Did you know that Valentine’s Day is a day of observation and also considered a day of celebration?  Although it remains a working day for most countries the popular day comes from a man by the name of Saint Valentine, who was imprisoned for performing wedding for soldiers who were forbidden to marry.

During his imprisonment, he fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. Legends be told that before his execution he wrote, “From your Valentine” as a farewell to her.

The day was first associated with romantic love and when the tradition of courtly love flourished it paved the way for hand written poetry, which later turned into a heart shaped commercial use for marketing greeting cards, therefore losing its effect of what it truly symbolizes: The work of one man spreading unconditional love.

This year try something new. Instead of booking reservation to an overpriced restaurant with long lines and grumpy lovers, do the next best thing, stay home and make it lovers nest comfy for two.

Don’t break your pocket buying something to prove that on this day you love them more than any other, because frankly, your love won’t be down sized by the 15^th, but your funds will have trying to come up with some spiffy gift ideas to top the Valentine’s Day gift you didn’t truly think through, and then what? Well, you’ll just be spending twice the amount of time in out-doing yourself, just to impress the one person who already loves you.

Start your evening with some fresh fruit instead of salad. I don’t know about you, but I love to see my man eat and nothing says sensual like fresh berries.

Nothing says I love you, like heart filled Four Cheese Ravioli made from scratch.

Ingredients:

½ cup part-skim ricotta

½ cup shredded mozzarella

½ cup shredded fontina

½ cup shredded parmesan

1 clove garlic, finely minced

¼ tsp. dried oregano

¼ tsp. dried basil

¼ tsp. dried parsley

¼ tsp. salt Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 batch fresh homemade pasta Marinara sauce, for serving.

Directions: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, garlic, and spices.  Mix well to blend.  Roll out homemade pasta into long, thin sheets.  To make heart-shaped ravioli, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out pasta shapes.  Place about 2 teaspoons of filling in the middle of  half of the heart shapes, leaving a clear edge around the perimeter.  Dip a finger in water and lightly brush around the edges of a heart topped with the filling.  Place one of the remaining pasta hearts on top and press the edges of the pasta shapes together to seal around the filling, being careful to press out any excess air.  Repeat with the remaining dough shapes.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook the ravioli until al dente, about 5 minutes.  Serve in warmed bowls with marinara sauce.

Now how you go about dessert is entirely up to you…