Andy and I aren’t really big on Valentine’s Day. We’re not anti. On the big Love Day we just don’t feel the urge to do what’s sort of . . . expected. After nearly eight years together and five years of marriage, we’re crazy about each other. We live in one of the most exciting cities in the world and we enjoy all that it has to offer. So when February 14th rolls around, our plans usually amount to cooking dinner, opening a bottle of wine and watching a movie. It’s sort of like opposite Valentine’s Day. We avoid the crowds, stay in, make our own food and watch a movie as opposed to going out, eating at a restaurant and going to the movies.
Valentine’s Days past Andy has bought me roses and a card or taken me out for a meal, but this year he didn’t do any of that. This year, he unknowingly did something I loved even more. Valentine’s Day morning we were e-mailing back and forth about what to make for dinner and what we should do in the evening. I suggested lamb shanks and a bottle of Rioja that a visiting friend had brought us from Spain. Andy responded:
Sounds lovely darling, but don’t cook without me! I want us to cook together with a perfectly suited vino. And we should sit at the table with candles and have a pre-dinner nibble or a starter. How about artichokes or asparagus (here’s a recipe if you need one but don’t think you do) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-20012/Nigel-Slaters-Valentines-Day-starter.html)?
Ladies: Who needs flowers?!
Let’s take a quick look at that stealthily amorous e-mail. I particularly love the parenthetical notation suggesting a recipe he’s found. But then his English politeness quickly kicks in and he says, almost in the same breath, that I probably don’t need it. The man has me laughing out loud.
I really love that he went online, did some research and found a recipe he liked. He took an interest in what we were having for dinner and wanted to cook with me, didn’t just assume I would take care of it all. And of course, I love when he calls me darling. Needless to say I ran back to the store and picked up ingredient to make this appetizer.
If you know the Anderson family, if you have ever come for dinner– you know that we love an evening drink with what my mom calls a “pre-dinner nibble.” So that night we made Artichoke and Parsley Salad on Toasted Ciabatta for two. We lay on the couch, our heads resting on the opposite arm rests, legs intertwined, eating this artichoke appetizer, drinking wine and talking about life and our future. It was pretty perfect.
Maybe next year I’ll want flowers. This year, I’m all set.
I love my husband to the end of the earth but I gotta say right now I am jealous!! I love this. What a swell guy.
Eee! I’m a big fan of recipes that serve two! And nothing says love like artichoke hearts!
Very sweet!
I host an annual Un Valentine Day party. Not just for singles really, we have couples attend as well but it’s fun and casual and what we usually celebrate is combining great chocolate with equally great wine (or for my preference, port). But we always have a few appetizers and this is one I could <3 !
I had a similar Valentine’s Day experience, Maggy. It was the night before my book was due, and I wasn’t in an especially celebratory mood. In fact David and I had agreed to skip Valentine’s Day this year.
But when he came home that night he had a grin on his face and a brown bag in his hand. He had stopped at the fish store and picked up a couple of pounds of mussels! It was utterly perfect–sexy food that cooks up in no time. We sauteed a little garlic and pepper flakes in some olive oil, added a splash of wine and the mussels. In five minutes we were enjoying the best Valentine’s Day I could have imagined.
Thank you very much for moving the sidebar! Somehow trying to peek around it hadn’t helped : )
Another food blog! I have been swimming in fashion blogs and I have discovered a better corner of blogland. What an adorable post about your Valentine’s Day. I am off to see what other dishes you and your adorable hubbie have cooked up.