Valentine's Dinner

Since we don't know all the good restaurants in the area and because we didn't want to be surrounded by a 100 others people eating on valentine's day, I made a nice 4 course Italian dinner for us at home. It was SO much fun to prepare but took a lot of time--But, so worth it. If I may say so myself, it all turned out fabulously! {MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WONDERFUL DESSERT AT THE BOTTOM!!}

family favorite, grape-lemonade, with a heart-shaped strawberry

Balsamic bruschetta over toasted french bread


Homemade tomato basil soup
(this took forever but was so rich and tasty!)


Tomato, Olive and Artichoke with Angel Hair

Chocolate covered Strawberries
(pre-dessert, dessert)

Chocolate bowls with moist cake,White Chocolate Mousse Drizzle and White Chocolate and Almond Cream
(mmm...)

ok, these little desserts were so fun to make! I dipped balloons in melted chocolate, let them sit for a day, then popped the balloon. The trick was figuring out just the right amount of air to put in the balloon. When I didn't have enough air in them, they popped while in the chocolate sending chocolate ALL OVER my kitchen.