Valentine's In

More often than not, the mention of Valentine's Day is accompanied with a grumble, frown, or snarky rebut. Yes, it's clearly a transparent vie for your purse strings & pocketbooks, but I just can't help getting a bit excited about it. I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a romantic.

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to dig your self into debt on pricey restaurant tabs, fester with gobs of people impatiently waiting for a table, or buy a ton of stuffed animals to enjoy yourself this holiday. In fact, my most memorable Valentine's Day involved no such pageantry, just a nice supper in with my sweet, sweet boyfriend (now husband). So, for you amorous folks still celebrating this silly little holiday (myself included) here are a few recipes to impress without maxing out the plastic or spending hours in the kitchen.

Beef Carpaccio
This quickly seared dish is so enchanting. The bright red and green look so pretty nestled against one another & the flavor is so buttery & light. It's the perfect dish to kick off your lovey-dovey evening.

Here's Giada De Laurentiis giving the run down on this treat. If there ever was a chef to muster up, eehhem, 'romantic' feelings, she's the one.



1 (10-ounce) piece beef tenderloin
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 c. lightly packed fresh arugula or fresh baby spinach
1/2 oz. shaved Parmesan
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Tie the beef tenderloin with kitchen twine to help maintain its shape, then freeze the tenderloin until frozen (this ensures that the center stays rare when cooking a small piece of meat). Then, heat 1 tbsp. of oil in a heavy small skillet over high heat. Rub the frozen beef with salt and pepper.

Add the beef to the hot skillet and sear on all sides, about 4 minutes total (the beef will be just barely seared on the outside but will remain rare). Return the beef until to the freezer until it is almost frozen, about 1 hour (this makes it easier to cut into very thin slices).

Using a large sharp carving knife, slice the beef as thinly as possible. Be very careful when cutting, last time I made this I cut a chunk out of my finger - ouch! Arrange the arugula and Parmesan shavings on a serving platter and lay the beef slices on top. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

Grilled Artichoke Halves with Lemon Butter
It's surprising how many people find preparing artichokes daunting. These savory thistles are really a snap to make - you just have to know the propper way to clean them. The lingering flavor of artichokes & lemon do something spectacular to the pallet - perfect for a date night!



1 lemon
1 large artichoke (look for one with tightly closed leaves)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 stick butter

Bring enough salted water to cover the artichoke to a boil. Add the juice of 1/2 of a lemon to the water. Clean the artichoke according the the video above. That is, trim 1" off the top & bottom then sip the tops off of all the leaves. Then place in the boiling water until the stem is tender enough to pierce (about 13 minutes or so).

Transfer to a cutting board & let cool. In the meantime, heat your grill pan to medium & drizzle with olive oil. Once cool, slice the artichoke in half & remove the 'choke' (the thistly bit in the center) and a few of the inner most leaves with a spoon. Place on the grill and cook about 5 minutes on each side or until slightly charred.

Serve with lemon butter for dipping. To make the lemon butter, simple melt 1/2 stick of butter over low heat then infuse with the juice of 1/2 of a lemon. Optional: Add a clove of garlic and a bit of dill to it as well to intensify the flavor. A mayonnaise thinned with a bit of butter milk & dill makes a nice dipping sauce as well.

I adore cooking & spending time in the kitchen is no chore for me, but it is a holiday after all. Save yourself a bit of relaxation time & pick up your favorite gelato, chocolates, or baked treat for dessert. There, desert done. Now you can sit down & have another glass of wine with your sweetie!

Image, medcookingalaska.