It’s been 15 years since my husband and I have made any effort to celebrate valentines day – after being together for 20 years, our idea of romance is not having any plans and just going with the flow.
Having said that, we will enjoy making a simple dinner together. In the spirit of the RED holiday, here is our menu.
Let us know what you’re planning for valentines day and enter to win a dinner for two at one of our favourite restaurants!
My favourite cocktail

THE POM COLINS
1 oz gin
2 oz lime juice
2 oz pomegranate juice
1 oz simple syrup (or agave nectar)
Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker, pour over fresh ice, garnish with a lime slice (and pom seeds, optional)
Source: recipe lcbo magazine, pic f/ familycircle.com

ARUGULA & PEAR SALAD
Ingredients
4 cups arugula
1/2 bartlet pear
3 oz gorgonzola cheese
20 walnut halves (I like to use candied walnuts)
3 TBS pom seeds or dried cranberries (optional)
Dressing: 2tbs balsamic, 4 tbs olive oil, salt & pepper
Directions
Dress and toss salad ingredients gently just before serving

PENNE A LA VODKA
This recipe is courtesy of my idol, Ina Garten. If I were to meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, she would be it.
In fact, I would marry her!
Ingredients
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, diced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 cup vodka
2 (28-ounce) cans peeled plum tomatoes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound penne pasta
4 tablespoons fresh oregano
3/4 to 1 cup heavy cream
Grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a large oven proof saute pan over medium heat, add the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the red pepper flakes and dried oregano and cook for 1 minute more. Add the vodka and continue cooking until the mixture is reduced by half.
Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes through a sieve and crush them into the pan with your hands. Add 2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of black pepper. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and place it in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.
Place the tomato mixture in a blender and puree in batches until the sauce is a smooth consistency. Return to the pan.
Reheat the sauce, add 2 tablespoons fresh oregano and enough heavy cream to make the sauce a creamy consistency. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for 10 minutes. Toss the pasta into the sauce and cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan. Serve with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh oregano on each plate.
Recipe courtesy Food Network Kitchens
If you are feeling adventurous, the following is the easiest dessert. If you are not, I highly recommend you order cupcakes from our favourite cupcake house LIFE IS SWEET: lifeissweet.ca Tell Clair, Maria & Emmanuel sent you and she will treat you extra special : )

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES
Ingredients
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well
Directions
Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)
Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
Recipe courtesy Food Network Kitchens
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT DNA!
Posted by: Maria