You don't have to take your sweetheart to dinner at a restaurant to create a special Valentine's Day experience. Instead, with just a little bit of planning, you can create a memorable experience at home. Here's everything you need to treat your sweetie to the perfect evening in, including three easy and romantic Valentine's Day cocktails.
Make your Valentine’s Day a memorable one by using your home as your private, romantic and affordable getaway from the hustle and bustle of daily life! Today we share some ideas and delicious easy to make cocktails for your special celebration tonight.
Set the mood with some unique decor. You might recreate your favorite steakhouse or that little Parisian bistro you visited (or want to visit). Here's a trick for easy mood lighting: Get a clear vase or lantern from your local craft store if you don't have one already. Then, fill it with several strings of fairy lights in your love's favorite color for instant ambiance.
Plan your menu carefully. That means not just what you plan to serve but how long each dish takes to cook and when it needs to be ready.
Pro tip: Choose at least one dish that you can prep ahead of time.
If you're looking for any unusual ingredients, shop as early as possible in case they're hard to find or you need to order something online.
Turn your Valentine's Day dinner into a complete experience by adding custom cocktails to the menu. Here are three exceptionally romantic cocktails to serve your date.
This bubbly cocktail is a version of the French 75 using tequila instead of gin.
• 1-ounce silver tequila
• 1.5 ounces watermelon juice
• 1-ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 4 ounces brut rosé sparkling wine to top
Mix the first four ingredients in a shaker with ice; shake until chilled. Pour into two glasses and top with the rosé.
If your darling is the bee's knees, serve them this classic Prohibition-era cocktail.
• 4 ounces gin
• 1-ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1-ounce honey syrup (to make the honey syrup, mix equal parts honey and hot water)
Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and stir to dissolve the honey. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well -strain into chilled cocktail glasses.
This twist on a traditional Manhattan cocktail is a whiskey lover's valentine.
• 3 ounces whiskey
• 2 ounces dry sake
• 1-ounce ginger liqueur
• 4 dashes bitters
• Ice
• Orange peel, for garnish
Mix the ingredients with plenty ofice, stir until chilled, and strain into two cocktail glasses. Garnish with orange peel.
Valentine's Day dinner at home doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable. A simple cocktail becomes extra special when you add a sweet garnish like brandied cherries or chocolate-covered strawberries or top it off with a splash of sparkling soda.
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