Date Idea: Strawberry Parfait

Laura’s Take: Kris and I absolutely love parfaits! They’re delicious and refreshing! Mmmm! So anyways, I found this recipe on Yahoo! Recipes and thought it sounded quick, easy, and delicious so I figured I’d share it with you all. We haven’t tried this recipe out yet, however it’s definitely on the list. Kris and I love cooking together! We’ve made some pretty awesome coconut shrimp, of course with the help of my cooking connoisseur mother.

It’s always fun spending some quality time together in the kitchen, cookin’ up something yummy. Whether it’s making a romantic dinner for two or just making a ice cream sundae, it’s just nicer doing these things together. Even clean up is a breeze when you’re both helping out. I’m not saying that you should force your date to do dishes, but if you’re married or in a long-term relationship, cleaning up together can actually be just as enjoyable as the cooking itself. Now keep in mind that this alone would not be enough to fill up a whole evening, so make sure that you plan your date accordingly.

Kris’ Take: Can we do this tonight? Please? That looks and sounds so good! This would be perfect for a movie night.

         Ingredients:

1. 2 ounces PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2. 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
3. 1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
4. 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, divided

        Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese and jam until well blended. Gently                                  stir in whipped topping.
2. Spoon 1/4 cup strawberries into each of 2 parfait or                             dessert glasses.
3. Top with cream cheese mixture.

Hot Tamales rates this idea:

3 out of 5 Hearts

Special thanks to Kraftfoods.com and Yahoo! Recipes for providing this one!

Valentine’s Day Tips

Laura’s Take: So we’re less than a month away and I’m sure you all aren’t scrambling yet, but time is a tickin’. Here’s just a few helpful tips that can really make an impression this Valentine’s Day.

Gift Giving:

Flowers and candy are traditional, but are also a bit of a cliché now a days. I’m not trying to say that flowers and candy aren’t a good idea. If you think she’s expecting them, then don’t try skipping them. I just think that instead of buying her something that’ll disappear in a few days, get her something that’ll last. If you’re a new couple, try a cute heart picture frame with a picture of the two of you. It’s a sweet memento that he or she can put in their room and see everyday. It’s fun to look back at old photos of when Kris and I started dating. If you’ve been dating awhile, try something a little more elaborate, such as an engraved picture frame, heart shaped bracelet, or even a ring… ~wink wink~ If you still want to be traditional and give her something to stimulate her sweet tooth, try making it yourself! It’s always nice to see a man who’s willing to bake for his woman!

Valentines:

Remember growing up and handing out Snoopy Valentines to everyone in your second grade class? They’re nice for 9 year olds, but not for a date. Buy a nice card (Hallmark) and write something sweet in it. If you really want to make an impression, make your own old fashioned Valentine. If you’re going to make your own Valentine, make sure you don’t skimp on any materials and take your time and really put some effort into it. If you work hard on it, it’ll show.

Dinner:

Obviously you don’t want to take your Valentine out for pizza, unless of course you know a classy pizza place. (Good Luck with that) My suggestion is that you find a nice restaurant with a romantic ambiance. When you’re seated, go straight to the dessert menu and have dessert before your dinner. After all, sometimes you’re too full to even get to dessert. (Something my mom taught me) Want to go a different route, make dinner! Find a nice recipe for two and set up the table with plenty of candles. Making dinner for your sweetheart is a great way to show them just how much you love them!

Kris’ Take: Now because this holiday is meant for our princesses it’s impossible for me to refute anything that Laura has said. I’d tell you what I’m planing on doing but then Laura wouldn’t be all that surprised So gentlemen, listen to any hints she might be dropping, and if you’re not getting any hints, listen to what Laura said, she gives good advice!

Date Idea: Creme Brulee

Kris’ Take: Last night Laura and I decided that we would try out one of my Christmas gifts, so we made creme brulee. It was fantastic! This is a picture that I got of a really nice looking creme brulee from the website http://englishcountrywalks.com/blog/?p=37. I think the photographer’s name is David Wenk according to the website but I could be mistaken. I just want to make sure that I give proper credit. So no, our creme brulees didn’t look that nice, but they were close. Maybe if we put some ice cream on them we would’ve been a bit closer, but they were pretty darn good! Whoever made the creme brulee in that picture did an impressive job! This was a lot of fun to do and I would definitely suggest it. The man gets to play with a torch and the princess gets to decorate it all pretty. All in all it was a good experience (except the 1 hour chill time I’m impatient.). It’s an interesting idea and would be fun addition to your date night. That’s all I have to say on this subject, enjoy!

Laura’s Take: Mmmm, Creme Brulee. It was fun making those, mainly because we didn’t screw them up! Let’s not forget about the chocolate covered rice krispee bar incident. I’m never doing that again!

 Hot Tamales rates this idea:

2.5 out of 5 Hearts