Whether you are sharing a meal for one, two, or twenty this Valentine’s Day, you don’t have to get caught up in the commercial ideas of restaurants and candy. A dinner specially prepared for the occasion can be more rewarding and more economical than going out. Cooking at home allows you to monitor what is being eaten for better health and the whole family can get involved. Compiled here are some ideas for planning out a special Valentine’s Day menu to share with the ones you love.

Valentine's Pizza

Vegetarian meat, cheese, vegetables, and sauce all in a crusty heart. This recipe is sure to please even the most cynical of Valentine's Day diners.

Pizza Dough

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

Use a bread machine to combine flour, yeast, water, and 2 tbsp olive oil, and set on dough setting. When dough is nearly finished preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. When the dough is finished, knead rosemary into dough, and divide into three pieces. Shape each piece into a heart shape about ½ inch thick, and brush with remaining olive oil.

Toppings

• 1 jar pizza sauce
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella
• 2 ripe tomatoes sliced
• 1 zucchini sliced
• 15 slices vegetarian pepperoni
• 1 can sliced black olives

When dough is brushed with olive oil, add sauce, cheese and toppings, and bake for 15-20 minutes until crust is browned and cheese is melted. Baking on a pizza stone typically produces the best results.

*Experiment with alfredo sauce instead of pizza sauce, or try adding your own favorite combination of vegetables and meats. The best thing about pizza is that you can mix it up and create your own masterpiece.

Filet Mignon with Balsamic Glaze and Asparagus Almadine

Filet Mignon with Balsamic Glaze

If you are looking to recreate the restaurant experience, and take your Valentine’s Day a little further than pizza, filet mignon with asparagus may be the direction you’re looking to take. They are both also extremely easy to make. Follow these simple recipes to get you on your way to romantic culinary bliss

• 2 filet mignon steaks
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• Sea salt to taste
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup dry red wine

Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over.

Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.

Asparagus Almandine

• 2 lbs of fresh asparagus
• ¼ cup slivered almonds
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp salt

Bake asparagus in a shallow baking dish for 30 minutes. Melt the butter in a skillet. Cook the almonds over a low heat, stirring frequently, until they turn golden brown (takes about five minutes). Remove from heat. Add the lemon juice and the salt. Pour over hot asparagus.

White Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Hazelnuts

What would a spectacular Valentine’s Day dinner be without chocolate covered strawberries to be the grand finale? The twist on these treats is the use of mostly white chocolate with crunchy hazelnuts as a topping.

• 6 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 lb strawberries with stems (about 20)
• ½ cup hazelnuts, crushed finely

Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth.

Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the white chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the dark chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries. Sprinkle with hazelnuts.

Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.