Happy Valentine's Day, Y'all!

Ahh, newlywed Valentine's Day. Matt and I get a free pass to be totally lame and cheesy, woo hoo!

Actually, we're playing it pretty low key. We had the ultimate cheesy Valentine's celebration a few years ago, and honestly we've never even attempted to top that since, not even during this, our first year of marriage. Because that's how we roll, yo.

I do, of course, have a great dinner planned. The Boy has to work an hour late today and has to meet briefly for class, so we have an 8 o'clock dinner date. I'm making Seared Filets Oscar (which means topped with crab, asparagus, and bearnaise sauce), roasted asparagus, more goat cheese potatoes for Katie (whipped and piped through a pastry bag into little star-tip swirls and then topped with melted butter and broiled for a crispy brown crust, because THAT IS HOW I ROLL), Ceasar salad with loads of fresh grated parmesan, and garlic butter rolls. Who *wouldn't* want to be my Valentine?

For dessert I'm making a Chocolate Cherry Rum cake (the basic recipe from our Keeper's Swap, using a chocolate cake mix with some extra cocoa, chopped dried tart cherries, and Matt's favorite Sailor Jerry rum). Also for dessert? Another bite or two of Matt's present from me--the most amazing chocolate I have had to date. BonBonBars are utterly divine, if goofily named, hand crafted chocolate bars. They are way up there on the pricey side, but for what the ARE, the cost is totally warranted. Each is made fresh, practically to order, and hand wrapped and shipped from LA within days of production. I bought the Valentine's Assortment of one Caramel Nut bar, one dark chocolate Malt bar, one milk chocolate Malt bar, and 3 Single Malt Scotch bars. We ate the milk chocolate malt for breakfast. Super creamy and buttery chocolate malt ganache atop a fresh shortbread butter cookie--oh my, y'all, it was unlike anything I've ever eaten, it was THAT good.
If you're looking for a one of a kind treat for someone special (or yourself), BUY THIS CHOCOLATE. You will not regret it!

I'll take pictures of the whole extravaganza later, in the mean time, hope you all have an amazing Valentine's day as well, and tell everyone you see just how much you love them! I love you all!