TULIPS FROM AMSTERDAM....ROSES FROM NEW YORK...

I’ve never received tulips from Amsterdam, nor did I have the 78 rpm record of Max Bygraves’ song...“Tulips from Amsterdam”.  When I was a kid, Bygraves wasn’t a big hit in our home, and the status quo remained in the years that followed. 

In our household Nat King Cole was popular; as was Elvis, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, Paul Anka, Conway Twitty, The Platters, Brenda Lee (her last name had a familiar ring to it), Fats Domino, Fats Waller etc., etc.,....a very lengthy list, which included others... but no Bygraves.

Forgetting tulips for a moment, back in the early 70s, I did receive red roses from New York.  Before you shout me down, let me clarify my statement! 

If you insist on being pedantic...New York City didn’t actually send me red roses on St. Valentine’s Day.  Please...let’s remain in the mood of the moment, let’s not split hairs, or go nit-picking among those split hairs. 

In the years long before today’s technology... before the internet, and the easy availability of shopping/ordering online, my then beau - albeit long-distance - who later became my husband, Randall - when living and working in New York for a number of years, somehow managed to organise, from afar, red roses for my Valentine’s Day surprises.

To my delight, one dozen beautiful red roses would be delivered to my place of employment in Brisbane, bringing smiles to my face, tears to my eyes, and a touch of envy to my co-workers.  

Back then I was a twenty-something romantic...now I’m an ancient-something romantic.  However, if I want red roses these days, I’ll have to send them to myself; or sneak out and nick a few from someone’s garden.   

Don’t get your knickers in a knot...I’m just kidding about doing the latter! 

I won’t be sending myself roses, either.  Hundreds of dandelions are in bloom out in the yard.   I’ll grab myself a bundle of them, and pretend I’m coloured blind.

Every day should be like Valentine’s Day...spread the love around.  Don’t be a Hard-hearted Hannah, or Cold-hearted Colin. Toss cynicism out the door, and bolt the door behind it...send it packing.  

I hope businesses, many of whom are hurting badly at present, profit from Valentine’s Day.  I hope they have a bonanza.  What’s the point of being in business, if not to make a profit?

Imagine a world without love.  It’s not a pretty image. Imagine a world without money...that’s not a pretty image, either.

You can’t give love a bad name, even though sometimes love is a battlefield.  All you need is love...a whole lotta love!  (That’s not to say a few dollars in the bank wouldn’t help).

Don’t fall in love with a dreamer, we’ve been told. Why not, I ask?  What’s wrong with having dreams? You can’t hurry love; but the journey to discovering that crazy little thing called love can be lots of fun. 

Jump aboard the love train.  Its destination is the love shack where silly love songs play all day, and through the night.   In the still of the night, allow night moves and night fever have free rain.  You can leave your hat on, but take off your sunglasses at night.

My funny Valentine memory happened to someone else, not to me, but I witnessed it.

Years ago, a sweet young couple dining at a restaurant in which I was cooking was celebrating their love on the special day.  The young bloke insisted being the one to pop the cork on the bottle of Kaiser Stuhl Cold Duck (Yuck!). 

Standing aside, the wine waiter politely concurred, only to cop the cork in his face!  

If you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling...just remember – when a man loves a woman...she loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

 

** You may have noticed...I’ve snuck in a few song titles...to keep in the mood.  If you haven’t you probably think I’ve “lost it”...that could be a not-so-remote possibility, too!  Blame it on the crazy little thing called love....

Valentine Lobster & Steak:  Combine 4tbs butter, 1/4c chopped Italian parsley, 2tbs chopped chives, 1tbs chopped rosemary, 1-1/2tsp chopped oregano, 1tbs lemon juice and ¼ tsp salt. Cut 2 unshelled lobster tails down the middle. Spread 1tsp herb butter over lobster meat; arrange on foil-lined baking tray, cut-sides up. Roast in 230C oven until just cooked through.  Season 2 thick rib-eye steaks. Heat 1/2tbs olive oil and 1tbs herb butter in pan on med-high heat; cook steaks, flipping once, until med-rare, or as desired. Top each steak with 1tbs herb butter. Rest 5mins; serve steaks alongside lobster with lemon wedges.

Strawberry Jelly Mould: Sprinkle 3tbs gelatine over cold water. Stand 10mins until it blooms. Heat over a double boiler.  Beat 227g cream cheese and 397g condensed milk 3mins; add 354g evaporated milk and 1c cream or whole milk; beat 2-3mins; add gelatine. Pour into a lightly sprayed bundt pan; chill 2hrs. Prepare 17g pkt strawberry jelly per directions; cool completely at room temp. Remove bundt pan from fridge. Carefully separate white layer from sides of pan; invert onto a plate. Immediately flip it back into pan.  Pour room temp jelly into pan; pour slowly and carefully around sides of pan. The white layer should be floating on top of the liquid jelly; chill 2-3hrs.  Loosen cake using hair dryer, or place pan in hot water for 5secs; flip dessert onto serving plate. Garnish with strawberries; slice and serve.

Dark Choc Pots de Creme: Add 2 eggs, 1/4c honey or maple syrup, 1tsp instant espresso powder, 1tsp vanilla, and 125g chopped unsweetened dark chocolate to blender; blend until smooth. Heat 3/4c coconut milk until very hot (don’t boil). With blender running on low, slowly pour hot coconut milk into blender. Blend until chocolate is completely melted, and mixture is smooth and thick. Pour into serving cups; chill until set, about 2hrs. Garnish with raspberries.