Do you feel it? That tingle in the air? The hint of anticipation. Maybe a smidge of apprehension, the worry about it not measuring up to expectations. Yep. It's that time again. The week before Valentine’s Day. I often think of this week as foreplay. You know, the buildup before the big event. And if it’s done right, the buildup is just as great as the event itself –which is also hopefully done right ;-)
I'm not sure what it says about me but I often associate romance and food. I'm sure there is some oral pleasure joke in there somewhere ;-). But so many ideas that come to mind for celebrating Valentine’s revolve around eating and/or drinking. Candlelight dinners. Candy - or even better, chocolate. Champagne. Tasty kisses (The chocolate kind. Really! Okay, not really.) Whipped cream swirled over chocolate dipped strawberries. Conversation hearts. Red hots. Whew... Is anyone else getting hungry?
So I started thinking about what fun we could have on the Romance Dish today and maybe it was food and Valentine’s on the mind, but I’d share my typical Valentine’s menu with you, and hear yours I case I can pick up any fun ideas (hey, new food, new tastes, new posit.... Um, no, sorry, won’t go there.)
We usually have lasagna --yeah the garlic is an issue but not if you both have it. I make a nummy vegetarian spinach lasagna that I serve with an green salad and garlic bread. No this isn't necessarily a romantic dinner per se but it's our favorite so that makes it romantic. Of course, if I were writing it in a book I'd make the meal all finger foods. Something with a lot of juice. Something they can feed each other then lick the juices from each other’s fingers. Or lips.
And then there’s dessert. Dessert has to be decadent. Rich. Intense. When it comes to dessert, I have no tradition. It’s all about whatever appeals at the time and makes my mouth water. One year I did make chocolate dipped strawberries and homemade whipped cream. Another I made a Black Forest Cake. One time it was peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, in heart shapes. I’m still undecided on what we’ll do for
dessert this year. But I might make the Four Layer Foreplay Chocolate Cake that was featured in each of myUndercover Operatives books. It’s Pandora, from SEX, LIES AND Mistletoe’s recipe, but Maya in SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT uses it’s aphrodisiac qualities to keep things interesting. In SEX, LIES AND VALENTINES, Danita is trying to resist the delicious charms of the criminally hunky Gabriel so she’s not wanting anything to do with an aphrodisiac. She does agree to a nice, safe slice of apple pie, though. Little does she know...
So tell me, do you associate valentines and food? What foods make you think sexy holiday celebration? And do you have any suggestions for a wonderfully yummy Valentine’s dessert I can try this year?
***Tawny is giving away a signed copy of Sex, Lies and Valentines to one lucky commenter today.***
Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy stories for Harlequin Blaze since her first book hit the shelves in 2007. When not obsessing over deadlines, she’s shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking or hanging out on Facebook and Twitter. Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com
In December of 2011 Tawny launched her Undercover Ops series with SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE. The
second book in the series, SEX, LIES & MIDNIGHT is on shelves in January 2012, quickly followed in February by SEX, LIES & VALENTINES. You can read the first chapter of SEX, LIES AND VALENTINES on her website, too! All you have to do is join the Reader Love-Fest!
Be sure to follow Tawny on her Holiday Survival Tour as she celebrates these three books with tons of fun and a chance for readers to win a $100 giftcard!
My BF associates food with Valentine for sure, his main aim is to take me out and feed me...lol. Personally I think bling. Unfortunately for my BF our anniversary is right after Christmas, New Year's Eve to be exact, my birthday is Jan.29 and then Valentine's day is of course 2 weeks after that. He isn't a rich man so I have to have some mercy on him.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to associate chocolate with Valentine's. It's the obvious choice. I can't think of a recipe: chocolate strawberries?
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I think it's fun to make a little bit nicer meal: a spinach stuffed pork roast, a stuffed whole lobster, or a nice steak with a few shrimp on the side. For dessert, I love chocolate but my husband doesn't care for it. He loves apples soI'll make a nice apple pie with some ice cream on the side.
ReplyDeleteWe don't buy gifts for each other.
Hello again, Tawny! It's great to have you with us again, especially dishing about food and your sexy books. Win/win! LOL
ReplyDeleteDianna, your BF sounds like a keeper. :-)
ReplyDeleteMarybelle, chocolate covered strawberries are always a good choice, IMHO. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLaurie G, your menu sounds delicious. I probably shouldn't be reading any of this before I've eaten breakfast. :-D
ReplyDeleteHi Tawny,
ReplyDeleteGreat to always see you and see your latest reads.Looking forward to reading this series .
I'd think something not so heavy for the main course because I'd prefer to save the appetite on those juicy strawberries dipped in chocolate and then whipped cream.Or Rum soaked mini cakes with juicy rasperries that drizzle down your chin or his . lol
I've made Shrimp Scampi with a nice crusty Italian bread in the past and it was great and light.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I think of lots of chocolate. Google Heath Bar cake for a great recipe.
ReplyDeleteI love this series. Can't wait for the final book.
csdsksds@gmail.com
I'd prefer to save the appetite on those juicy strawberries dipped in chocolate and then whipped cream.Or Rum soaked mini cakes with juicy rasperries that drizzle down your chin or his . lol
ReplyDeleteCarol L, I am drooling. LOL
Google Heath Bar cake for a great recipe.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love Heath Bars, runner10, so I may have to check that one out.
I associate Valentines with chocolate and cards.
ReplyDeleteChocolate eclair cake
It is the yummiest desert I have ever tasted.
For the recipe you need 3 ½ cups of milk, 2 packages of instant vanilla pie filling, 1; 8 ounce package of cream cheese that is softened, and 1; 8 ounce container of Cool Whip. An 8"10 baking dish is needed for the desert to set.
Mix the milk and the pie filling together. Add the cream cheese and mix it with the milk and pie filling mixture. Then add the Cool Whip and mix it all together. Put chocolate graham crackers in the bottom of the dish, pour the filling over the crackers, and then put another layer of graham crackers on top. Use a can of chocolate icing on top of the top layer of graham crackers. The icing should first be softened in the microwave then drizzle it on the graham crackers.
This desert takes 2-3 hours of refrigeration. It is a very rich desert so you may not want much at one time but it makes a lot. We always have plenty when my grandma makes it for family gatherings.
Gannon Carr said...
ReplyDeleteDianna, your BF sounds like a keeper. :-)
He is, for the most part...LOL I was sick for a week about two weeks ago and he never once offered to bring me anything, check on me, nothing. Commiserated when he called for our bedtime converse but other than that no. Last week he got "it". I called as I was leaving work everyday, do you need anything? Are you trying to eat? Should I bring some drinks etc. He said well I was hoping for TLC. Uh no, I had to climb in my car sick and go get stuff from the store, do the laundry, cook for me and my son, you don't get TLC, I will do the pick up but that's as good as it gets. Saturday "it" started again, he called Sunday and wanted to know if he could bring me something. He learns real quick. No I didn't let him come to house because he was just recovered but at least I got the offer this time.
Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthday, Tawny!
ReplyDeleteAnything chocolate is good for Valentine's Day. Especially something really rich. Have you tried chocolate cake that has no flour? It's like thick fudge. Share with the one you love though. lol! Also the lava cookie at Red Lobster is the deal! Let me know if you tried either of my suggestions. :-)
Meljprincess AT aol DOT com
I loved Sex, Lies, and Valentines. It's a great windup to a terrific series. And it's hot. In the best possible way. :-)
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ReplyDeleteValentines Day makes me think of chocolate & flowers.
ReplyDeleteI used to make individual Baked Alaskas - easy but looks great. Use those little individual sponge cakes (the yellow ones that are advertised for strawberry shortcake - they have a rim to keep the ice cream in). Make some meringue. Put the cakes (probably just one per person) on a cookie sheet. Use an Ice cream scoop to put ice cream on cakes. Cover with meringue. Sprinkle with a bit of sugar. Put in HOT oven. Done when meringue is browned. Use spatula to loosen & lift onto plates. Serve with sauce (chocolate, strawberries, reapberries - whatever you like).
sallans d at yahoo dot com
Aww, Dianna your BF sounds fab. And what a lineup - holidays, anniversary, birthday and Valentines! What a way to keep winter fun :-D
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a fab Valentines, and maybe just a little bling, too *g*
Definately chocolate covered strawberries..That is my husbands favorite..gotta have them on Valentines Day so I always make sure he gets some..since it is our anniversary!
ReplyDeletestaniszeski3824@comcast.net
Oh, food. Totally forgot that part. We hope to go out, but that may not happen since we have yet to make a reservation. We don't have a particular food or recipe, though.
ReplyDeleteMmm, Marybelle :-) Chocolate and strawberries. Two of my favorite things!! Great suggestion!!
ReplyDeleteOh man, Laurie, what a decadent meal you do for Valentines. I'll bet your husband loves it. And apple pie is always so wonderfully delicious. I'm still perfecting my crust (can't quite get it as flaky perfect as my grandma's). Do you do vanilla ice cream, or vanilla bean? Or something else delicious? *g*
ReplyDeleteHey there, Gannon :-D
ReplyDeleteA big huge happy hug and thanks to you and all of the ladies here at The Romance Dish for having me to visit. And, of course, for the rockin' review of Sex, Lies & Valentines. You're all the bestest :-D
Ooh, Carol, great advice. I like the idea of a light dinner, then going all out with a wonderful dessert. Just not both! Tummy aches are so not romantic *g*
ReplyDeleteMmmm, btw. Rum soaked mini cakes and berries. Oh yeah, double mmmmmmmmm mmmmmm.
Oh man, Heath Bars are my fave candy bar! So yummy. I've never heard of the Heath Bar cake... gonna go hit up Google...
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you so much, runner10 *g* I'm thrilled that you're loving the series and really hope you enjoy Gabriel's story. He is such a charming bad boy LOL.
Oh man, Kimmy!! That recipe made my mouth water. It looks so decadently simple. And so so yummy :-) It might be a little more than the hubster and I can eat alone (I guess I could share our Valentines treats with the kids. Maybe *g*) But it looks like something we'd totally gorge on for a family gathering, like Easter. I'm going to have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteUgh on being sick, Dianna :-( that's never fun. I'm glad your BF finally did get 'it' though. And that he made the offer to bring you something if you needed it :-D
ReplyDeleteHey Tawny! So great to have you back again with us.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone associates chocolate with Valentine's Day. But for this non-chocolate eater, I would go for red velvet cake/cheesecake.
It really doesn't matter to me if we go out for a romantic dinner. This year our youngest has a school activity that evening, so I'm sure our VD meal will be something quick after that.
Hey there, Mel :-D Thanks so much. I have to say, I love February. All that chocolate (my cake is always chocolate!) and none of the major holiday craziness. I'm on the lookout right now for the perfect pair of birthday boots.
ReplyDeleteAnd yessssssss, omg yummmmmmy. I have had flourless chocolate cake and it's incredible if done right. I'm going to have to look up the lava cookie, though. That one I've never heard of :-D
Mmm, yeah. Thanks for the awesome suggestions :-D And for the happy wishes, of course *g*
Smoochy hugs and thanks, Nancy :-D You're the bestest and I love that you loved these stories *ggg*
ReplyDeleteAwww!! Dawn, that is so wonderfully romantic that your anniversary is Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteAnd since chocolate covered strawberries are one of my absolute fave anniversary treats (we try to include them in our celebration every year - and since our anniversary is in April, it's a little easier to get big, juicy strawberries then LOL)
Happy Anniversary a little early!!
Oh Nancy, how could you forget food? *g*
ReplyDeleteHopefully since Valentine's falls on a Tuesday, reservations won't be too hard to come by :-)
Hey Buffy :-D Thank you so much - I appreciate the chance to visit and the wonderful welcome!
ReplyDeleteValentines does bring chocolate to mind, doesn't it. But red velvet cake or cheesecake (or even raspberry -yum) sound so good.
We've had a few Valentine's that we had to spend at kid events :-D Nothing says romance like a bowl of picked over conversation hearts and a chocolate heart lollipop LOL
I don't have any particular good I associate with Valentine's Day. We usually eat at home and my husband will fix chateau briand while I fix a tossed salad and baked potatoes. We will have a nice red wine with it. We usually don't have dessert, but I might fix an Irish Coffee afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out the recipe for that cake.
Thanks again, Tawny, for spending the day with us. All this yummy food talk is making me crave dessert. LOl
ReplyDeleteyes, i think valentine identic with chocolate and i should say that chocolate is the sexy food and maybe beef steak and for desert, i think chocolate avocado is so yummy ;)
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