It’s that time again – Valentine’s Day, a day of love for some and a bitter reminder for others! For some, your financial life has gotten better and you can afford to lavish that special someone with expensive gifts and posh environments, and for others, the thought will count. But no matter what your circumstances, you can find a great Valentine’s Day idea listed in the Love Edition package, including gift ideas, hotel discounts and locations, restaurants and date ideas, for the pauper and the president. And don’t forget kids, even if you’re single, no one ever said you couldn’t spend this day of love with some of the people you love the most, your friends!
AT HOME SWAG ($40-$65)
There is nothing like the warmth of the home to set the mood for a magical Valentine’s Day night, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a fire place. If you decide to carry out your special night at home, thoughtfulness will count twice as much and make the experience just as satisfying. Dinner, drinks, sweets and good music can spark the fireworks.
The key to a successful dinner is to make sure you know your dates’ palette. Do they enjoy foods with lots of garlic or onions? Are they a wine drinker and what wines go best with what dishes? Or maybe you don’t know how to cook at all. Well here are three delicious menu options and how to cook them, including suitable beverage pairings for each meal.
Shrimp and Spinach Pasta, Garlic Bread and White Wine
Ingredients:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
1 lb. shrimp deveined
1 pint Heavy Cream
Fresh Parmesan grated
Fresh Parsley chopped
Gruyere grated
½ Clove Garlic minced
Fresh Spinach
Directions:
- 1. Prep-work:Pre-season shrimp. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and thyme.
- Heat EVOO in large saucepan.
- Sauté garlic in EVOO and add parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Be careful not to burn ingredients).
- After ingredients have cooked for about 5 minutes on medium heat, add heavy cream. Turn
- As the cream heats on medium heat, grate 1/3 cup of gruyere cheese and 1/2 cup of parmesan. Add the cheese to the cream sauce. Add more cheese if you deem it necessary. Sauce should thicken as cheese melts.
- Add additional salt and pepper for taste.
- Turn heat down and allow the cream sauce to cook. Check the sauce periodically to insure it does not burn.
- In separate saucepan, add EVOO and fresh spinach leaves. Add as little or as much spinach as you prefer. Sauté for about 3 minutes before adding spinach to cream sauce.
- In same saucepan add pre-seasoned shrimp. Cook until pink. Add shrimp to pasta.
- Serve with Angel Hair Pasta or Penne and garlic bread. One of the best brands is Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast in garlic. Garnish with parsley and parmesan cheese.
Wine
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are all great white wines to pair with this seafood cream based dish. It will go well and your palette won’t be overwhelmed by the heavy richness of the dish. If you are on a tight budget, Trader Joe’s offers a large selection of wines in these categories for as little as $3.00.
Filet Mignon, Potatoes Au Gratin and Asparagus with Red Wine
Ingredients: Potatoes Au Gratin
4 russet potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 onion, sliced into rings
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Butter a 1 quart casserole dish.
- Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk.
- Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.
Ingredients:
Asparagus
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
Directions:
Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook garlic in butter for a minute, but do not brown. Add asparagus, and cook for 10 minutes, turning asparagus to ensure even cooking.
Ingredients: Filet Mignon (Cook LAST)
1 (8-ounce) bottle zesty Italian salad dressing
2 beef tenderloin fillets, 1 1/2 -2 inches thick
EVOO
Directions:
- Marinate filets in salad dressing for about 3-4 hours.
- In a medium, heavy skillet, heat EVOO over medium-high heat. Put in the filet mignon steaks and fry them for 5 to 6 minutes per side.
Wine:
Cabernet Sauvignon. As mentioned before, you can go the cheaper route and get the Trader Joes brand. Ménage a Trois also has an excellent Cabernet as does Woodbridge and Beringer, all under $20.
BBQ Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Greens and Cornbread and Pineapple/Peach Ice Tea
Warning: This meal is labor intensive and delicious. You might end up with a ring.
Ingredients: BBQ Chicken
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (3 1/2-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
- In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except the chicken. Reserve 1/3 cup of the barbeque sauce; set aside. Add the chicken to the remaining sauce in the bowl, turning to coat.
- Arrange the coated chicken in a roasting pan. Cook for 40 to 45 minutes or until cooked through, basting with the reserved 1/3 cup sauce after 20 minutes.
Ingredients: Mac and Cheese
4 cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Once you have the macaroni cooked and drained, place in a large bowl and while still hot and add the cheddar. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and add to the macaroni mixture. Pour macaroni mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese if desired.
Ingredients: Greens
1/2 pound smoked meat (ham hocks, smoked turkey wings, or smoked neck bones)
1 tablespoon House seasoning, recipe follows
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
1 tablespoon hot red pepper sauce
1 large bunch collard greens
1 tablespoon butter
Directions:
- In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add smoked meat, house seasoning, seasoned salt and hot sauce. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 hour.
- Wash the collard greens thoroughly. Remove the stems that run down the center by holding the leaf in your left hand and stripping the leaf down with your right hand. The leaves in the heart of the collards don’t need to be stripped.
- Stack 6 to 8 leaves on top of one another, roll up, and slice into 1/2 to 1-ince thick slices.
- Place greens in pot with meat and add butter. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done taste and adjust seasoning.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Ingredients: Cornbread
Use Jiffy Cornbread Mix.
Ingredients: Peach Iced Tea
3 (11 1/2 ounce) cans peach nectar
2 quarts brewed tea
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a large pitcher; stir to combine.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
TRAVEL SWAG
($300-$800)
Small scale mountain travel or a quick run to the beautiful costal areas of Georgia will certainly impress your love. We all need a vacation and there’s nothing like a quick weekend vacation to break up the monotony of a long work week.
Stay in a cabin for as little as $135 per night. A weekend stay will be just the vacation needed to relax and focus on your love.
Rentals
$$$ Blue Ride Mountain Cabin
www.blueridgemountaincabins.net
(706) 632-8999
$$$ First Class Cabins of Blue Ridge
www.premiercabinrentals.com
(706) 258-3018
This hotel features gorgeous views of the Savannah River and is suitably placed on Savannah’s River Street, giving visitors access to shopping, fine dining and night activities.
$$$$ Bohemian Hotel
102 West Bay Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 721-3800
HOTEL SWAG ($150-$250)
For those with a few more coins to spare, staying in a hotel can be the change in scenery needed to spark the flames of passion in any relationship. And don’t fret, there are cheaper hotel options that still have three and four star ranking, but should you dine? What hotel should you stay in and how much is too much to pay for the night? We have the answers to keep it within the budget.
Restaurants:
$$$$ Buckhead (Under $500)
A 24 hour French delight. Perfect for French speakers and those who are seeking private dinner quarters cloaked by vibrantly red privacy curtains. Reservations required.
$$$$ Au Pied Cochon-French
3315 Peachtree Road, NE,
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-946-9070
A great place for dinner, music and drinks in a casual and cozy atmosphere.
$$ Sambuca- American
3102 Piedmont Rd NE,
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 237-5299
Hotels:
Elegantly designed and centrally located in the center of Buckhead, this is a perfect place to take your love and impress them with your regal tastes.
St. Regis
88 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
(404) 563-7900
The third of the ritzy W Hotels located in the Atlanta area is small but packs a large punch.
W Hotel Buckhead
3377 Peachtree Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30326
(678) 500-3100
$$$ Midtown (Under $300)
Restaurants:
A great place for reasonably priced authentic Italian cuisine in a quaint ambiance.
$$$ Enoteca Carbonari-Italian
710 Peachtree Street,
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
404.810.9110
Go and be cool in this urban warehouse full of delicious fresh delicacies.
$$$ One Midtown Kitchen
566 Dutch Valley Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
404-892-4111
Hotels:
One Bedroom Suite w/Living Room, Kitchen and Balcony for under $200
The Georgian Terrace
659 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 897-1991
Cute boutique hotel with great views of bustling Peachtree Street
Hotel Indigo
683 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 874-9200
$$$ Downtown (Under $300)
Dazzling Atlanta views atop Atlanta’s iconic Westin Hotel with 5 star cuisines should not be missed on Valentine’s Day.
Sun Dial
210 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 589-7506
If your date is eclectic, a swanky southwestern tequila bar will insure a good night.
Agave Restaurant
242 Boulevard S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 588-0006
Both hotels are centrally located in Atlanta’s Downtown area near dozens of popular attractions, offering great dining options and spectacular views.
The Glenn
110 Marietta Street NW
Atlanta GA 30303
Telephone 404-521-2250
The Ellis
176 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 523-5155
And if you’re feeling really lucky, try www.hotwire.com. You can’t choose which hotel you stay in but you can choose the star ratings and amenities, often finding a four star hotel in Buckhead for as low as $80/per night.
