Blast from the Past: Paula’s Best Dishes (Lovey Dovey Dinner, 2009)

I absolutely love Valentine’s Day. Now, I show Michael how much I love him every day (and he does the same for me), but there’s something about the world being covered in glittery red hearts and roses that brings up a really romantic feelin’ in this old gal on February 14^th.

I love a good meal at a fine restaurant as much as the next girl, but a meal made with an extra dash or two of love is the perfect way to celebrate with your Valentine. Michael and I have shared some truly wonderful Valentine’s Days together. Just thinkin’ about them makes me a little misty-eyed and nostalgic, and that reminded me of an episode of Paula’s Best Dishes that we did together back in 2009 when we made a “Lovey Dovey Dinner.” We tried something we don’t normally eat, and it was out of this world. Cookin’ something new together was a wonderful way to get in the mood for Valentine’s Day. Maybe you’ll enjoy one of these wonderful recipes this Valentine’s Day, but if your menu is already set, I hope you’ll at least enjoy watchin’ these videos of us makin’ them.

Entrée:

Minted Lamb

Side Dishes:

Southern Cornbread Salad

Smashed Potato Cakes

Dessert:

Strawberry Cake

Paula Deen - As a young girl growing up in Albany, Georgia, Paula Deen never dreamed she would become an American icon. As a young mother, Paula was living the American dream — married to her high school sweetheart and raising two adorable boys — when tragedy struck. Her parents died, her marriage failed and she began a prolonged battle with agoraphobia. With her boys in their teens and her family near homelessness, Paula took her last $200, reached deep inside her soul and started The Bag Lady, a home-based catering company that marked the start of Deen's professional cooking career. With sons Jamie and Bobby delivering lunch-and-love-in-a-bag, beginning in June 1989, Paula turned her life around by sharing what she knew best, traditional Southern cooking.