valentine's day is for lovers

I love my husband.

I think he loves me too.

Why else would he get me flowers?

This year I was in charge of Valentine's Day. Since he planned it last year, it was my turn this time around.

I was nervous, really nervous. 

Last year, Devin made Valentine's Day really special for me.

He decorated my room, gave me a plethora of love-notes, took me to dinner and a play, and then built me a fire in the mountains. 

I mean come on, how do you beat that?!!

But, I tried anyway...

I ended up heart-attacking our house with hanging paper hearts, scattered colored hearts, and even a trail of chocolate hearts and candy hearts. It was a bit excessive.

Then I built a love fort. And basically covered our house in a variety of Valentine doo-dads.

It turned out really cute.

 

For dinner, I made heart pizzas and a caprese salad.

We topped dinner off with sparkling pear juice.

  

And then...drumroll...

Devin got me tickets to go see Fun and Tegan & Sara!!!

I was freaking out. [Iloveyouhusband]

I made him a "Days of Loving Devin" booklet. Each day, I plan to write one reason why I love him. He thinks I will run out of reasons. I think he's crazy.

I also got him a Valentine sock monkey. He loved it.

We finished the night by watching a movie in our love fort. 

It was such a lovely evening.

And Devin told me it was the best Valentine's Day ever!

Let's see if he can top it next year.

Knowing him, he will :)

Heart Pizza

• 2 pre-baked gluten-free crusts (I used Udi's)
• Basil pesto (recipe below)
• Marinara sauce
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grilled chicken, chopped
• 1/4 cup crumbled bacon
• A few slices of pepperoni
• Fresh basil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Using a pair of sanitized kitchen scissors, cut each crust into a heart.

For chicken bacon pizza: spread out pesto on crust, sprinkle with cheese, and top with chicken and bacon. When baked, remove from oven and top with fresh basil.

For pepperoni pizza: spread out marinara sauce on crust, sprinkle with cheese, top with pepperoni. When baked, remove from oven.

Bake in oven for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and melted.

Delish.

Basil Pesto

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (or 1 cup fresh basil leaves and 1 cup fresh spinach leaves)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts (I used raw macadamia nuts)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Combine the basil/spinach in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using macadamia nuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) 

Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. 

Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.