Family Valentine Game Night + Heartthrob Pasta Recipe
There is not only one good way to spend Valentine’s Day but I think this is the best way - with your family at home. This is the best way for loads of reasons: 1. Going out for Valentine’s Day is expensive. 2. Most restaurants have a prix fix menu, servers that are grumpy, and are overly busy. 3. Your kids will feel super special if you spend this day with them instead of out on a date. 4. You can go out on a date tomorrow night when everything is back to normal and you can get a seat at a restaurant.
For our family game night I made a fun dinner everyone will eat - but also made it a little bit cheeky and really leaned into the ‘valentine’ theme. Kids love it. And, let’s be honest, I love it too.
Our family’s new favorite game is this hilarious combination of pictionary and being blindfolded - it’s called Googly Eyes. It is hilarious! You roll to land on what color glasses you’ll wear while you attempt to draw something as simple as popcorn. The glasses make it surprisingly challenging. Unless you are Pearl and I - we are a dream team.
HEARTTHROB PASTA
serves 4
STEP 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Slice the beets in half and add them to the water as it begins to boil. When the water has come to a boil, add the pasta.
STEP 2
When the pasta is nearly cooked, turn the heat off and let rest for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
STEP 3
Unroll the package of crescent dough and press together all of the seams. Slice the dough into strips. Twist the dough and form it into a heart.
Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
STEP 4
Heat a skillet with the olive oil. Cook the peppers, onion, and garlic over medium heat until softened. Remove the beets from the pasta, remove the skin with a paper towel (by rubbing it off), chop them and add them to the skillet.
STEP 5
Drain the pasta – reserving at least one cup of pasta water – and toss the pasta with the peppers. Add the pasta water and toss until a sauce has formed. Remove from heat and sprinkle parmesan on top.
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 sweet onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tbs olive oil
2 beets
½ lb pasta
½ cup parmesan cheese
1 package crescent dough
CUPID SPRITZ
1 ounce pomegranate juice
1 ounce vodka
DRY Sparkling Lavender
In a glass filled with ice, layer vodka and pomegranate juice. Top with DRY Sparkling and serve! For those without booze, just skip the vodka and don’t forget to garnish with a cherry.
