Valentine's Day Dinner for Two (or more...)
Your heart day party planning one-sheet
Welcome to our first Habitual Hostess monthly newsletter. When thinking about creating a newsletter, we thought about what our followers are “habitually” requesting. Here is what we’ve gathered - you love having us help you plan a menu for an occasion big or small while offering tips on how to easily execute your party so that you feel comfortable hosting. Our monthly newsletter has been created to inspire you to do just that! Invite people over and host that party. Each month we will send out an entertaining guide that reflects the current holiday or season of life. We will lay out the theme of the party, offer a menu with links to the recipes, share prepping tips and timelines and our insight on how to make your event special - and most importantly FUN!
Valentines Day is a few weeks away and we think you should skip the costly pre-fixed menu and overcrowded restaurants and have a cozy date-night at home instead. Or, channel your inner Julia Child and host a Valentines Day Dinner Party, or Galentines Day Dinner and spread some LOVE! This elegant menu is actually super easy to execute. So spread some love by cooking for the ones you love. Who is in?
MENU
Cupid’s Kiss & Spiced Bar Nuts
Steak Au Poive, Greens with French Vinaigrette & Crusty Bread
Molten Lava Cake
Our Favorite French Vinaigrette:
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
5 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper
In a mason jar, or jar with a lid, add garlic, red wine vinegar and dijon together. Add lid and shake vigorously. Add olive oil and shake vigorously again. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy.
Hosting Tips:
If cooking for two, set the table using the counter top and bar stools in your kitchen if you have them- this will emulate sitting at the bar of a restaurant and you can chat, sip your cocktail and snack on bar nuts while you prepare dinner. Bonus: you will get to sit extra close.
Fold napkins into triangles to use for your placemats to same way the often do at the bar of a restaurant.
Put on some French cafe music.
Cooking Timeline and Tips:
At least one day in advance
Go Grocery Shopping
Make Vinaigrette
Make spiced nuts - we love keeping these in the freezer (or purchase gourmet nut from the store)
Purchase Valentines Day cocktail picks, cocktail napkins and heart shaped ramekins
Day of (as you will be cooking and cocktailing with your sweetie in the kitchen, this event is not heavily prepared in advance)
Prepare all ingredients - chop shallots and garlic for sauce.
Prepare all wet and dry ingredients for cake - keep separate until right before baking.
When ready for dinner
Mix and serve cocktails. Put out nuts. Take our steaks to bring to room temperature. Preheat oven to warm bread. Enjoy your cocktail.
Prepare steak, put bread in the oven to warm, toss salad greens with vinaigrette
Enjoy your dinner. When done, mix the flour into the wet ingredients of your batter, pour into ramekins and bake.
Clear your table while they are baking.
Enjoy your dessert and your loved one. Happy Valentines Day!
February Favorites
"Life if boring, it's your job to make it fun!" - Alston & Leigh