Creating the perfect last minute Valentine's Day gift

DessertNo meal can be complete with dessert. Chocolate desserts are obvious, but a cheesecake, like this Blueberry Swirl recipe from Taste of Home can be made with a pre-made graham cracker crust, making the preparation simple. Cooking with fruit can be difficult as the delicate textures can turn soggy or tart if handled too roughly or in the wrong order so tread lightly. This Vanilla Cream-Filled Double Chocolate Cake for Two from Sweetapolita is quite decadent yet also a culinary vision with chocolate glaze dripping down the sides. You can never go wrong with chocolate on Valentine’s Day and this cake looks much more difficult to prepare than it really is, giving a feast for the eyes and taste buds alike.Main DishThink about her for a second. What types of restaurants does she prefer? Italian? French? Is she a vegetarian or can she chow down steak and potatoes like one of the guys? Stick to what you know about her and make her favorite. When all else fails, pasta dishes are very popular and can be made suit any taste. Chicken Marsala is delicious and can be paired with almost any wine. This recipe from Savory Sweet Life is simple, yet flavorful and exudes a warm and cozy feel. This Fettucine Alfredo with Cajun Shrimp recipe from Dishin and Dishes is light yet distinctive and can show off your new found cooking skills nicely.AppetizersWhile not really necessary for just the two of you, appetizers can score you some points for your efforts. Keep it simple and light so not to fill her up for the main dish. This Hot Artichoke and Spinach II from All Recipes dip pairs well with cut vegetables, bread or pita and can be noshed while waiting for the main course. It’s a universal favorite and hard to ruin, but requires a little bit of chopping and preparing. If you need to, grab the frozen version at Costco-she’ll never know the difference. If cheesy dips aren’t her thing this Bruschetta recipe from Alton Brown (Food Network) is very easy to follow and is simple enough to begin any meal.View the list »
Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a source of panic. The most romantic gift could be in your kitchen.

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Here we are. The night before Valentine’s Day and you may or may not have already found the perfect gift for your loved one. If you haven’t, you are probably in panic mode. Flowers? Lingerie? Jewelry? What is the perfect gift?

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Don’t stress. While all of those choices are stereotypical Valentine’s gifts they don’t always go over well. Flower bouquets are pretty but they wilt and die eventually. Lingerie is romantic but let’s face it: it’s mostly for you. And jewelry is expensive but you need to know her tastes first.

So what are you to do? Before you hit the mall, try thinking outside the box. You don’t need to drop a ton of cash to show her how much you love her, sometimes all you need is to make a grand gesture. You may have everything you need to sweep her off her feet already-right in your kitchen, in fact. Homemade meals are an excellent way to show your love her by boldly taking on something she usually has to do herself. Take the time to make a delicious, somewhat difficult gourmet meal (including washing dishes afterwards), allow her to relax for the evening and your efforts could really pay off. Just make sure you read through every recipe before you begin and time yourself appropriately. Some recipes can be made with shortcuts, and some can be made beforehand to cut back on cooking time. Make sure to add a nice bottle of wine and some warm ambience for the perfect finishing touches.

View the list
  • AppetizersWhile not really necessary for just the two of you, appetizers can score you some points for your efforts. Keep it simple and light so not to fill her up for the main dish. This Hot Artichoke and Spinach II from All Recipes dip pairs well with cut vegetables, bread or pita and can be noshed while waiting for the main course. It’s a universal favorite and hard to ruin, but requires a little bit of chopping and preparing. If you need to, grab the frozen version at Costco-she’ll never know the difference. If cheesy dips aren’t her thing this Bruschetta recipe from Alton Brown (Food Network) is very easy to follow and is simple enough to begin any meal.
  • Main DishThink about her for a second. What types of restaurants does she prefer? Italian? French? Is she a vegetarian or can she chow down steak and potatoes like one of the guys? Stick to what you know about her and make her favorite. When all else fails, pasta dishes are very popular and can be made suit any taste. Chicken Marsala is delicious and can be paired with almost any wine. This recipe from Savory Sweet Life is simple, yet flavorful and exudes a warm and cozy feel. This Fettucine Alfredo with Cajun Shrimp recipe from Dishin and Dishes is light yet distinctive and can show off your new found cooking skills nicely.
  • DessertNo meal can be complete with dessert. Chocolate desserts are obvious, but a cheesecake, like this Blueberry Swirl recipe from Taste of Home can be made with a pre-made graham cracker crust, making the preparation simple. Cooking with fruit can be difficult as the delicate textures can turn soggy or tart if handled too roughly or in the wrong order so tread lightly. This Vanilla Cream-Filled Double Chocolate Cake for Two from Sweetapolita is quite decadent yet also a culinary vision with chocolate glaze dripping down the sides. You can never go wrong with chocolate on Valentine’s Day and this cake looks much more difficult to prepare than it really is, giving a feast for the eyes and taste buds alike.
View the list

, South Salt Lake City Natural Family Living Examiner

Jessica Sayles is a native Utah and outdoors enthusiast since childhood. Always keeping up to date on the latest green and natural living trends she is an active conservationist and nature lover. She currently resides in Sandy, UT with her husband and two young daughters.

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