Treat Your Valentine To Romantic Meal At Home

If a night on the town is not your (or your wallet’s) idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day celebration, rest assured there are many ways to create a sentimental, cozy commemoration of the holiday at home – one that will be remembered long after the pricey long stem roses fade.

Maria O’Rourke, owner of in Lake Forest, suggests a special surprise for the one you heart this year – breakfast in bed. 

Yes, Valentine’s Day is on a Monday, so serve the little cupids heart-shaped pancakes and send them off to school so you can enjoy a romantic morning meal with your valentine. Or if time is an issue, save this for the weekend.

Maria recommends the following simple, but seductive, menu:  fresh squeezed orange juice; French press coffee (which Maria says is way sexier than drip coffee); a bowl of beautiful strawberries; and Apple Cinnamon Fresh Toast Strata (recipe below).

The beauty of this simple meal is that the Strata is designed to be made the night before; the next morning, the chef simply pops it in the oven and – voila – gourmet breakfast!

“Why cook on Valentine’s Day when you can save your energy for more romantic pursuits?” O'Rourke said.

Continuing that train of thought to dinner time, FoodLove offers a special Treat Your Valentine to Dinner three-course carryout menu, including:  choice of a Mixed Greens Salad with Oranges, Hearts of Palm, Pinenuts and Citrus Vinaigrette or a quart of Tomato Bisque Soup; entrée choice of Braised Beef Short Ribs with Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, FoodLove Signature Crabcakes with Tricolor Coleslaw or Chicken Marsala with Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes; and for dessert, Fruit Cobbler or Flourless Chocolate Cake.

The special FoodLove menu even includes options “for your little loves,” including Baked Mac & Cheese, Baked Chicken Tenders or Half Roasted Chicken, served with carrot sticks and a heart shaped sugar cookie.

Those romantics seeking to impress the object of their affection with a demonstration of culinary competence at dinner may want to check out the recipes offered on the website (www.lovellsoflakeforest.com), such as the Beef Tenderloin Roulade with Rague of Shitake Mushrooms and Natural Veal Reduction with Huckleberry Port Wine Sauce.  

Note the recipes on the site serve four to six diners, so expect leftovers or invite another couple to dinner.

Apple Raisin French Toast Strata
Yield:  4 servings

 INGREDIENTS

• ½ of a 1 pound loaf cinnamon raisin bread, cubed
• 4 ounce cream cheese, diced
• 1 cup diced peeled apples
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/4 c. half-and-half cream
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons. maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup raisins

 DIRECTIONS

Arrange 1/2 of the cubed raisin bread in the bottom of a buttered 2 ½ quart casserole.  Sprinkle the cream cheese and brown sugar evenly over the bread, and top with the apples.

Beat eggs with the cream, butter, and maple syrup.  Pour over the bread mixture. Top with raisins. Cover with plastic wrap, and press down so that all bread pieces are soaked. Refrigerate overnight.

Bake 45 minutes at 350°F.  Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe courtesy of FoodLove Catering.