Valentine's Day summons visions of truffles, roses, layer cakes, and steak dinners for two. There are a few ways to celebrate the day with your beloved:
- Dine out
- Cook a romantic meal (from scratch)
- Choose the Simple Way
Store-bought cupcakes can be dressed up with Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers and sweetheart roses (I found boxed cupcakes and sweethearts roses at Publix).
Chocolate-dipped strawberries aren't complicated to make, but you do need spare time. If you're in a rush, many groceries sell them.
I love gilding cupcakes.
For the entree, I pan-grilled steak, sliced it, and arranged it over romaine. Then I added toasted walnuts, green onions, and tomatoes .
Grilled Steak Salad
Grease a heavy grill pan (or spray with Pam). While the pan heats, season the steaks with olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and chopped herbs. Sear steaks on both sides, flipping them in the opposite direction to create those lovely "grill" marks.
Let the meat rest, then slice. Toast walnuts in a pan. Chop green onions and tomatoes and toss into the salad. Add walnuts (chop). Serve with your favorite dressing and French bread.
***
I made a heart topiary for the centerpiece (a wire heart with moss plus silk ivy --that's right, silk--from Kmart). I made an epic mess, but everyone loved it. And I can't kill the ivy.
Last week, I Tweeted about several Foodie Friday recipes w/ links to individual blogs and plan to do this again this week. As always, you are invited to add your FF recipes with a link to your blog atThe Foodie Friday Gallery .
If you missed Teeny Templeton's 2nd guest post, she made a Valentine's Day video with quick dessert ideas and tablescapes; she also announced the winner of the Williams-Sonoma gift card, along with other contests.
I'm Teeny Templeton, your intrepid guest blogger at Designs by Gollum. I've put together a little Valentine's Day idea video where the winner of the Williams-Sonoma gift card will be revealed. I loved making it and hope you enjoy it too!
A fun contest is going on at Facebook. Just pick your favorite "Teeny" video. The prize is a $100 gift card at Red Envelope.com. Be sure to leave a message so your name will go into the drawing. If you like copper, check out the Copper Cookware Give-away.
For more Valentine's Day ideas, a Free 51-page Ebook is available at Lulu.com.
Love,
Teeny Templeton
To add Foodie Friday's logo to a post. Click on the (above) photo, copy, and upload the picture to your post via Blogger's "add a photo" button, then add the host blog's address, http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com, to your post. This will help everyone navigate to all of the recipes and wonderful blogs who participate each week. If you are new to Foodie Friday and need more info, here's an in-depth TUTORIAL. If you're participating in this week's recipe exchange, please add your recipe and permalink:
60 comments:
Congratuts to Stacy and Teeny what a fun and inspiring video you have put together! Loved everything in it! I also loved the music. Joni
Teeny, your latest video is full of inspiration for the upcoming holiday. Thanks for sharing the ideas.
Congratulations to Stacy! ~ Sarah
I will go to FB and leave a comment but this is my favorite Teeny video so far! They are all great but this has so many beautiful elements. Thanks, Teeny and ML!!!! XO, Pinky
Hey Teeny! Love the video, what a fun way to tell Stacy that she won.
Beautiful ideas for Valentines day!
Kat
I was completely surprised and touched when I saw the video that announced I had won the Williams Sonoma gift card! Love Love Love the cupcake cups... where did you get those?
Congrats to Stacey and to Teeny for coming up with such a fun {and suspenseful ;} way to reveal a giveaway...bravo! This is by far my favorite video...off to vote I go ;) See you all on Foodie Friday, fondly, Roberta
Lovely, fabulous ideas for Valentine's Day. Great video.
Hi Michael, yummy cupcakes and brilliant video, congrats to Stacey. I immediately thought of you yesterday when I saw the news that OUR Henry (Cavil) swoon.... has been picked to play Superman in the new movie (2012) Woooohoooo swapping those Tudor tights for Superman's is deffo something to look forward to :-). Looking forward to Gone with a handsomer man too, sounds hilarious, Happy February. hugs, Kathy.
Thanks so much for leaving a comment about the videos! It's hard to pick one to use, and I appreciate your help. XX00
Congrats to Stacy ! The video production was great ~ love all the ideas, designs and the sweet music!
*keeping warm and cozy here in upstate NY
What a beautiful video...I just love your blog! Great inspiration....I hope your book is to be released here in South Africa...looking forward to it!
Keep warm!
Shel
What a delicious Valentines' Day post, ML. Steak salad is a favorite here. Your scrumptious photos are all the Valentine candy I need.
I think Teeny is going to be a fun, fun heroine! Congrats to Stacy.
Gorgeous Valentine post. The heart topiary is beautiful and there's nothing more romantic than strawberries and red roses.
Nothing says love to my hubby like a steak dinner :)
Beautiful presentation Michael! The cupcakes look amazing! Thanks for the shout out last week, that was fun:@)
Your cupcake photos are so gorgeous! I love that color of pink with red and the roses make it stunning!
This week I am sharing my new post that has lots of healthier appetizer ideas to eat while wathing the big game.
To balance things out I also shared a lot of my yummy cookie recipes!
Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend!
Your steak salad looks so good and of course if I make that for a light dinner I can have TWO cupcakes for dessert :-). I received new cookbooks for xmas and have been foodspotting in blog-land so hopefully I can join in your Foodie Friday's very soon. I posted my dishspotting trip too. you will adore the Wedgwood lattice lidded orange bowl. I am barred from buying any more dishes but have fell in love with Wedgwood's new Pashmina range it's sooo gorgeous. stop writing for a nano second and tell me what you think hehe. hugs, Kathy
I don't do FB, ML. Sorry...
The steak salad looks delicious! Makes me hungry and we just ate! :(
Love the topiary!
Thanks for hosting!
what a beautiful valentine sure to make someone feel mighty special
Your photos are so beautiful! The steak salad looks fab as well.
Nancy
Your cupcakes look amazing! Beautiful photos too!
~Rainey~
http://theprojecttable.blogspot.com
Such a lovely video and the cupcakes ,roses and everything is amazing as always
xx
Bunny
You are the queen of gilding the lily! I can hardly wait to meet Teeny. Love your videos!!! Hope all is well with you!
Darling video! My, your cupcakes look fabulous...mine look like my granddaughter did them. No, she probably would have done better. :)
The steak salad looks divine! I wish I could photograph as well. Thanks so much for sharing ~ I will definitely try this recipe!
Pat
Oh these photos are beyond stunning! JUST BEAUTIFUL!!
Congrats to Stacy. Beautiful video and that steak salad looks divine!
Sherry
Those cupcakes are so pretty and I love the wrappers!
I'm beginning to really like that little Teeny!
Wow! What a beautiful post and your snaps are gorgeous!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
The flowers and steak look very romantic. Thank you for sharing beautiful things and thank you for hosting.
Michael ~ thank you for the lovely comments. You are a sweetie...Blessings, K
This blog is fun, but who won the giveaway last Friday? I haven't been around long so I guess I haven't figured out how this works...
'Teeny's videos' are such fun and so beautiful! And as always your photographs are amazing. I really like the idea of the steak salad as well - I never thought of using walnuts with steak, but it sounds really delicious. Have a wonderful weekend!
Leave it to you to find a quick way to make something look like you spent all day in the kitchen. Those cupcakes are the best with those wrappers. Hope you have a great and romantic Valentines day!
What a wonderful Valentine's gift to us! I know I would love to have the time to mix and bake some cupcakes and the time to frost and decorate them. You showed me that, rather than throwing in the towel, I can still make them special for my special someone!
One of your most beautiful posts..and that is saying a lot!
I love all your time-saving Valentine's Day ideas and fabulous photography! Thanks for hosting FF.
Jane
frugalfineliving.com
The winner (Four Points Foodie) of the WS gift card was announced in the above video.
Thank you, Michael Lee for Tweetie about me! I'm so honored.
You are a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Well, poop! I mean Twitter! :)
I enjoy all that is here on Foodie Friday, but what blows me away are your photos. When it comes to shooting food and tables, you've got it down. I wish.........
This post was SO pretty! So inspiring.
I hope you will stop by the Metis Linens blog and check out Andrea's creme puff's.
Thank you so much for hosting!
Just love this site hope you dont mind my adapting recipes for camp cooking as that is what I do mostly for my blog.
Gorgeous photos!!
Oh my gosh, this is my favorite Teeny video yet~ :D So clever! xo
The cupcakes look stunning and your photos...wow! I love the video. I've seen many of the pictures on your blog, but somehow putting them all together in video form is so "classy" and elegant. I'm so impressed!
I love the cupcakes, the steak! The video was awesome! I loved seeing your gussied up cakes! My favorite table by the staircase! The music was wonderful too!
Thanks for hosting! Those cupcakes not only look good, they are beautiful! Your steak salad looks wonderful! I don't think I have ever joined in Foodie Friday. I used to cook a lot and I do mean a lot! But I chimed in this time with a simple comfort food dish. Not a good picture as I did not think to take a picture until right before I put the leftovers away.
Not a Valentine dish - hope you don't mind.
Not liking the weather forecast for the next week. :(
Enjoy your weekend.
Glenda
Gorgeous photos!!!!!!
Absolutely STUNNING!!!!
Happy Valentines Day!
Love,
Lisa
Those cupcakes and roses are so beautiful...what a wonderful way to use storebought ;) Boy I need to update the flicker photos...I'm always behind on that task! Have a wonderful weekend...fondly, Roberta
Love your ideas for an easy and romantic valentine's day meal! Less time in the kitchen=more time spend with your valentine(unless he/she wants to cook together).
How fun to meet Teeny. Love your tabletop valentine!
Michael...love the video! You take food to an art form! :)
Miss you!!!
We need to talk sometime and catch up on life. Hope you are getting a bit of a break these days and can "come outside and play." ;)
XO
Susan
Thank you for the tweet x, sweet lady. playing with dishes is our favourite thing lol, really looking forward to seeing lot's more of your beautiful creations, when you get through with all your editing. happy Sunday, hugs. Kathy x
Amazing photos of some of the prettiest cupcakes ever! Those cupcake "cups" are such an elegant find. And are those fresh flowers as toppers?
Those cupcakes are so lovely! Everything is working perfectly well. This scene is a perfect Valentine dinner!
Love the cupcakes and roses. Two of my favourite things: )
Just posted my link and am so happy that you are hosting.
Thanks so much.
Manni
www.ibakecakes-manni.blogspot.com
Hi ML,
Sorry, but I can only stay a moment -- I'm anxious to watch Teeny's latest video! Just had to leave a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed this post. So many great ideas and amazing, deliciously romantic images!
Have the happiest of Valentine's Days, OK? ;)
Fondly,
Bill
Beautiful as always, and delicious looking salad
Your steak salad looks delicious! Thanks for sharing. Love your pretty cupcakes too, Michael Lee.
Blessings, Beth
Such fabulous ideas!! Those are the prettiest cupcakes I think I have ever seen. Great post.
Donna
Happy Valentine's Weekend! I adore those cupcake crowns. Thanks for hosting this! I added my strawberry cupcake recipe! :)
Yummy! Happy Valentine's Day!
Dee
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