The way I see it, there are 3 ways to eat dinner with your loved one on Valentine’s Day:

1. Go to a really crowded restaurant with a long wait, and pay for a babysitter while you’re at it.

2. Make a reservation to a fancier place ahead of time, but with the menu prices and expectations raised for the day.

3. Cook your meal at home together, or one person for the other.

There are pros and cons to each of these options. For me personally, I like to make Valentines dinner a special night at home, just us. This year, I’d like to feed the kids macaroni and cheese and put them to bed early. Then prepare our meal without little helping hands around!

1. Set the Mood

   I think fresh flowers are the easiest way to instantly set the mood and make the evening feel romantic. You don’t need a million decorations, but some fresh flowers and a lit, great smelling candle are sure to set the mood! Consider putting your plates on gold chargers or doing something extra when you set the table. Turn on some love songs in the background!

2. Pop the Bubbly!

   Open a sparkly drink, or mix up a special beverage. If you’re anything like me, this is the last thing I do on a rushed week night dinner. It’s a low cost, small gesture that makes the evening intentional and fun! Remember to chill it beforehand!

3. Make a delicious meal.

   I think anything a little fancier than usual is fun to do for the holiday. I am big on celebrations and intentionally doing something different to make special days special. For example, an Italian “Ensalada Caprese” or tomato and mozzarella salad is a little more elevated than what we usually have for a weeknight dinner. You can even make it more special with just a little effort! Find a heart shaped cookie cutter and present it like this:

   
   

   You could also cut out potatoes to roast in the heart shape, or even carrots or cucumbers!

   
   

   Since “surf and turf” is my husband’s love language, I’m going to go with that this year! Here is a cute way to plate it to pay homage to the special day! I like the idea of serving the steak on a bed of cilantro, and topping it with some well seasoned shrimp! I can guarantee that making this dish at home will cost a fraction of what it does in a restaurant, and you can cook it exactly to your preference!

   
   

4. Enjoy a traditional dessert.

   Make something that is special for you! Maybe it’s chocolate fondue that takes a while to eat and chat over? Perhaps it is Molten Lava cakes topped with fresh berries? Perhaps it is making and eating simple chocolate covered strawberries together! Whatever you decide to do, I think its fun to make it tradition so you can look forward to it and not reinvent the entire menu year after year.

What do you do to make a high stakes day feel successful? Do you have any special Valentine’s tradition in your family? Let me know in the comments, I’m always looking for ideas!