Down with love & Valentine's Day!

[Wyldewode]

Okay. . . there have got to be some people here who aren't exactly thrilled by all the red hearts, roses and chocolates on sale everywhere you look. Any plans you'd like to share? Or would you just like to vent? We're here for you, so post away!

[Loredoctor]

It's the one day I never look forward to. It's painful to see couples give each other something or do something nice for each other and know that you're not part of that. Like a stab in the heart.

However, it's so commercialised it's more of a joke.

[Avatar]

Thankfully, the GF and I don't do valentines day.

Like LoreMaster says, it's a marketing excuse nowadays. Christmas stuff out the shops? Valentines day! That out? Easter! and so on.

--A

[Wyldewode]

Yeah, it has gotten to be big, big business here. The entire supermarket and mass retailers are filled with merchandise, from stuffed animals to roses to cakes. It's mind boggling the amount of money people spend on this holiday.

I've been on the other end of this too, and had boyfriends who spent outrageous amounts of money for bouquets of roses that were very pretty, yet made me slightly ill every time I saw them because I knew how much money they cost. But the, I'm more of a quality time/experience type of girl. I'd rather do something with my loved one than have a present.

[Loredoctor]

Edit.

[Avatar]

--A

[Wyldewode]

I'm going to make a Swastika out of roses, in protest.

[Vain]

More's the pity if you can't drag yourself out of the commercialisation excuse long enough to actually ignore it and do something really romantic - stuff that comes from the heart and not from the wallet.

[Avatar]

Oh-ho! Sharp Vain. Real sharp.

(Actually, I seem to remember this from last year too... )

--A

[Wyldewode]

More's the pity if you can't drag yourself out of the commercialisation excuse long enough to actually ignore it and do something really romantic - stuff that comes from the heart and not from the wallet.

Hear, hear!

[Vain]

Well I'm a romantic at heart - sue me (Kommandant..hahaha !!)

[Wyldewode]

Why would I sue you for being a romantic? I happen to like romantic men. Ah. . . you must be talking to someone else.

[Avatar]

I like romantics too. Like watching them anyway. I'm just not that romantic. Not in ways that are deliberately so anyway. In some ways very. But subtly.

--A

[Vain]

And here I thought this was a gathering of the Love Doomsday Cult

[Avatar]

Haha, nope, I was just commenting on Lore's comment on the commercialisation.

--A

[Wyldewode]

And here I thought this was a gathering of the Love Doomsday Cult

No. . . just a little support group for those who aren't particularly excited about the approach of Valentine's Day this year.

[Gil galad]

I'm gonna be alone this time round :/

[Avatar]

Sometimes it's the easier and less complicated option...

--A

[Vain]

And here I thought this was a gathering of the Love Doomsday Cult

No. . . just a little support group for those who aren't particularly excited about the approach of Valentine's Day this year.

Ahhhh.....it's a LoreFest

[Menolly]

I'm gonna be alone this time round :/

Wait, what happened with Jenn?

All I can afford to do to commemorate the day is make this for Paul and me:

Strawberry Sandwiches with Brioche and Brie Cheese

8 slices brioche
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened, plus 2 tablespoons for browning the sandwiches
About 1/4 cup sugar
1 jar good-quality strawberry jam
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
6 ounces Brie cheese, sliced, at room temperature
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Butter 4 brioche slices on both sides. Sprinkle one side with sugar and turn the slices sugared sides down. Spread each slice with jam. Now make a layer of sliced strawberries and cover with slices of cheese. Butter the remaining 4 brioche slices on both sides and sprinkle one side with sugar. Lay the slices on top of the cheese, sugared sides facing up, to make 4 sandwiches. Press down gently.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Put 2 of the sandwiches in the pan and cook 2 to 3 minutes until the sugar melts, the bread turns golden and the cheese begins to melt. Turn and cook until the second side is golden and the cheese is bubbly. Take the sandwiches out of the pan and repeat to cook the rest. Dust the sandwiches with confectioners' sugar, cut them in half and serve warm.