A Saint Valentine Menu

Here’s the thing about Valentines Day. I think it’s strange.

It is impossible to get into a restaurant. Flowers double in price. Bad quality chocolate makes the rounds. Lots of pink lacy undergarments abound in various store windows.

Saint Valentine, was a Christian martyr. I don’t think he thought very often about Victoria’s Secret’s latest line.

I do think there is something nice about setting a day aside to tell people you care about them. But I don’t think it needs to incorporate retail stores or undue pressure to “prove your love.” Especially via any of the items I mentioned above.

Many of you who have been reading this little site ‘o mine for a while, are familiar with my Grandma P. She was always cooking up a storm. Since her fall, she isn’t as independent as she used to be and therefor hasn’t been cooking. She inquires about the latest on my blog often though. She wants to know “what are the people are saying?” She really loved interacting with you all.

The thing about Grandma P. is that she grew up without electricity for half of her life. The idea of buying unnecessary things isn’t in her DNA.

It’s not really in mine either I’ve come to realize. It feels strange every time I buy something that I don’t feel I need.

Which I think explains my food philosophy. And why I get cranky and fatigued when I step foot into a mall.

I like to focus on food that the body needs… that is naturally in harmony with it. Even if there are a lot of chocolate filled heart boxes floating around the stores, they don’t interest me so much.

So I thought I’d share some wholesome recipes with you, which would be nourishing in mind, body, heart, and soul — for Saint Valentines Day.

Baked Apples – Mildly sweet and warm, with a dash of heavy cream and nuts, it speaks comfort.

Homemade Fruit Leather – It brings me back to my childhood, and my favorite fruit leathers from the health food store.

Tomato Bisque – Grandma makes this one too sometimes, thickened with a bit of silken tofu. This would be a good alternative if you don’t like beets.

Borscht Soup – Another way to make her Valentine’s soup, with a different yet pink ingredient profile.

Chicken Pot Pie – Because I made a game bird pot pie recently and it is the taste of comfort. I’ll post my version soon for ya.

And of course… Grandma P.’s “Valentine Bisque,” which she shares with you in her own words below…

I hope your Saint Valentine’s Day is serene, delicious, and full of contemplating all of the people you care about! I appreciate you all so much, and thank you for reading the way you do every day.

Grandma P.’s recipe here: Root Soup & Polenta!

_____________________________________________________

Do you have a favorite St. Valentine’s Day menu? If you do, and you’d like it to be featured on the Foodily.com site, here’s what you can do:

1. Go to Foodily.com and login with Facebook Connect (or create a login).

2. Play around with recipes and find your favorites to create a Valentine’s Day meal.

3. Once you’ve selected a recipe save it to a menu: From the recipe, select the “save” button, save it as an appetizer, main, etc., and then it’ll ask you to name your menu. Create your special Valentine’s menu title. Continue adding recipes and saving to that menu.

4. View your menu (either from tab at top or from your profile) and grab the URL (you can also share your menu on Facebook and grab the URL there). Note: the URL will look similar to this: http://foodily.com/m/1234

5.Tweet the following and be sure to include the #foodilyvdaymenu hashtag at the end:
Check out my @foodily Valentine’s Day menu! Create one of your own! http//(your menu URL here) #foodilyvdaymenu

6. Foodily will be watching and selecting menu winners daily to be featured on the Foodily site.

Note: You can also enter by sharing your menu on Foodily’s Facebook wall.

_____________________

This post was sponsored by Foodily.com. Please hold for the next available representative. This is a recording. *Burp.* Excuse me.