The Meal of Love

After Brian's special Valentine's Day gift to me, I purposed in the very depths of my soul to make him a V-Day meal as good as any he'd order in a restaurant. This is the menu I came up with, a compilation of some of my favorite recipes. Friends, I give to you:

The Meal of Love.

Shrimp and Penne Pasta with Tomato-Basil Cream Sauce, courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. This is a very simple, straightforward recipe that, quite frankly, will make you wonder why you ever ordered something like this at a restaurant when it's so easy to make at home. Flat-out delicious. I made the sauce in the morning and reheated it in the skillet before dinner, after sauteing the shrimp. I didn't bother to photograph this because, well, the Pioneer Woman has already done a fantastic job.

Rosemary-Romano Dinner Rolls, courtesy of me, the Maeg.

Green Salad with Oil and Vinegar

Chocolate Mousse, courtesy of Alton Brown. I've made this more times than I can remember, and the gelatin makes it a great make-ahead dessert. I've used this as a cake filling, too, with substantial results. You can even watch a how-to video, here, at Part 1 and Part 2. Heck, even if you're not going to make the mousse, you better watch the video anyway. Good Eats is just about the best show on television.

Cheesecake-Stuffed Chocolate Strawberries, courtesy, again, of the Maeg.

This is a fairly simple menu that can be started the day before and cooked single-handedly with ease and flair. Yes, even if you're not the Wonder Wife. Anyway, it's filling, delicious, and will make anyone you serve it to fall in love with you.

And, well, I guess that's why it's called the Meal of Love.

So make it! Make it for your parents, make it for your sweetheart, make it for your landlord if you're going to be late with the rent! Whatever you do, just make it!

And don't wait!