At-Home Date Night
It’s that time of year again when candy hearts abound and rose colored glasses aren’t always a negative thing.
Though romantic overtures are not lost on me, there have been times in Tim and my marriage that large overtures are not feasible for one reason or the other. So…whether you are a poor college student, parents of littles, or recovering from the flu like we are this Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share a few things that Tim and I do from time to time to makes evenings at home special.
One: Make Dinner Together
Tim and I enjoy cooking together. One of our first “dates” was making cookies together. My mother-in-law blessed me by teaching her son how to cook. {Tim is actually a much more creative cook than I am…instead I follow recipes like a champ!}
We’ll brain storm a few days in advance considering what we would like to cook together {or let’s be real sometimes we just see what’s available in the fridge and pantry the day of}. Then the cooking begins after we put Luke to bed. Though the food is always a delight, the process is what makes it so fun!
Two: Picnic in the Living Room
Feeding people is one of my favorite things. I love making things they enjoy. I love that they know I was thinking of them well in advance as I went to the store and prepped the meal we are sharing. This is especially the case with Tim.
From time to time, I like to surprise him with a special meal. Sometimes they coincide with a special occasion but sometimes Tuesdays just need to be make a little more special. A way to make this a little more romantic is pull out a favorite quilt, throw it on the living room floor, start the fire in the fireplace, and eat the special meal on the floor with your love.
{Note: We love doing picnics in the living room as a family too. We’ll order pizza, get a not so special blanket to sit on, and rent a Redbox. A super fun Friday night activity!}
Three: 2 Person Games
Tim and I love playing games. Having friends over to play games happens a lot at our house, but what about when it’s just the 2 of us?
We have slowly been introduced to games that can be played with just 2 people…Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Bananagrams, and Canasta.
We usually pair this kind of night with a cheese tray {Brie, Cheddar, Grapes, Apples, and Carr’s Water Crackers}. {Another note: You can get a large wheel of Brie at Sam’s for almost the same price as 1 wedge at a traditional grocery store. This gem is too good to not be shared.}
Finally, I want to share a favorite recipe that just screams “Happy Valentine’s Day”. This recipe is perfect to make with your spouse {significant other} because it only has 5 ingredients.
Classic Shortbread Cookies from “The All-New Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook”
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
Sugar (colored, for decorating)
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add ½ cup sugar, beating well. Stir in vanilla.
Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed after each addition.
Roll dough to ½ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut with a 3 inch heart shaped cookie cutter, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar.
Bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes {yes, you read that right 45 minutes} or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 1 dozen.
Enjoy and love your spouse well!
Photos courtesy of yours truly.