Valentine’s Menu
brought to you by THRiVE! Magazine Article by Sandra Arcadipane
It seems every holiday on the calendar has been exploited by marketers and retailers for the sake of making a profit. There are cards and gifts for every occasion from Christmas down to Columbus Day! I started to get critical of this but then began to wonder if a celebration of love was really so bad, even if businesses use it to sell you things you don’t necessarily need. To tell you the truth, I love any occasion where I get to have a celebration and give a gift to my fabulous husband. You can turn this holiday into a true celebration of love for your significant other. THRiVE! is here to help the many Western New Yorkers that are plagued with the often times difficult task of finding something fun, romantic and unique to do on Valentine’s Day, and yet something that doesn’t require large chunks of cash. Our menu below will give you some great ideas of how to craft a day or evening that your loved one will never forget. Just mix and match ideas for the beginning of your date, which we will call “Starters”, the middle of your date or “The Main Course” and the end of your date or “Dessert”. Let the memory making begin.
STARTERS
1. Make your own pottery at a local pottery studio such as Lov’N Clay in the Village of Williamsville or at Village Clay Your Way in the Village of Orchard Park 2. Write down 10 to 20 questions to ask each other that you’ve always wanted to know. For example, favorite superhero growing up or what their greatest memory as a child is. 3. Send your significant other on a treasure hunt. Start off by giving your significant other a clue that will take them on a short trip to see a friend, that friend will have a little gift with the next clue attached to it which will take them to another person who will give them another gift and a clue… all leading up to where you are at for dinner with the big gift. You can make it whatever you want but it certainly will be really fun and exciting. 4. You or your significant other can gather some of your favorite photographs together and pay a visit to your local craft store and pick out a scrap book and some scrap booking stickers or stamps. Take it home and put the scrapbook together. 5. For the sports lovers check out the Niagara Climbing Center for some great indoor climbing fun in North Tonawanda. 6. Take a dance lesson together. Arthur Murray dance studios in Amherst offers private and group lessons. This is a really fun way to spend some time with your significant other that is probably very different from what you normally do but romantic. It is sure to be something that you never forget.
MAIN COURSE
1. Make a romantic, candlelit dinner together at home. Decorate the table with rose petals, floating candles and chocolates and use your fine china. If you have a fireplace, lay a blanket next to that with a warm fire going. Make your significant other’s favorite dish or try something new and fancy. 2. Have an exquisite and romantic meal at Mother’s Restaurant in Buffalo or at Asa Ransom House in Clarence. 3. Forget fun in the sun and have some fun in the snow. Go sledding at Chestnut Ridge Park. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate, a camera, and bundle up. This may even be the type of date to turn into a double date because they’re opening their Toboggan Runs again. This will be a night you’ll never forget. 4. Purchase a Valentine’s Day Package from Salvatore’s Garden Place Hotel. One Night Getaway. For $139 you can get One night accommodations in an elegantly appointed King Guest Room, Breakfast In The Garden, and Dinner for Two from Salvatore’s Italian Gardens Special Dinner for Two Menu 5. If you’re on a budget, a great restaurant to go to for an extraordinary meal is Pano’s on Elmwood. At Pano’s you can get Lobster Tail and Filet Mignon for $19.99! 6. Take a drive down to Ellicottville and enjoy skiing on Holiday Valley’s 56 slopes. You can spend your afternoon skiing and indulge in a slope side dinner at Founder’s Restaurant.
DESSERT
1. The Chocolate Bar in Buffalo has world class desserts to tantalize your taste buds. They also sell novelty items such as chocolate lip balm, soap and baby powder that could make great gifts for your significant other. 2. Spot Coffee is a great way to end your evening. Have a hot cup of coffee or cappuccino with one of their homemade desserts and spend some time just relaxing with your significant other while you share your goals and dreams for the next year. 3. Rent a movie! Whether or not you are on a budget, renting a movie is always a fun, romantic, and relaxing way to spend your evening. Grab a couple movies, some popcorn, Champaign, and a dessert from Butterwood Desserts on Main St. in the Village of Williamsville. Curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and you’re all set.
4. For you married couples out there give each other a massage. 5. Read a romantic short story or poems together. You can buy a book from your local bookstore like Benders Christian Supply, or just take out a book from the library. 6. Play a board game together over dessert. Board games are always great because they lead to good conversation and keep you involved with each other. They’re a lot of fun and free! Picking out a gift for Valentine’s Day could be just as difficult or more than figuring out the date! Here are some great gift ideas for all budgets big and small.
FREE
1. Give your significant other a coupon book full of things you will do for them like, giving a massage, doing the laundry, giving them a day out while you take care of the kids. Find something they love and put it in. 2. Write your significant other a poem or love letter. 3. Clean the house. 4. Bake them cookies or a fun dessert. 5. Write a love story about the two of you.
GIFTS UNDER $50.00
1. MP3 Player 2. Digital Photo Frame
The Perfect Appetizers, Created by You.
Braciuola 1-1/2 pound lean top round beef cut into thin pieces and pounded 1 clove garlic cut in half 1/3 cup fresh grated romano cheese Prosciutto 1/3 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound can tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Rub each piece of beef with the garlic halves. Mix salt and pepper into the cheese and spread cheese onto each piece of beef. Then spread parsley and prosciutto over the cheese. Roll up beef starting at the small end and secure with a toothpick or tie with string. Sauté in olive oil. Meanwhile simmer tomatoes in tomato paste for a few minutes adding 1/2 cup of water or more if desired to improve consistency of sauce. Transfer beef rolls to a casserole dish and pour sauce over top. Bake at 350 degree oven for 1 to 2 hours, until tender when poked with a fork. Let cool 5 minutes then slice. Serve with pasta and pour sauce over both.
3. Cologne/Perfume 4. Study/Message Bible 5. Gift Certificate for a Manicure or Pedicure
GIFTS UNDER $100.00 1. New Dress 2. Diamond Earrings 3. IPhone Docking Station 4. Chipping and Driving Mat for golf 5. Leather Journal
Now enjoy your Valentine’s Day and don’t sweat the planning.
Have fun creating your date!
GIFTS UNDER $250.00
1. Watch 2. GPS navigation system 3. Iphone 4. Wii 5. Diamond necklace and earrings
RECIPES BY MARY CIPOLLA
Asparagus Tips With Prosciutto 24 Asparagus Tips 8 long thin slices of prosciutto 1/2 cup melted butter 3 tablespoons of grated romano cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Boil asparagus about 10 minutes or until tender and drain well. Wrap 3 asparagus tips in each slice of prosciutto and fasten with toothpick. Place on a greased baking dish and sprinkle with butter and cheese. Bake 5 minutes and pour remaining butter on top.
French Fried Onions Allow one onion per serving. Cut onion into 1/4 inch slices. Completely cover in a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 milk and let stand 30 minutes. Drain onions and dry. Dredge onions through flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Fry in oil.
Shrimp Newburg 6 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup light cream 1 cup milk 4 slightly beaten egg yolks 1 lb shelled cooked shrimp 1/4 cup dry sherry 2 teaspoons lemon juice Pastry shells or toast cups Paprika
In a skillet melt the butter. Blend in flour and salt. Stir in cream and milk. Cook, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and bubbles. Reduce heat. Stir small amount of sauce into egg yolks and then combine with sauce in skillet and cook until blended, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Add shrimp, sherry, and lemon juice and continue to cook until all heated through. Serve in pastry shells or toast cups and sprinkle with paprika. To make toast cups, simply take 4 slice of white bread and trim the crust off. Press into ungreased muffin tin and brush with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 min.