Valentines Day is meant for sharing love with those people in your life who mean the most to you, so it’s a well celebrated holiday that sometimes can be so commercialized.
I will fully admit that for the last few years, I have completely skipped over Valentines Day and all the sentiments that the day brings. I’ve really just ignored it, because when you don’t have a special someone in your life, that day is just like any other. In fact, it’s sort of depressing if you are single. I think women get into celebrating Valentines Day more than men do, but there are many romantic men out there who like to express their feelings on this special day.
This year, since I will be celebrating Valentines Day with my special beau, I thought it would be fun to share some Valentines Day ideas in crafts and food with you today, some things that caught my eye via Pinterest. I think most crafts for this day are pretty cutesy, so you have to decide if that is something you’d make for your guy. For me, probably not, I’m not so into cutesy. It’s always nice to come up with something unique to show how much you care, but it can be shown in many different ways, from food, to endearing cards, to special personal gifts.
Amy from I Heart Naptime, decorated a side table with all things Valentines in pinks and reds, the color of the holiday. Pinks and reds are great this month, since most of us are experiencing dreary weather. Bring on the pink and celebrate! I think a lot of blog moms tend to decorate for their kids and this is a fun way to celebrate with them, with candy in a glass jar, fresh tulips and a sweet hanging heart and banner.
You can never go wrong with sweets, in my opinion. Most men love sweets and these lovely pink cupcakes are pretty as well as delectable. Recipe at I Heart Naptime.
What a great way to start Valentines Day with a heart egg in the hole, from Cool Mom Picks.
I thought this idea from Cakewhiz.com was so cute! Using edible markers, she wrote cutesy messages for her children and/or husband. What fun to open up your lunch bag and find this!
This button canvas idea from From the Woman Cave is sweet and romantic. Collecting red buttons would be a challenge, but it sure looks nice as a sweet little Valentines Day reminder.
From Worth Pinning, fill up Valentines glasses with his favorite candy and add some felt and a cute heart pick. Men love getting candy too.
Pink tulips and color matching M&M’s, what a great idea for a Valentines table or centerpiece, from Evolution of Style.
All you need is a heart shaped cookie cutter to make any meal Valentines Day worthy! Cute idea from Viralnova.
How about this sweet treat at home, Chambord Creme Brûlée? From NYC’s Manhattan Monarch Rooftop & Indoor Lounge, Executive Chef Daniel Billheimer will introduce a Chambord Crème Brulee at Monarch on Valentines weekend. The recipe can also be prepared at home, a simple way to surprise your sweetheart with a treat that is sure to impress.
I’ve never made Creme Brûlée at home, but it’s one of my favorite desserts ever! Wonder if you can use one of those long lighters for the torch? Have you made it at home? Recipe below!
Chambord Crème Brulee
Yield: Nine 3.75oz. ramekins
Crème Brulee Ingredients
7 egg yolks
24 oz. heavy cream
4 oz. sugar
3/4 tsp real vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
7 Tsp Chambord cordial
Garnish
Raw sugar
Mint sprig
Blackberry or black raspberry
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. If convection, turn to low fan.
In a small pot combine cream, vanilla and salt and heat gently on medium high. Keep an eye on cream mixture so it doesn’t boil over. Separate egg yolks into a medium mixing bowl and whip in sugar until creamy. Once cream mixture is gently simmering, remove from heat and temper it into the yolk/sugar by whisking the two together slowly, so as not to scramble the yolks. After the cream mixture is totally combined with the yolk mixture, whisk in the Chambord.
In a half hotel pan, place nine 4oz. ramekins and fill them with the crème brulee mixture leaving 1/2 inch. Add boiling water until it reaches half way up the ramekins. Gently place the pan in the oven and set a timer for 20 minutes. The cooking process might take a little more time depending on the oven, but remove the pan when the custard is set up and just barely jiggles when the pan is shook. Remove the ramekins from the water bath on to a sheet pan and place in refrigerator to cool, about 2 hours.
When ready to serve, apply a layer of raw sugar to just cover the custard. Gently caramelize the sugar with a hand torch rotating the crème brulee slowly to caramelize evenly. **As an alternative to a hand torch, set your oven to broil and place the rack just underneath the element/flame. Make sure the creme brulees have set (preferably overnight) and the ramekins are cold before placing them under the broiler for 10-15 minutes or until the sugar begins to caramelize.
Garnish with mint sprig and one berry for accent and serve.
How about you? Do you celebrate Valentines Day with your sweetheart or your kids and family? Tell us how you celebrate!
Here. Is an expensive idea I do that I found in a magazine years ago. Write I love you with red lipstick on the bathroom mirrorr after your loved one goes to bed. He will see it when he brushes his teeth or shaves in the morning. I have been married 32 years and do this quite often.
Love that idea, Lorraine, I’ve seen that done before and it’s so cute. A sweet reminder!
You don’t have to have a “special beau”to celebrate Valentine’s Day. What about acknowledging LOVE for family members? 2/14 isn’t a day to skip over or hide from. It’s a day like all the other 363 days that we are blessed to be breathing. What about just being grateful for love in general? It’s kind of ridiculous to read that only because you have a “Special Beau” will you be celebrating Valentines Day.
364 days that is!
That sounds a little harsh. I think Rhoda means this Valentine’s day will be special because she has a new love. It is evident in her posts she loves her family. I am happy she is excited to celebrate with someone special.
You probably need to get a life mam Rhoda has right to her feelings just like you do. That was way too harsh. Shame on you. This is a nice blog and angry people like you should really write your rude comments down on a piece of paper ,go to the rest room , tear them up , then flush them down the toilet where they belong
Well, Theresa, it’s really not nice to call me ridiculous. That’s just how I felt about Valentines Day & my feelings are mine. It is a day for lovers for the most part and yes other people we love can be a part of that, but it’s traditionally been something that couples celebrate together. As for being grateful for love and life, yes of course I am. I’m grateful every single day for the blessings in my life, of family and friends.
Oh for goodness sakes honestly shame on that person my bet is that she has no one to share the 14th with. WONDER WHY???? I hope you have a delightful time out with your beau. Forget her now
Carole, as a matter of fact I’ve been married for 30 years and have 2 sons and 4 grandchildren. I celebrate Valentine’s Day with my entire family, thank you very much!
Call me rude or insensitive all you want. I’m merely pointing out that you should never boycott 2/14 just because you don’t have a “beau”. Find happiness in being with friends, parents, children and grandparents. Elderly population in nursing homes across the country are full of people who have lost their spouses and children. What about taking the focus off yourselves and show them they are loved on Valentine’s Day.
Totally agree – I don’t have a “special beau” yet Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday of all. Love the sentiment and the colors used in decorating.
“Bitter” doesn’t look good on anyone.
My special someone passed away in October 2015 so I’m on my own now. But I think that fruit idea is just the cutest thing. That’s something we both would have done.
Jane, I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
Years ago my husband got tickets to see John Pizzarelli in concert with our symphony’s on Valentines. . We wanted to watch our U of M Tigers play earlier so we decided to grill steaks at home so we could watch the game before the 8 o’clock concert. We enjoyed it so much it has now been our tradition. I do decorate a tiny bit… Just because. I think the fruit is adorable!
I love the ideas! Hope you have a super romantic & fun Valentine’s Day! And thanks for sharing your life and experiences with us. I am new to your blog and really enjoy it 😉
Rhoda, thanks so much for sharing my Button Heart Canvas! You have a beautiful blog!
HI, Sherri, you are welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Rhoda;
The Creme Brulee is awesome, I have made at home, a bit time consuming but worth it…totally. No you can’t use a long lighter, that would not taste good, but you can place under the broiler for a few seconds to brown the sugar…just watch carefully and maybe disconnect the smoke alarm in the kitchen for a bit. It can get smokey sometimes.
Hope you enjoy Valentines Day. As always thank you for your inspiration. Always enjoyable.
I’m single and still celebrate Valentine’s! At work I bring chocolate or bake something! I always do a basket for my daughter with a card and in general send wishes to friends! I always wear something red too! Just love it and anything heart shaped! You are sure to have a special Vday this year! ❤️??
p.s. Love these ideas! Baking something is always fun and writing on the fruit is too darn cute! Read all the other comments that were said after I posted mine and I agree that any of these “hallmark” holidays stir up all kinds of feelings in everyone and we should not judge be it a lost loved one or a child that doesn’t get a valentine from a classmate. I’m thinking of poor old Charlie Brown and how he longed for that red-hair girl! Everyone is entitled to their own feelings! But this post was not only timely but as usual chocked full of good ideas…even if you wanted to bake something just for you or to share with a roommate, friends or that special someone!
Rhoda, I’m so happy to hear your Valentine’s is going to be extra special this year! I know you will be wearing something super cute, so please take some pictures for us (your extended cyber family!). I loved the heart shaped mozzarella idea!
I especially love the pink tulips in the matching M&Ms! The U.K. winter weather is grey and miserable, so Valentine colours are most welcome. Thank you for the fun ideas, Rhoda!
I am single too and I still love & celebrate Velentine’s Day. It is a nice holiday in the middle of the winter “doldrums”. Still months to go before Memorial Day. I love the colors most of all–the reds and pinks and hearts are one of my favorite shapes. I decorate a bit but not as much as I did when my children were at home and I would make it a special day for them. I don’t send cards but I will send a text message to each of my family members wishing them a sweet day.
Hi, I noticed that the cupcake is taller than an average cupcake, I’ve been trying to find a cupcake pan that will give me that result. Did you use a specific cupcake pan to get it to be that size?