Last year we spent the weekend after Valentines’s day at the cabin. We usually celebrate at home, it has become tradition. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions at home. That all started when our daughter was very little, and we didn’t know anyone we trusted to babysit or a budget to pay both a sitter and a date night. So began our tradition of our special celebrations. I would set our patio table with linen tablecloth and napkins, our china, and candles. we would enjoy a grilled steak meal and a bottle of champagne. It is a tradition we both grew to love. All that being said, we do go out to celebrate sometimes, but if the weather is nice. we enjoy sitting lakeside having a private sunset dinner.

Anyway, last year, Hubby made twice baked potatoes, grilled steak, and asparagus. We had dessert fireside, something simple, yet festive and some bubbly.

Closeup of the jars.  I will share how I painted them.

If you are interested, here is how to make the twice baked potatoes:

Purchase several baking potatoes, scrub them with a veggie brush, and coat with butter or bacon grease. put on a baking sheet and prick potatoes with a fork several times. Bake at 375 for about an hour or until tender.

Cool potatoes until they can be handled.  Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out most of the potato…see below for how much to leave.

Put potato in a large mixing bowl and mash. Add some butter, grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper, and milk.  Mix until creamy. I can’t give measurements as it varies with the number of potatoes you are making. If you feel you might need more potato fulling, add some instant potato flakes to the mixture and add a little more milk.  Mix until creamy.  Fill the potato halfs with mixture and sprinkle with more cheese and crumbled bacon. If you are using them immediately, place them in the fridge. If not, place on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, store in a zip lock bag. They cook great in an air fryer or bake in an oven at 350 degrees until hot and tops are browned.

My painted jars are so fun and easy to make.  Select canning jars, I did 2 pint jars and 1 quart jar. Select what colors of acrylic paint you would like to use.  I got a red and an antique white and mixed two shades of pink

make sure the jars are clean and completely dry.  Paint the outside of each jar with the desired color of acrylic paint and let dry. Then,9 paint a second coat on. Let dry, sand if desired for distressing. Spray with a matte sealer (outside of jar only). Let dry. They can now be used as a candle holder, vase, or  hold silverware .  There are a million uses.

Thank you for taking a quick peek here. This week I will share  how I add some Valentine whimsy to our home in my next few posts.

Cheers,

Chenn

P.S. Don’t forget to do something you love today!