Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Boards! 🍱

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘 https://pin.it/1tkb3Uu

I have to say I grew up with appetizer boards. We didn’t call them charcuterie board. It was pepperoni, cheese and crackers. We have a vegetable tray. Or a relish tray. They weren’t fancy but they had food on them. Here’s the ideas I enjoyed and may do myself.

MEAT AND CHEESE: This doesn’t have to be fancy. Have a nice assortment of breads. Perhaps an artisan Ciabatta. Than use Italian meats like prosciutto or salami. For cheese provolone or asiago. Remember this is just an idea.

DESSERT: For a Valentine’s theme, chocolate covered strawberries. Cookies, shortbread cookies or Rosettes. Rosettes are a Scandinavian cookie you dip a metal piece in batter that fry it. Once done you have a cookie.

BREAKFAST: Heart shaped waffles or pancakes. I will be the first to admit the shape things are annoying and test my sanity. Pour you pancake mixture on a sheet pan and bake in the oven. Once done use cookie cutters to get geart shaped pancakes and waffles. This would work with eggs cooked on a sheetpan.

What else to put on your board? Candy! Yeah! I have gotten to a point where I enjoy vintage candy. Things I used to enjoy with my late father. Baked goods like doughts, cookies, muffins, and other items. Salty treats like brined olives. I picked up a Greek Feta Cheese salad with olives green and black. Feta cubed up small. Greek dressing. Would be awesome. Meats could be cold cuts, or meatballs. Spreads can be as simple as a savory jelly. Or fancy cheese spreads with herbs. It can be Nutella or apple butter. Fruit and/or vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers and pickles. Fruit could be grapes, strawberries or oranges.

Food Bar!

Look at this… 👀 https://pin.it/7CxLc3w

This post inspired me. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a couple thing. It be friends getting together. Watch a movie like Thelma and Louise. Just something that is about friends.

MOVIE CENTERED FOOD BAR: A movie I enjoyed as a kid was The Three Amigos with Martin Short, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase. With you could do a bar with tacos, burritos, quesadillas or enchiladas. With the enchiladas you could have different fillings laid out. Your guest could choose a filling, then bake them off under a broiler. They can top them off. Smoothered burritos would be awesome. Little messy but delicious.

INTERNATIONAL: Casablanca is one of my favorite movies as an adult. Also, the movie Chocolate is good. About a woman who comes from generations of gypsies. Until her daughter finally gets comfortable and grows tired of her way of living. The chocolate shop is the bonus. Her recipes were handed down generation after another. Here’s the bar: do a Mexican Mole with Mexican or South American chocolate. That’s going to be key. Their chocolate isn’t filled with sugar. Or you could do a French stew with a dessert featuring chocolate from South America. France is where the movie is set.

This post has some ideas for seasonal food bar.

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘 https://pin.it/4zPADcR

Here’s twenty cute ideas to decorate for Valentine’s Day. These are affordable. You buy once and use every year. Below will be the ones that stood out.

ROSE HEART WREATH: This is cute. There I admitted that I found something I really liked. You can get everything at the Dollar Tree (plus). Make it and store it each year. There’s two of these that stood out.

ROSE SCENTED VALENTINE SOAP: Cute and smells good.

VALENTINE BATH BOMBS: These are geniuse. Add a bit of fizz to your bath.

VALENTINE TABLE SETTING: This can set the mood for a dinner. Go romantic not sleazy.

VALENTINE FORTUNE COOKIES: These are cute. If your not into fortune cookies you could do Macrons with the same theme.

Valentine’s Day! 🎈♥️

Like Super Bowl, I am not big on Valentine’s Day. To me, it’s just another way of wringing out every last penny out of usI know most people are into the Valentine’s thing.. Here’s my Valentine’s Day gift to y’all, we will look at budget friendly and family friendly ways to celebrate this day.

Buy decorations can be expensive. Unless you buy ones you can reuse every year. That way you can add something new each year. Hello! Talk about environmentally friendly and romantic.

The room. Candles are a beautiful way to add a romantic feel to a room. Or you good get kerosene lanterns with the wick and fuel. You will be to use these lanterns every year. Also, in case of a storm you have light. Having a beautiful red tablecloth would be a great investment. You can use it for multiple times a year. Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year and Christmas. This goes for cloth napkins and placemats.

Now we’re at the fun point: food. This is also the most expensive part. Now days it is. We will look at recipes that can stretch the meat so you can buy say one really nice looking steak. Slice it thin to add it to a stir fry or Fajitas.

Over the next week we will explore some wonderful low cost ideas like what I mentioned above.

Watch “Weekly Grocer Walk Through: Kroger” on YouTube

First I must say I honestly thought Super Bowl was yesterday. For the last nineteen years it’s been the same weekend as my daughter’s birthday. Until this year. 😜

Here’s what I saw. Budding cold meat has stayed the same $.99. Yes, it used to be cheaper. However it is under a dollar. Pearl Millings has added pancakes in a cup.

When you need to stock upnon meat, always check the mark down counter. There was roast marked down. And as you see ground beef. Cereal was buy 5 or more for a dollar off the regular price.

GAME DAY! 🏈🎉🎊🎟🎫

Today is the day! Now let’s get going with our to do list.

COOK OR SETUP: Finish prepping your toppings for your bar. Set out the toppings or platters for the sandwich bar.

GAMES: If your doing games now is when you want to setup games. Setup prizes.

CAKE OR CUPCAKES: Setup the cake or cupcakes.

STEP BACK: Now step back and see what’s left. Bathroom ready. Kitchen and/or grill area prepped.

ENJOY! Yeah! Its time to enjoy your guest and the time you spent together.

Saturday! 24 Hours

You have 24 hours before the game. Let’s look at your to do list and prioritize it.

CLEAN AND DECORATE: Round up your team and have a huddle to break up task.

COOKING: If you are doing chili in a series of crock pots, about three o’clock should be your starting time. Get the meat browned off and set up the pots with the rest of ingredients. Sandwich bar your plan, setup boards with meat and cheese. Tomorrow you can slice tomatoes, onions and lettuce. Have jars of pickles ready in the fridge.

LAST MINUTE PICKUP: This is when you should pick up the cake (or cupcakes) and ice cream. Of course, if you live in the north you can kerp the cake in the garage or basement. It’s cold enough in those areas to keep the cake in perfect condition.

ACTIVITIES FOR NON SPORT KIDS: Here’s where you setup an area for the kids who aren’t into sports. This is only if you are going to have children at your party.

Activities For Children

Look at this… 👀 https://pin.it/2qRqF9A

Sunday’s game is big. If you are one of those who incorporate children than here’s some ideas to keep them occupied.

SPORT KIDS: Games are a great way to incorporate children in a party. Bingo, trading cards, scavenger hunts and trivia.

NON SPORTS KIDS: These kids can be tricky. You need to have things for them to do. Have a room set up witb movies or video games. Obviously reading isn’t going to be an option.

Super Bowl Chili Bar

Look at this… 👀 https://pin.it/5KVsS9Y

This week we have been looking at ideas for an inexpensive Super Bowl Party. So far we’ve covered sandwich bar, Deviled Eggs and preparation of your home. Now it’s time for old faithful; chili. Chili is one of the least expensive ways to feed a herd without breaking your bank. Let’s look at each element of the chili and toppings.

MEAT: Ground meat is fairly inexpensive. Depending where you live and where you get it. Of course, if you are a hunter or rancher, you can save big money there.

BEANS VS NO BEANS: This is a controversy. Beans vs no beans is something that chili snobs bicker over. I grew up with beans in chili. Personally, beans have a great dealof nutrition and add to a meal. They are also a great and cheap way to bulk up a soup or chili. Beans are still cheaper than meat. So for the economic and nutritional reasons I say yes. Add them to chili.

TOMATOES: Now we come to the question of fresh or not. I use canned tomatoes and have never had a problem. Suit yourself.

SPICY VS MILD: This is yet another controversial issue with chili snobs. We go medium. We are having a meal not removing a layer of skin from our mouth. Again, suit yourself.

TOPPINGS: This is the fun part. Sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips are awesome. That’s how we roll. You can go wild. Just remember, the more toppings the more money. So if you or your guest grow things like tomatoes, chilis, or you know someone who makes tortilla chips get them to help out.

Tomorrow we going to look at activities for children who may not be into the Super Bowl. And for those who do. There’s worst than a bored child.

Wednesday Check In

Today is time to send a text to check in with your guest. Make arrangements for items your borrowing to be dropped off at your home. Confirm the decorating time on Saturday. This way every has helped setup the party room.

Comfirm with the person who is going to pick up the shopping items so everything is bought in time. Setup a distribution time. Assist if you can with getting items setup to be picked up.

Clean you home. Okay! Mainly the areas people will be in like kitchen, bathroom, and room which the party will be in.

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