An OS Valentine's meal?

Bogof_Babe

Apols for somewhat off topic, but I was horrified to see a sign outside the little shop down our road, advertising 12 red roses for Valentine's Day, for.... £45 :eek: .


Do people really have more money than sense?

Tondella

LilacLillie wrote:

Usually we go out somewhere really overpriced (because of the date), on Valentines day.
I was hoping to do a nice evening meal in, seeing as we have the house to ourselves for a while!
I saw some glasses the other day in the £1 shop, they had little red love hearts on, so sweet.
Problem is I have an old china cabinet full of nice glasses. I did resist buying them, but fear if I go back I shall.
They also had 'I love you' balloons, loads in packet, 12 if I remember rightly.
I need some romantic meal ideas that can be planned in advance, so as not to keep rushing in and out of the kitchen all night would be nice.
Nothing to heavy or anything with eggs (allergy, don't want to end up in hospital)........................and impressive!
I want to show off a bit, without putting in to much effort..............
LL

we don't normally celebrate valentine's day but this year I noticed that a local (and well reviewed) restaurant nearby us, called Graze, is running a promotion with toptable.com where you get 50% off your food bill. It's valid for every day until the end of Feb (i.e. covers valentine's day) so we've booked there. There's loads of 50% off food special offers for restaurants around london.

highguyuk

MrsB wrote:

What about bucks fizz (doesnt have to be expensive, you can get supermarket brands quite cheaply), then fresh fruit salad (you could make your own and transport it in a tupperware, or buy it ready made if you think it'll be easier) served with natural yoghurt, a pot of tea / coffee, and a chocolate heart for pud. If you take a bit of trouble with the presentation (nice tray, plates that match, milk jug, tea / coffee pot, small bunch of flowers etc) then that'll win far more 'brownie points' than whatever food you prepare. At the end of the day, all we really want is to know that you thought about it and put a bit of effort in, I think you're onto a winner whatever you serve - good luck!!

Fruit salad and bucks fizz, that is SUCH a good idea! Flask of tea, thought about some muffins maybe.

Wow ... ta v.v.v.much.

Alfietinker

highguyuk wrote:

Anyone have any ideas for breakfast, considering im going to have to drive for around 45 minutes before I get there - and I dont really have the oppotunity to make anything whilst im there. There is always McDonalds - as long as she don't tell my mates. She can tell me she loves me though ... ;-)

It does involve a little bit of heating through, but for Christmas we had croissants and pain au chocolat - a real treat for us! We drunk bucks fizz made with value orange juice and cava - yummy!

MrsB_2

highguyuk wrote:

Fruit salad and bucks fizz, that is SUCH a good idea! Flask of tea, thought about some muffins maybe.

Wow ... ta v.v.v.much.

Muffins - fab idea!!! There you go, inspiration has hit!! Have fun.

highguyuk

Alfietinker wrote:

It does involve a little bit of heating through, but for Christmas we had croissants and pain au chocolat - a real treat for us! We drunk bucks fizz made with value orange juice and cava - yummy!

You can have them cold ya' know...

Ive got my inspiration, now I just need to get her other housemates on the side.

ka7e

Topical buy at Sainsburys this week - free Le Crueset heart-shaped ramekin with Flora and Flora Light. They would look nice filled with a strawberry mousse, or with jam in to serve with breakfast toast!

halloweenqueen_2

I've been building up a valentines collection over the years been married too many years to count and now the kids are involved in the valentines meal!! I tend to buy bits and bobs after Feb 14th (no help to you this year i know!), so i have a few strings of heart farily lights, heart shaped candles and heart shaped poached egg things, cake pans etc etc!:o
The main thing is the mood,flowers (netto did a lovley bunch for £1.89 which were better than the safeway efforts for double that price and had a little glittery heart in them! Candles are nice but I wouldn't recommend scented ones with your food.
We had soft drinks (because of the kids) so I got a rose shloer!! and carried on the theme of pinks and reds. So the starter was a prawn marie rose, chinese (red cooked) pork with rice and a vanilla panna cotta with a raspberry sauce, all of those dishes can be made in advance up to a point and the finishing touches quickly added. The other thing is don't make the portions of food too big if you are doing three course meal as you don't want to be too stuffed after the meal!!:dance:
To be totally unromantic Mr HQ didn't realise there was a theme with the food or notice the little confetti spread over the table - the kids did!!:rolleyes: He also turned the lights up to see what he was eating properly - can you have the romance taken out like an appendix do you think - it used to be there!!

calleyw

This year it is my choice and I am not 100% what to do. As husbands birthday is on 17th March and has said he wants steak and pot wedges.

Arghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which is what I was going to do for valentines day.

I will probably do HM tuna pate (tin of tuna mixed with herbs and butter)served with toast followed by steak and jacket spuds and salad followed by a hm dessert. But have bought husband a fondue set as a present so will probably use that for dessert.

With a couple of bottles of lambrini (the blue labelled one is gorgeous)to wash it all down with.

I will make husband some dark chocolate hearts as a present. This will all be eaten by candle light.

Yours

Calley

LilacLillie

All good advice there halloweenqueen.
You can never be married too many years! I like the idea (bit like Christmas sales), of buying for the following year because as you say everything is reduced after. So I'll do that this year as well.
This is still quite new to me, moneysaving, been getting into it for about a year now, so never thought of it before, just went out and bought everything I saw ..........well almost!
I can't begin to tell you what we normally spend on the day!!
The £45 for roses someone mentioned, is , or was should I say, a drop in the ocean!
The year before last we stayed at 'Langtry Manor' for the Valentine weekend.
The home of Lily Langtree and King Edward 7. And of course, we had to have the best suite with all the trimmings...................just looking at the price on the website now makes me wonder why.
I Love this bit you posted! Men.......................who'd have 'em?????
LL

To be totally unromantic Mr HQ didn't realise there was a theme with the food or notice the little confetti spread over the table - the kids did!!:rolleyes: He also turned the lights up to see what he was eating properly - can you have the romance taken out like an appendix do you think - it used to be there!

halloweenqueen wrote:

I've been building up a valentines collection over the years been married too many years to count and now the kids are involved in the valentines meal!! I tend to buy bits and bobs after Feb 14th (no help to you this year i know!), so i have a few strings of heart farily lights, heart shaped candles and heart shaped poached egg things, cake pans etc etc!:o
The main thing is the mood,flowers (netto did a lovley bunch for £1.89 which were better than the safeway efforts for double that price and had a little glittery heart in them! Candles are nice but I wouldn't recommend scented ones with your food.
We had soft drinks (because of the kids) so I got a rose shloer!! and carried on the theme of pinks and reds. So the starter was a prawn marie rose, chinese (red cooked) pork with rice and a vanilla panna cotta with a raspberry sauce, all of those dishes can be made in advance up to a point and the finishing touches quickly added. The other thing is don't make the portions of food too big if you are doing three course meal as you don't want to be too stuffed after the meal!!:dance:
To be totally unromantic Mr HQ didn't realise there was a theme with the food or notice the little confetti spread over the table - the kids did!!:rolleyes: He also turned the lights up to see what he was eating properly - can you have the romance taken out like an appendix do you think - it used to be there!!