How did you spend St. Valentine's Day?
Are you a pull out all the stops and damn the cost romantic?
Or are you more the pick a bunch of dandelions type?
Perhaps a book of verse? Or Victoria's Secret and a quart of warm honey?
Where did you develop your sense of romance, such as it is? Did you take your cue from your parents? Or develop your own style?
Do you ignore it because it is consumerist bullshit?
Or do you ignore it because, after all, every day is Valentine's Day!
To get the ball rolling, here's romance, labradog style.
Mrs. labradog was at work at the clinic. I went out to run my day's errands, picking up supplies for ol' Mom labradog, and a few groceries. Then, on an impulse, I bought a pink and yellow rose, a single, from the sale table in a store. $2.50. I swung by the clinic, and left the rose with the receptionist (Mrs.labradog was with a patient), asking her to leave it on my wife's desk, and see if she guesses who sent it!
Next stop was the indulgence store, where I like to buy my wine, cheese, and candy.
I got a little mixed bag of chocolates to put out in a dish for Mom labradog. Got a bottle of petit syrah on sale for my wife, but I do that pretty often, so it doesn't really count as a Valentine's tribute. Picked up some lilies for Mom, and went home.
An hour or so before mrs. labradog got home, I put together a chicken enchilada casserole, then got it into the oven. But I am usually the cook, so that's not really for Valentine's Day.
Combine 2 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup onions, 1/2 cup chopped calamata olives, 1/4t cumin, and 1/2 t salt. Shred 2 cups cheddar.
In a casserole, lay two corn tortillas which have been dipped in enchilada sauce. Pile on 1/2 of the filling, then 1/2 the cheese; two more tortillas, more filling, and more cheese. Top with two more tortillas, cheese, and enchilada sauce.
Cook at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
For dessert, a fresh cup of coffee, and chocolate Chantilly!
8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped up into a small bowl. Add 2/3 cup Chambord liqueur and 1/3 cup water. Place the bowl in a pot with a small amount of hot water in the outer pot (not with the chocolate)Whiskn the hell out of it until it gets shiny and liquid. Put the chocolate bowl into a bowl of ice water, and whisk the hell out of it again, until it heavies up, like whipped cream.
Put it in champagne glasses, top with whipped cream, and chill.
Mrs. labradog arrived home with the smell of dinner in the air, warm, languid retrievers on the floor around the stove, and a wine glass awaiting her. After filling my arms with my sweet little darlin', our dinner was underway.
Mom was always the humorous Valentine card type. Dad was a rather quiet type, not flashy or poetic, but when there was a card giving occasion, he would go and buy the most lacy, ornate, florally elaborate production he could find - but that was never enough, and there'd always be an inscription added to the flowery verse inside - "To my darling J___" It must have worked its magic, as they remained delightedly, contentedly married for 46 years, until he passed away. They set the standard as happily married people for me and many of my friends who knew them.
By the way, romance is not a one way street at chez labradog. My Valentine is sitting on our porch - a half peck of Chesapeake Bay oysters!
So, how is Valentine's Day at your house? Did you take a break from phone banking for your candidate, for a little workout at Cupid's Gymnasium?