Romantic notions about Valentine’s Day can be squashed like the February stink bugs if you start looking too closely

Romantic notions about Valentine’s Day can be squashed like the February stink bugs if you start looking too closely
                        
Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast” says, “We ate well and cheaply, and we drank well and cheaply, and we slept well and warm together and loved each other.” Hard to imagine a better life plan or a more worthwhile daily target. As an early life mentor once told me, “Everyone needs something to love, something to take care of and something to look forward to.” The “somethings” here can mean a houseplant, for that matter, but for me they mean the people in my life. Romantic notions about St. Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) can be squashed like the February stink bugs that appear suddenly on the bedroom wall if you start looking too closely. Sure it’s one of the greeting card holidays, heavily marketed to bring about a boost in sales during an infamously dead post-Christmas retail period. Lovers and hopeful suitors the world over buy candy, flowers, cards and jewelry for their special people. And more than a few men have purchased intimate apparel for their lady friend, thinking themselves sensitive and brave for conquering their fear of entering a store full of girlie things only to have themselves caught out in buying a gift actually meant for themselves. Yeah fellows, I feel your confusion, but buying her fancy lingerie will likely be greeted with the same skepticism as presenting her with a belt sander. “OK pal, who is this really for?” The story behind Valentine’s Day is actually tinged with a bit of real romance. The day was originally set out as part of the church’s liturgical calendar with a mass to celebrate one of the martyrs with the name Valentinus in the time of the Roman Empire. One such Valentinus went about marrying those forbidden to join their lives by Roman law while also ministering to persecuted early Christians. He healed the daughter of his captor in imprisonment for his crimes of the heart and wrote her a nice letter before his execution, signed “for Valentine.” For all those lovers who earnestly mark the day, there are as many who poo-poo it and let it slide by with an embrace and a reassurance that such expressions are made throughout the year without the need for a holiday to bring out love’s expression. That’s OK too. For heaven’s sake say what’s in your heart daily, even hourly, without needing the greeting card company’s blessing. But surprises are fun, and Valentine’s Day is a day when you can live well and splurge, making it a good excuse for spending time in the kitchen. This is an amazing recipe, an early-career Charlie Palmer dish that originally calling for a venison filet. I’ve always substituted beef, and it’s delicious. PAN-SEARED FILET WITH DRIED CHERRY SAUCE 2 filet of beef, 4 or 6 ounces 1 teaspoon fresh pepper Kosher salt 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 minced shallot 3/4 cup Pinot noir 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup dried cherries, soaked in hot water to plump 1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley 2 tablespoons butter Press the salt and pepper into the steaks. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and sear them 3-4 minutes per side. Remove them and add the shallots to the pan. Cook a moment and add the wine, scraping up the browned bits. Add the stock, cherries and parsley. Boil until reduced by half. Add the butter, blend well and return the steaks to the pan for 2 minutes or so, spooning the sauce over until they’re done as you like.


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