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Get your motor running

And head out on your lunch break today to do what you should have done days ago . . . get something special for your valentine.

By JANET K. KEELER
Published February 14, 2007

No ideas for Valentine’s Day? Heres a few: sparkling wine, order takeout, rent a movie, indoor picnic, or lunch date.
	[Times illustration: Don Morris]

This is a story for those of you caught empty-handed today.

You've planned nothing and bought nothing for your beloved for Valentine's Day. You're not alone - though you might be if you don't figure out something by tonight.

It's not as if there's been no warning. Candy hearts and boxers with cute sayings have been on sale since the day after Christmas. Magazines have screamed red hearts from the racks at the checkout for weeks.

That special someone is expecting something besides a card, and you've got precious few hours to get it together. In fact, you may only have one. Your lunch break. Call it a nooner - without the nookie.

No ideas? We're loaded with them. If you've got 60 minutes to spare, we can turn you into a regular Eros or Aphrodite. Make use of the office fridge to keep purchases cold until you head home. And remember, no matter what you do, flickering candles always make things better.

Kisses all over. Peruse the slim pickings on the card aisle of the nearest drug store and then buy several bags of bite-sized chocolate candies. As soon as you get home, make like the Valentine fairy and place them in sweet spots all over the house.

Classic romance. Buy sparkling wine - we suggest Mumm blanc de noirs from Napa or Gloria Ferrer brut - and a basket of strawberries. When your special someone gets home, toast the arrival with a glass of bubbly adorned with floating berries.

Sweet endings. Plan a lovely dessert of angel food cake sprinkled with Grand Marnier and served with whipped cream (Cool Whip!) and fresh berries.

An indoor picnic. Fried chicken, potato salad and fresh fruit are standards for a summer picnic. Gather them from the grocery store and spread a blanket in the living room. Serve cupcakes for dessert.

Order out. Call for takeout from a favorite place before you leave the office and pick it up on the way home. That leaves you 60 minutes free at lunch. Go home and set the table; don't forget flowers. If she gets there before you, she'll know there's something in the works and you'll earn major points.

Meat and potatoes. It's difficult to get amorous when you're sleeping off a belly full of food. So rather than a porterhouse, grill small filet mignons. Split a baked potato and share a Caesar salad. Don't forget the Merlot or Syrah. And the candles. And Sinatra.

Breakfast in bed. Assess what you've got at home, then buy what you need to serve eggs and bacon, pancakes or waffles and fresh fruit. Pour mimosas (Champagne and orange juice). Tell your pumpkin pie to put on pajamas and get cozy in bed while you cook.

First date, redux. Re-create your first meal together, even if it was Taco Bell drive-through at 2 a.m. The food isn't what's important here. Remembering your first date: sweet. Attempting to duplicate it: priceless.

Euro-love. Head to an Italian deli for baguettes, olives, cheeses and pate, and some grapes or dried fruit. Red wine, too. For cheese, select a soft goat cheese, a tangy blue such as Carambozola and a hard cheese such as a dry Monterey Jack. Like love, cheese needs time to bloom. Serve at room temperature for full flavor.

Lunch surprise. Dinner reservations will be hard to come by tonight. Drop by lovey's workplace at noon and whisk him away for a nice meal. If you need to, call the boss in the morning to okay your plan. Ask nicely for an extra 30 minutes.

Movie date night. Rent a movie your significant other wants to see. Now is not the time for a four-hour war epic. Think light and fun, maybe even romantic. How about The Lake House, Moonstruck or An Affair to Remember? Jerry Maguire has something for everyone: love and football. Serve popcorn and Twizzlers.

From the sea, with love. Shrimp, scallops or mussels are quick to prepare, plus they are purported to be aphrodisiacs. Saute scallops and serve them on top of a salad, order shrimp dishes from your favorite fish house or make Mussels in a Chunky Tomato Broth (see accompanying recipe). Serve with bread, buy a dessert and, baby, you're Super Lover.

Think outside the bouquet. Everyone buys flowers; give your sweetheart pots of live herbs, often for sale in the produce section of grocery stores. To continue the theme, prepare fresh pasta (cheese ravioli would be perfect) and dress with melted butter, extra-virgin olive oil, grated Romano cheese and ribbons of fresh basil.

Last chance. You blew it and worked through lunch. When your honey gets home, draw her a nice bath, light a few candles and pour a glass of something. Help her into the tub and then call the closest sushi joint for takeout. By the time you get back, she'll be in the mood . . . for food.

*   *   *

ENTREE

Mussels in Chunky Tomato Broth

3 tablespoons butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes, with garlic, oregano and basil

1 cup white white such as pinot grigio

3 pounds mussels

- Rinse mussels in bowl of cold water to remove grit. Let them soak for a few minutes, drain, then repeat two more times. Most store-bought mussels have been debearded, but if not, you'll need to remove the hairy fibers by pulling them off.

-Saute garlic in butter until soft in a pan that is large enough to hold the mussels. Add tomatoes and wine and cook for a few minutes over medium-high heat. Add mussels and cover. Stir occasionally to move shellfish on the top to the bottom where the heat is.

-When mussels open, they are done. This will take about 10 minutes. Discard any mussels that don't open. Serve in bowls with broth.

Serves 3 as an entree.

(Note: Figure on 1 pound of mussels per person for entrees. To make it heartier, add peeled, raw shrimp to the broth for a few minutes before adding mussels.)

Source: Janet K. Keeler, Times food and travel editor

[Last modified February 13, 2007, 11:49:51]