Love is in the air. Can you feel it? Usually, by this time, I already have red and pink hearts gracing my mantle and cute mini mailboxes on our dining room table waiting to be filled with love letters. Yet, this year, I am moving a bit slower, and the box of love-filled décor sits on my garage floor, ready and waiting to be displayed. Maybe I will get to it today. Yep! I think I will.The truth is that the weather has altered my motivation a bit. We have had some pretty cold days around here, and I still feel like I am in hibernation mood, ready to curl up with a good book and get all cozied up until a blanket. So, while I am ready to celebrate love and always anticipate this sweet holiday, I am finding that I need some warm, cozy, and maybe even nostalgic dishes to welcome it in and set the tone.Generally, my little family makes a nice meal and then sits around the dining room table, decorated with hearts and pink plates, as we open up our mailboxes and read the love letters we wrote to one another. Sometimes, it goes smoothly; other times, it brings laughter, but we (my dear hubby and I) usually have to tamper our expectations and remember we are celebrating with our children, two of whom are teens. And, trust me, it can bring all kinds of unexpected blunders. Last year, we ate dinner at 9 pm because my oldest had to work. Other times, we have had boyfriends or our daughter's friends join us, which is always fun and eventful. I also vividly remember when our two oldest daughters got into a food fight because one forgot to write a letter, and the other one who did write a letter wasn't "so loving." Needless to say, they cleaned the kitchen out of their "love" for me-ha!But, even though I have no idea what Valentine's will bring, I am still always eager to make a fun and festive meal to show my family just how much I love them, flaws and all. Maybe you have a plan to bring love into your home as well, and you need some festive foods that will welcome the ambiance of love. Well, friend, I've got you covered. Below is a simple dinner plan along with several "sweet" dishes (because it's all about the dessert, right?) that you can grace your table and spread the love.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/People Images
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