I Love You Valentine's Day Dinner

Valentine’s Day is the perfect night to serve a dinner just for the two of you. If both of you enjoy cooking, make the meal together. You have three cooking-for-two entrée choices—steak, pork chops or chicken. Try this meal for a first anniversary or date night, too. Clear your calendar, turn off the phone and indulge yourselves!

Chocolate Berry Cheesecake

Valentine's Day Dinner Menu Grilled Greek-Style Steak or Pork Chops and Apples or Lemon-Apricot Chicken Silky Garlic Mashed Potatoes Broccoli with Pine Nuts Champagne or favorite wines - alcoholic or not* Chocolate Berry Cheesecake * Recipe is not included

Make it Special!

• Place a small table for two (you may want to use a table other than your dining room table) next to the fireplace, by a window with a beautiful nighttime view or in some other cozy spot.  Put a white or cream lace tablecloth on the table.
• Place scented candles on the table and around the room.  Decorate the table with tiny foil-wrapped chocolate hearts or valentine-theme confetti (available at party supply stores or card shops).
• Buy two red or pink cloth napkins and two napkin rings to use for your special dinner for two.  After arranging the napkins in the rings, tuck a mini carnation or rosebud and a little baby’s breath into each ring. 
• Cut two heart shapes from red construction paper and two slightly larger hearts from white paper doilies.  Glue the red hearts onto the white ones.  Place a heart by each place setting.  During dinner, take turns writing three things you love about the other person on a heart.  Then exchange and read them!
• Tie ribbons around the stem of two champagne glasses.  Place a raspberry or two in each glass, and fill with chilled champagne.  Make a very special toast to the one you love!

Preparation Guide

The Day Before or Earlier

• Purchase napkins and napkin rings.
• Construct paper hearts.
• Tie ribbons around champagne glasses.
• Chill the champagne.

The Day of

• Prepare the Chocolate Berry Cheesecake, or purchase bakery desserts.
• Set the table; decorate with candles, heart candies or confetti.  Arrange napkins in napkin rings.

One Hour Before

• Prepare the Silky Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
• Prepare Pork Chops and Apples (if served). Or prepare Lemon-Apricot Chicken (if served).
• Heat charcoal grill if using for Grilled Greek-Style Steak
• Add flowers to napkin rings.

20 Minutes Before

• Prepare the Broccoli with Pine Nuts.
• Prepare Grilled Greek-Style Steak (if served).