Do you have any big plans for Valentine's Day? You probably won't be taking your loved one out for a fancy dinner this year. And if you're single, how do you plan to treat yourself? Are you planning to cook a fancy meal at home? Maybe some champagne and expensive chocolates?

As many of you know, I'm not a great cook. I didn't even start cooking until my early 40s. Growing up, my mother never taught me or my siblings how to cook. So I lived on processed and prepared foods, and restaurant meals, for decades (which is one of the reasons I used to struggle with my weight).

I did so little cooking that the oven in my first (very small) condo was used for storing paper goods. I'm not sure how smart that was: I once had friends staying in my condo while I was away who turned on the oven, not knowing it was filled with rolls of toilet paper. I eventually decided around age 40 that it was important for my own wellness to learn how to cook, so I attended a cooking program at a local cooking school. But as between my partner Charles and me, I'm the one who cooks to feed us, while he's the one who cooks with passion to create something wonderful.

So you can imagine Charles' surprise when I made him a chocolate soufle on Valentine's Day. It might have been on our 1st or 2nd Valentine's Day together. The soufle turned out great and he still reminds me most Valentine's Days. Here's a tip if you're in a new relationship: don't set the bar too high for yourself by making something fancy for your first Valentine's Day together. You'll be reminded every year going forward about "how you USED to make something special for me on Valentine's Day".

If you're looking to keep Valentine's Day stress-free, here are my ideas:

Looking for something easy but yummy to bake for yourself or your loved one? My friend Kristin is a fabulous cook and she has a food website called "A Party in my Pantry." There's a yummy Triple Chocolate Cake recipe on her website, which is her husband Scott's favorite. She promises me that it's easy to make.

Looking for a movie to watch on Valentine's Day? Here are some of my all-time favorites, including some fabulous anti-Valentine's Day ones:

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• Casablanca (1942)
• Moonstruck (1987)
• Titanic (1987)
• When Harry Met Sally (1989)
• The War of the Roses (1989) ⭐️ my all-time favorite ⭐️
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
• While You Were Sleeping (1995)
• The First Wives Club (1996)
• Notting Hill (1999)
• Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
• The Big Sick (2017)
• A Star is Born (2018)

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Looking for a high-impact Valentine's Day card? I'm a super fan of Lovepop greeting cards. Yes, it's that Boston-based company that got funding on Shark Tank by Mr. Wonderful (Kevin O'Leary) in 2015. They have a great selection of pop-up Valentine's Day cards and they ship fast and for free (in the US). I've already ordered my card for Charles. I hope I get one from him. Hint, hint!

With love,

Christine

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