Tablescapes, White Romance and a Menu
Valentines Day doesn’t have to mean red or pink
White is probably the most romantic color of all
Weddings, white sand, new fallen snow…
speaking of new fallen snow… it wasn’t supposed to snow today, maybe just a light dusting they said….
And we already have over 2 inches. This city is shut down. It’s a mess
HH had to abandon his car and walk 3 miles to get home. Kids are stuck at school and everyone is stuck somewhere.
We don’t do snow in the South, and it’s a nightmare!
When I started doing this table yesterday I had no idea snow would be part of it! The black things you see through the side lights are plastic bags over my potted evergreens. It’s 7. 7 degrees. Oh, and it’s supposed to snow on the Alabama Gulf Coast this afternoon!
Nothing like a little romance to warm things up!
I put together a little Valentine menu of some of my favorite romantic recipes in case you need some ideas
Serve the first course, White Pizza Dip, in individual casseroles
and be sure to blow your sweetheart a kiss
Make sure there are candles to light and lots of fresh flowers
You want it to be as relaxing as possible
This is a non traditional Valentine’s Day Menu, and it’s all finger food, which is intimate and sexy~ and each course has a pop of Valentine red to spice up the white table~
Click on the recipe title to go to the post where you will find the printable recipe
Bourbon Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Kebabs
Lobster Tempura with Sweet Chili Aoli
Strawberry Margarita Dessert Tacos
Do you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day in a special way?
Note: This would be a lot to do at the last minute, but if you break it into steps, it becomes easy peasy. Just follow the steps below for ease of preparation.
1. Dip: Assemble the dip the day before or the morning of, cover tightly and refrigerate until baking time. Adjust baking time according to the size of your baking dish or dishes. You can make the dippers the day before and keep them in a sealed container or ziplock.
2. Kebabs: These can be prepped several hours ahead and refrigerated. You can roast them in the oven on a cooking oil sprayed rack on a foil lined baking sheet while dip is baking. Roast at 400 30 minutes or until bacon is done.
3. Lobster: You can fry this while the brussels sprouts kebabs are roasting or do it earlier in the afternoon and reheat with the dip and kebabs. Place in a foil covered pan and do not overcook, the lobster will heat back up in a few minutes. Make the sauce and set aside or refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.
4. Dessert: Make the cookie shells and Margarita filling for dessert the day before. Slice strawberries earlier in the day and then assemble tacos right before serving so they don’t get soggy. With everything done ahead, this will only take a minute.
With a little forethought and planning, this “not so simple” dinner, can become a breeze!
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Cute table setting Jenna and I love your tablecloth! The sprout kabobs are right up my alley, great idea! While pretty, snow can be a real problem… We do-do snow in Philly and it’s still a nightmare!!! Sorry to hear about your hubby’s trek, hope everyone made it home safely:@)
Beautiful tablescape Jenna! And I love the menu — sounds delicious!
Kenley
Lobster tempura….now that’s definitely a new lobster creation and I thought I knew most of them! I am very anxious to try your brussells sprouts as it is a real trick to get some of my family to eat them.
I loved your email with nice pictures and recipes. I too think “white” is beautiful. Stay warm and have a Happy Wednesday!
I heard on the news how you guys are getting hammered (and not in a good way!) down there! Wild! We here think of what you got as “a dusting”, but I know it’s all relative. If you’re not accustomed to driving in it, it can be a nightmare! Plus, we have all the tools and procedures in place up here for dealing with it. We know if we see the salt trucks and snow plows out on the highways that there is no doubt the weather guessers have put the fear of God in the city! 🙂 And it was 7 degrees here this morning when I left for PT in nothing but a pair of sweats and a sweater. Yes…a sweater. Again…all relative. We’re used to that chill in the air. Heck, 40 seems like a heat wave this time of year! 🙂
Inside where it’s warm is the place for lovers enjoying your table! I like white for Valentine’s Day. There’s just an innocence about it that can’t be denied. Like young love.
If you have to get out into the snow, remember to drive INTO the skid and don’t try to over-correct. Put a bunch of junk in the trunk of your car to weight it down. I put old cans of paint in there this season, and it worked like a charm. As soon as the threat of snow has passed for the season, I will take the old cans of paint to the recycle center for disposal. It all works! Take care and try to stay warm!!!
Hi Jenna, Romance never looked so good in white! Love your tablecloth and your lace edge placemats. It’s amazing how crippling 2 inches of snow can be in the south without equipment or preparation. I feel so bad for the kids that rode buses for hours (not to mention the frantic parents) only to have to go back to school and sleep on the gym floor. My sister lives in Atlanta and her normal 30 commute from work to 7 hours, but at least she made it home and didn’t have to abandon her car.
Oh my word, the tablescape is stunning but the menu sounds define. I need to come eat at your house. This all sounds soooooooooooooooooooo good.
You guys have really had the most incredible weather. So sorry to hear that you DH had to walk home. That is really not a good thing.
Hugs, Marty
Jenna, So sorry to hear all the horror stories in Birmingham! Hate your husband had such a time. Your tablescape is very lovely and romantic. Your food looks wonderful and I especially want to try the pizza dip.
Beautiful white table to share with a special someone. The food looks wonderful too.
Thank you Candy!
I love the two lovely-dovey pair. So pretty and very classy.
Happy weekend.
/CC girl
Thanks so much!
Beautiful table! I really love those cherubs. So sweet! Hope everyone is recovering from the storm in your neck of the woods. We have ice here today and snow is forecasted for next week.
Thank you Zenda, back to our normal rainy 60s today and everyone is welcoming it!
The white is such a nice change for Valentine’s Day. Love your menu.
Wonderful to have you at Seasonal Sundays.
– Alma, The Tablescaper
Thank you Alma!
I am so sorry you got blasted by the leftover snow we couldn’t handle. The winter has to be bad when it overflows in the south. I lived in Florida for many many years and I can see/hear everyday how people are losing their minds because they can’t find winter coats or the city official’s cannot keep up with road conditions. I hope your evergreens will be ok….They look like an arborvitae variety (same ones I have) so they should be fine. Your table however is much hotter then your temperatures outside, totally hot table and I love your dishes!
Thanks Christine, We are back in the 60s this weekend and my evergreens look good as new, thanks so much!
Beautiful table…love the all white!
Thank you Bev~
Love the white on white!
thanks Ellen, I am usually all about color so this was a stretch for me!
Lovely white Valentine’s tablescape! I like the white cherubs and how you placed them on the dishes. We get snow like that several times a week. We are prepared for it though so I know it’s hard for areas that aren’t. It’s pretty though!
Thanks Liz, you can keep your snow please, thank you!
Sorry to hear the snow caused such havoc in your world. Hope all is better now. This tablescape is gorgeous. I really love the single white rose in a jar, with a big silk ribbon and an XOXO tag. Simple and super sweet. And what a delicious menu! Dessert tacos? How clever. Where have I been? I’ve got to try that.
Thanks so much for sharing this delightful inspiration. Cheers, Gina
The white is beautiful! Thanks for the recipes!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Katherine
Thanks Katherine!
Another gorgeous scape! That tablecloth is stunning! Your food always looks so good. I’m afraid I’d gain a lot of weight at your house! Thanks for linking up. laurie