This year we kept with our new Valentine’s Day tradition of making a fancy meal and eating it together on a picnic in the back of the car. If you’re observant and noticed that we skipped a year, it’s because last year I was pregnant and dealing with morning sickness and some huge work project deadlines, so sadly neither Josh nor I can quite remember what we did for Valentine’s Day. Not cook a fancy dinner and take it on a picnic, we know that much.

Anyway, this year we were better. We really liked the French-themed meal we made two years ago, so we decided to do it again with some new recipes: gratin des aubergines, des haricots provençales, and tapénade on a baguette. Yum yum! Our favorite was the gratin des aubergines (an eggplant gratin dish). With sparkling cider and chocolate covered strawberries to top it off, the meal was delicious!

Audrey and Brenn came over and babysat Carson in the basement while Josh and I cooked, and then we were able to leave to a scenic overlook and eat our picnic in the car. The weather was even so nice that we left the back open. We loved getting to spend so much time together, just us, doing something fun. It was a wonderful, fun, tasty Valentine’s Day date. :)