of love! Anyone want to volunteer next year...spread a little love our way? ;-)

We hope all our family and friends were as blessed on that evening as we were.
XOXOXO