What You Need:

1 lb. fresh strawberries, washed and hulled

10 mint leaves

2 C white wine

1 t lemon juice

3 T honey

2 T brandy

How to Cook It:

Place the strawberries into the blender.

Place the mint leaves in with the strawberries.

Pour in the wine, lemon juice, honey and brandy.

Puree until very smooth.

Strain the soup to remove any seeds.

Pour into a bowl, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

Serving Size:  2

Use this soup as the starter to your romantic Valentine dinner.  Garnish with a few strawberry slices and a mint leaf.  

What You Need:

2 hearts of Romaine lettuce

1 T pecans, toasted

1 small red pepper

1/4 C Italian cheese, shredded

1 C Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing

How to Make It:

Separate the leaves of each heart and place them on 2 salad plates.

Sprinkle the top of the lettuce with 1/2 T of the pecans per plate.

Slice the red pepper in half and remove the seeds and core.

Slice each half into half then cut with a heart shaped cookie cutter.

Place the red pepper hearts on top of both salads.

Top each salad with 1/8 C of the cheese.

Divide the dressing into 2 small bowls.

Serving Size:  2

By placing the dressing on the side you can use your fingers to dip the lettuce and pepper hearts. 

This can be so romantic, especially if you’re feeding each other. 

What You Need:

2 tubs Cherry Pomegranate flavor drink mix

8 C water

2 C club soda

2 C cranberry juice

1/2 C lime juice

1/2 C orange juice

Crushed ice

How to Make It:

Put the drink powder into a punch bowl.

Pour the water into the punch bowl and stir until the powder has completely dissolved.

Add the club soda and mix well.

Pour in the cranberry juice, lime juice and orange juice and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated together.

Add the crushed ice just before serving.

Serving Size:  24

This is a great punch to serve if you are having a Valentine’s party.  Pretty it up with heart shaped ice cubes colored red and pink with food coloring.  If you prefer to serve an alcoholic punch you can substitute vodka for the club soda.

What You Need:

1 (4 oz) pkg. pepperoni slices

6 large hamburger buns

1 C pizza sauce

1 C Mozzarella cheese, shredded

How to Cook It:

Place the oven temperature on 375 degrees and allow it to heat.

Place the pepperoni slices on a flat surface and use a small heart shaped cutter to cut each slice.

Lay the hamburger buns out flat on a baking sheet.

Cover each bun half with the pizza sauce.

Add the cut pepperoni hearts.

Sprinkle each bun half with the cheese.

Bake the buns for 8 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted and the bun is slightly crisp around the edges.

Serving Size:  12

These appetizers work very well at a teenagers Valentine’s party.  All teenagers love pepperoni pizza and these are an easy way to give them what they want.  To make more just double the recipe amounts and you can have 24 delicious treats.

What You Need:

4 (6 in) soft tortilla shells

1/4 (8 oz) container strawberry cream cheese

4 T strawberry jam

How to Cook It:

Spread each of the 4 tortillas with the strawberry cream cheese to the edges of the tortilla.

Spread 1 T of strawberry jam down the middle of each of the tortillas.

Fold the end of the tortilla in about 2 in.

Grab the front edge of the tortilla and roll until completely closed.

Cut into 2 inch bites.

Serving Size:  24

These little treats can be wrapped and placed into lunchboxes or used as appetizers for a special Valentine’s Day treat.