Name: Foolproof Baked Shrimp Over Pasta
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed; ¼ cup olive oil; ¼ cup chopped parsley; 4 cloves garlic, minced; ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes; ¼ cup butter, melted; ¼ cup Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs); ½ cup Parmesan, freshly grated; 8 ounces of thin spaghetti, cooked; Hot French bread

Staying at home may not be such a bad idea!

I’m always torn when it comes to going out to dinner on Valentine’s, or staying in and cooking a special meal. I prefer the unabbreviated menu at my favorite restaurants, and some limit your choices that evening.

When making a list of pros and cons, it is an even tie. So, here is a wonderful, yummy option for you and your entire family if you find yourself at home this year.

Artwork by my mother, Alice. It was her test run before she hit the canvas. It’s such a treasure!

V is not just for Valentine’s.

One pro of eating in, you can really splurge on the Champagne. veuveclicquot.com

Family style never looked so inviting. Baking dish by Revol, The Cupboard, shopthecupboard.com

Foolproof Baked Shrimp over Pasta

Serves 4 to 6

2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup chopped parsley

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

¼ cup butter, melted

¼ cup Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

½ cup Parmesan, freshly grated

8 ounces of thin spaghetti, cooked

Hot French bread

It takes only a few minutes to get the ingredients prepped, especially if you find the medium-size shrimp already peeled and deveined.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place shrimp in a medium-size bowl. Combine next 4 ingredients in a small bowl; pour over shrimp, and toss to coat.

Evenly arrange shrimp in a single layer in a 2-quart baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, turn shrimp over, and drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with Panko and Parmesan cheese.

Here is what the shrimp mixture will look like before you cover with foil.

Bake uncovered 10 to 15 more minutes. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes for a browner top, if desired. Serve over pasta family style with French bread.

You will not want to be more than an arm’s reach of this baking dish!

Learn from Leslie: Be sure to have lots of hot, crusty French bread. The dipping in the butter and juices is the best part! Serve with a simple green vegetable or salad.

Leslie Byars Register

Yields 4 to 6 servings

Foolproof Baked Shrimp Over Pasta

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Ingredients

2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup chopped parsley
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup butter, melted
¼ cup Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
½ cup Parmesan, freshly grated
8 ounces of thin spaghetti, cooked
Hot French bread

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Place shrimp in a medium-size bowl. Combine next 4 ingredients in a small bowl; pour over shrimp, and toss to coat.
Evenly arrange shrimp in a single layer in a 2-quart baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake 15 minutes.
Remove from oven, turn shrimp over, and drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with Panko and Parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered 10 to 15 more minutes. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes for a browner top, if desired. Serve over pasta family style with French bread.

https://dearpartydiary.com/will-you-accept-this-rose/

Growing up, Valentine’s Day was one of my favorite holidays. And it still is! China: ‘Rothschild Bird’ by Herend, herendusa.com; Sterling silver: ‘Lily’ by Gorham, lifetimesterling.com

For the Kids

Let’s be honest, when you are making sugar cookies all you really want to do is decorate them. Why waste time making them from scratch, letting the dough chill, and prolonging the fun.

The secret is out—Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix. Simply add 1 stick of butter, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons of flour for cookie-cutter style. It is easy as pie. No sticking to the counter or rolling pin. bettycrocker.com

Three-Ingredient Icing

Powdered sugar

Whole milk

Food coloring

Place powdered sugar in a small bowl or ramekin. Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency. Go slowly! It does not take much. Use food coloring to make as many colors as you would like. Ice cookies and decorate with sprinkles. Allow to dry completely.

It doesn’t take but a few sprinkles to make these special.

My favorite sprinkles are made especially for Williams-Sonoma by Beautiful Briny Sea, Super Amazing Dessert Sprinkle Mix, $19.95 (15-ounce) jar, Williams-Sonoma, williams-somoma.com

Hopes and Dreams Garland Kit

Another clever idea to entertain the kids, or adults for that matter, is this ribbon garland kit from Stellar, a cute tweens shop, in Rosemary Beach, Florida. I actually brought this to my daughter Sallie as a gift, but couldn’t wait to do it myself!

The kit includes a colorful 5-foot rope and lots of precut ribbon pieces. Stellar, Rosemary Beach, Florida, $25, 850/231-0110, gigistellartweens.com

The “icing on the cookie” is a coffee bar full of miniatures.

Valentine’s Coffee Bar

To top off the evening, set up a coffee bar for the adults. There is no need to buy large bottles of different liquors—pick up an assortment of miniatures and place them in a cute basket. It feels as special as getting the mini jelly from a room service tray. Serve with whipped cream and, of course, the cookies!