I quite liked the way that Valentine's Day fell on a weekend this year. It was even better for us here in Ontario that it fell on the Family Day weekend meaning that we have three days during which to enjoy ourselves.When Valentine's Day falls during the week I generally end up taking one, if not two, days off of work to cook up a storm.
Some like sending roses and heading out to dinner as their way of saying 'Happy Valentine's Day'. Not us. We prefer to celebrate with a nice quiet evening . . . good food . . . fine wine . . . some treats . . . and incredible company! This is exactly when we did on Saturday.
This year we had a special breakfast with which to start the day. Paul wanted strawberry pancakes so I whipped up a batch of our favourite buttermilk pancakes (a Martha Stewart recipe) and added some strawberries, raspberries, and sliced almonds. I cooked the pancakes using the heart pancake molds that I bought at Williams Sonoma and have used once. It was a breakfast appropriate for the day.
I also made a batch of our favourite raspberry cream cheese muffins (to continue with the red and white theme . . .).
The deal with dinner was that I would make the appetizer, salad, and dessert while Paul decided that he would make the main course (wth some prep assistance from me). I requested a beef tenderloin (we had 7 in freezer - time to eat up what we already have). We were ready to go. While Paul worked in the kitchen, I set the table.
Paul made some French Martinis (which seemed rather more strong than usual but it might have been that we haven't had any for awhile) which started the evening off in style.
The next soup that has been selected for the Sunday Slow Soupers is French Onion. This seemed like a perfect start to our meal so I made it a week early. All I can say is that this is the best onion soup I have ever had - YUM! I made the soup on Friday so all I had to do was reheat it, toast the bread, sprinkle on the cheese, and brown it. It made for an easy (and delicious) first course.
For the salad I had decided on a simple salad of arugula, blood oranges, blue cheese, and a easy citrus vinaigrette. I used some of the olive oil that Palma and I ordered from Umbria.WOW - the olive oil was incredible making this simple salad truly great.
The main course was Paul's responsibility. He made a beef tenderloin roast that was covered with a paste of porcini mushrooms, shallots, and thyme. The entire roast was then wrapped in pancetta prior to roasting it to a delicious medium rare. He served the roast on a individual Yukon Gold Potato Galettes with Gruyere cheese. On the side were sweet slices of roasted beets.
He did an amazing job. He has come a long way for someone who couldn't boil water 10 years ago.
For the past few years I had bought the dessert that we had with our Valentine's dinner but this year I decided to make something. I whipped up some white chocolate souffle cakes with a raspberry dark chocolate filling. Dear lord, these were complex. So complex that I may go back to buying dessert! In fairness, they were amazing, but the recipe printed out on three pages.
After dessert there were gifts (we exercised restraint - there were not 6 boxes of chocolates for anyone this year). We had bought most of these when we were in California so there were some boxes of our favourite Cocoa Bella Chocolates and some from Sees (talk about opposites! *smile*)
Paul relaxed while I tidied in the kitchen. When I returned to the living room the strain of cooking, the martinis, wine,and good food had clearly tired Paul out. This is what I saw . . .
It had been a wonderful day. I hope that you had a super day as well!
Oh My Gosh. I have been waiting for this post. You did not disappoint. Love the attention you place on every part of this meal. And Paul! Wow I never knew he was such a gourmet cook. Impressive to say the least. You both ROCK!
Posted by: Barb Cabot | February 16, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Yum! Everything looks so delicious! And I love the photo of Paul and Beckett. Too cute.
Posted by: Annie | February 16, 2009 at 09:52 AM
Yummy dinner. So glad you love the oil!
Posted by: Palma | February 16, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Jerry-Your dinner looks amazing. That's great that you and Paul worked on it together. And the dessert sounds divine. Glad you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Posted by: Cindy Ruth | February 16, 2009 at 11:34 AM
After such a lucious meal, I, too, would be in a food coma. Did you serve wine with dinner (might've contributed to displayed food coma)? If so, what wine(s) did you have?
Posted by: Brad'll Do It | February 16, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Jerry, that looks like an amazing meal. Every course looks so delicious, and the dessert (while beautiful) does sound like a great deal of effort. Still, worthwhile for a special occasion.
And did Beckett get a bit of sourdough bread to celebrate Valentine's Day?
Posted by: sandrac | February 16, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Barb - Paul has come a long way in the kitchen. he needs to work on confidence more than anything.
Thanks Annie.
Palma -the oil is amazing. I won't let Paul use it for anything. I am now hiding it.
Thanks Cidy - dessert was good but so much work. it is far easier to buy it. LOL
Brad - moreon that tomorrow (if all goes according to plans. . .)
Sandra - sourdough? Not on Valentines day. He got a big piece of beef tenderloin which he seemed to enjoy a great deal.
Posted by: JDeQ | February 16, 2009 at 03:42 PM
wow, I am so drooling right now ;) The sourdough story cracked me up. I'm the tenderloin was an acceptable substitute though! lol (when I die, I want to come back as your cat!)
Posted by: Anne | February 16, 2009 at 06:38 PM
Wow! I want to move into your house. I love pancakes. They're always my favorite breakfast. Everything looks so good. I would have loved that salad.
Posted by: jan | February 16, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Sounds like an awesome celebration for the three of you!
Posted by: Eden | February 16, 2009 at 07:01 PM
There is no doubt that Beckett lives well Anne. Tonight he had some grilled lamb - he LOVED that!
Thanks Jan - i'll post the salad recipe soon. We had it again tonight - mom really enjoyed it.
It sure was Eden.
Posted by: JDeQ | February 16, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Fabulous meal! I love the pancakes and that dessert...3 pages?? I would have never attempted that, but then again, I am closer to the boiling water than gourmet chef status. It looks yummy though. Glad you both had a great day!
Posted by: girasoli | February 16, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Jerry, I think you and Paul have a romantic B&B business in your future!
Posted by: Deborah | February 17, 2009 at 09:21 AM
I think it's really nice that you have shared the cooking gene with Paul, and that you now both can cook those special meals together. But you know me, I'm a See's girl, and I had to hide a few of my favorites this year from the crowd in our daugher's kitchen.
Posted by: Marcia | February 17, 2009 at 04:49 PM
What a fabulous day you both had! The photos look great, I can actually smell the onions in your soup. LOL.
And your dessert, yummy, I'd like some.
Posted by: Candi | February 18, 2009 at 01:54 AM
What an amazing Valentine's dinner!! I am salivating here at my desk. I always seem to read these things when I am hungry but lunch is still an hour away...
Posted by: Chiocciola | February 18, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Girasoli - it was a recipe from Fine Cooking involving cooked pastry cream and stuff. Heck, until Saturday I didn't even know what a pastry cream was.
Deborah - that is one of the few things I can see myself doing in retirement.
Marcia - I agree about See's chocolates. They might not be the finest chocolates in the world but they are good!
Thanks Candi - it was a great day.
Chiocciola - never read blogs with food pics when you're hungry! *smile*
Posted by: JDeQ | February 18, 2009 at 07:38 PM