Valentine's Day Dinner

Although I don't really agree with the complete commercialization of all the holidays, I do appreciate the reminder to tell the ones I love "I love you." And sometimes, this means simply taking the time to do something special or extra for them. Since I've gone back to school, I usually don't fix fancy meals, or make nice salads, or even set a table. Too often, I throw something together last minute and the kids have to serve themselves. I thought tonight I'd try something they may have forgotten: a family meal around the dinner table (we have a bar, they usually sit there, and we don't pass food around). Being Valentine's Day, the meal did end up being pink and red themed, but it was still good.
Course 1: salad w/spinach, berries, candied almonds, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
Course 2: rice and stroganoff with green beans.
Course 3: dessert - red velvet cupcakes. Ok, so those were store bought. I don't have time to bake these days.
(And yes, my camera takes awful pictures, especially in my house with my colored walls and especially in poor lighting. Someday, I'll be able to afford a "real" camera.)




I included a valentine note to each kid (including the Big Kid, aka, Dad) attached to a pink drink - all different pink Sobe variations (they were on sale).