~ The Day of Love ~

Today is Valentines Day!! I love Valentines Day!
In the midst of diapers, laundry, cleaning and schooling my children it's sometimes hard to find the time or energy to always do something special for your man. But Valentines Day, well that's a good reason for time to stand still and all my effort can be put into making my man feel great!

Some women like to receive pretty little gifts on Valentines, flowers, chocolate or thoughtful cards. To others having their husbands take them out or bring home dinner does the trick. While other women still, love is spelled one of two ways D-I-S-H-E-S or V-A-C-U-U-M-I-N-G!
We are all very different including our husbands. But, generally across the board one thing spells love to our husbands. RESPECT!

Our men thrive on respect! They need to know we appreciate what they do for us. They need to feel like we need them, that we value them and their leadership of our family.
If you do nothing else for your man this Valentines Day at least do this. Think about some things that you respect about him, does he work hard so you can stay home? Does he pay the bills on time? Is he a good father? Does he help around the house?
Later this evening tell him you've been thinking about him today and thinking about things that you respect about him. When he asks what they are, and he will, tell him! If you feel more comfortable write it all down and give it to him over dinner, email it, or leave it on his voice mail at work.
This will energize your man and and speak love to him in leaps and bounds!

Now if you're wallowing and feeling like Valentines won't be special because your husband isn't romantic or you can't afford to go out...Stop!
You can change the dynamic of the evening. You can make him something special tonight. Give your children something simple for dinner and put them somewhere else in the house to watch a movie so you and your husband can have dinner just the two of you. It doesn't have to be elaborate, make his favorite or just add special touches.

Because I'm a little under the weather, this year will be nothing spectacular but still special nonetheless. Nothing speaks love to a manly man like a perfectly grilled steak. With this hunk of beef we will be having a cheese fondue. I love snuggling up next to him on the couch, hovering over the coffee table dipping an assortment of nice breads and veggies into a cheese pot. Add some mood music and a few candles, you've got romance baby!

There are lots of great recipes for cheese fondue out there, but this ones simple and most have the ingredients on hand.

In a med. sauce pan~

1 cup dry white wine (I have on hand for cooking, not chugging :)
1/2 pd. mozzarella grated
1/2 pd. cheddar grated
2 tsp. flour
1 garlic clove or a pinch of garlic salt
pinch of pepper

Mix cheese and flour together. Heat up wine till simmering (lower heat) add pepper and garlic salt if using.
Add cheese/flour mixture gradually. Stir and allow cheese to melt between each addition.
I like to cut a clove of garlic and rub it all over inside the fondue pot then crush it and leave it inside the pot before filling with cheese sauce.
Serve with an assortment of nice breads like a french stick, pumpernickel and slightly steamed veggies. (broccoli, snap peas, carrots)

Later while that hubby is putting the kids to bed you can wash out your fondue pot and whip up this chocolate fondue for the two of you.

1 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup of sugar
1 pound of bittersweet chocolate
3/4 cup of puffed rice cereal
chopped chocolate toffee bar (optional)
In a pot, heat milk/sugar to a simmer.
Remove from heat and add choc. Let sit 2 min.
Whisk well. Now stir in rice cereal and toffee bits.
Pour into fondue pot and keep warm
Serve with strawberries, grapes, banana chunks, granny smith apple slices and chunks of pound cake. (found frozen in your grocery store)

Nothing more romantic than melted chocolate to share. You can eat, talk, and stare into each others eyes, and if you're feeling adventurous, paint each other with the chocolate afterwards...did I just say that?

Now go forth and have a fabulous Valentines, be fruitful and multiply or at least practice!! :)