at home day

Valentine’s Day might look a little different once you have little ones running around. Booking a fancy dinner and getting dressed up to go out is challenging for many parents who are juggling homework, after school activities and bedtime routines. Skip the reservations and plan a fun and romantic night in with the ones you love. Here’s a few at home Valentine’s Day date night ideas.

by Shana O’Malley-Smith

Dress up!

Who says you have to go out to get fancy? Put on your best outfit, break out the nice dinner plates or wine glasses. Light candles, print a special dinner menu or make place cards.

Strike a pose.

Remember through photos.

Go through old photos, wedding albums or watch home videos. Your kids will probably get a kick out of your “vintage” looks.

Make heart shaped food. From pizza to meatloaf, pick a favorite and make it heart shaped! (See the heart shaped meatloaf recipe, page 18)

Do a couple’s yoga or meditation session. There are many free videos on YouTube.

Date night questions.

Think you know everything about your partner? You might be surprised! Write down a handful of date night questions. Put them in a cup and take turns picking and answering. (See sample questions, next page.)

Do a taste tasting.

Grab a small variety of beer, wine, chocolates or something else you love and serve in small tasting glasses or plates. Order a snack box from a country you’d like to visit together and have a tasting.

Jam out.

Make a love song (or favorite song) playlist together and listen to it during dinner or have a dance party in the living room or dance to your designated couple song.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1/2 cup milk

1 cups bread crumbs or some use stuffing mix

1 lb. ground beef

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup ketchup, divided Heat safe, heart shaped mold

DIRECTIONS:

-Heat oven to 350°F.

-Add milk to bread crumbs or stuffing mix in a large bowl; stir. Let stand for 5 minutes. -Add meat, egg and 1/4 cup ketchup; mix just until blended.

-Place 8 (2-inch) silicone heart-shaped molds on a baking sheet; fill with meat mixture, adding about 1/2 cup meat mixture to each mold.

-Spread remaining ketchup evenly onto meat mixture in each mold.

-Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the meat loaves are done (160°F).

-Cool 5 min. before removing meatloaves from molds to serve.

*If you don’t have a heart mold, you can shape the meatloaf with your hands and bake on a sheet pan

Don’t forget dessert. Chocolate-covered strawberries are a staple of Valentine’s Day and they’re super quick and easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:

1 basket large strawberries with stems, cleaned and dried 10 oz milk, dark or white chocolate melting wafers

DIRECTIONS:

-Place melting wafers in a microwave-safe container and microwave at half power or defrost setting for 30 seconds.

-Stir thoroughly (product keeps its original shape until stirred).

-If not completely melted, continue to microwave in 15 second intervals and stir until smooth. Overheating can cause wafers to burn.

-Hold each strawberry by stem and dip into melted wafers.

-Place chocolate coated strawberries on waxed paper.

-Cool in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes, or until firm.

Planning to stay in or go out with your significant other? Carve out time in your date to ask these questions to each other to reconnect or learn something new.

1. Name two things you think I do well.

2. What are your favorite qualities about me?

3. What’s the greatest strength of our marriage/ relationship?

4. How would you spend a million dollars?

5. What’s one thing I don’t know about you?

6. If you could speak another language, what would it be?

7. What’s one thing you want to do differently from your parents?

8. If you could be an expert in anything, what would it be?

9. What would a day of all your favorite meals look like?

10. Who is your biggest relationship role model?

11. What’s your most memorable date?

12. 10 years from now, what do you hope is the same? What do you hope is different?

13. Kindest thing you’ve ever done for someone?

14. If you could be a TV or movie character in real life, who would it be?

15. Favorite teacher in school and why?

16. What is a day in your life that you’d like to relive?

17.Where do you think would be the most romantic place to visit?

18. Do you feel like you’re missing out on anything?

19. What makes you feel the most loved?

20. If money wasn’t a factor, what’s your dream date or perfect day look like?

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