Julie Mulligan, lifestyle expert for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, is here to share her ideas for creating a romantic, indoor Garden of Eden for Valentine’s Day! Scroll down for lots of fun tips from Julie, plus an Easy Chocolate Fondue recipe, a Valentine’s Day playlist by R&B singer Robin Thicke, & a discount code for Valentine’s Day flowers.

*****

DINING IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Isn’t it wonderful that Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the winter? It’s such a great excuse to shut out the rest of the world and create a sanctuary where you and your love one can reconnect.

One of the most romantic ways to do this is to create your own indoor Garden of Eden. While this can be pulled off at the last minute the more prepared you are in advance the better it will be in the end.  Here is a list of items that will make for a smooth romantic evening set in your very own Garden of Eden (fig leaves optional).

Important elements:
• Picnic basket
• Blanket
• Oversized pillows
• Plants
• Flowers
• Candles
• Champagne or wine
• Ice bucket
• Glasses
• Music
• Sensuous finger foods

If you are going to set this up in your home and you have children make plans to have them spend the night at grandma’s! Of course in front of the fireplace works nicely but if you have the space in your bedroom that works too.  You really don’t need much space at all because you’ll want to have the feeling of being in your own little cocoon.

Following is an outline to help you get started and to provide some inspiration. This is all about you and the person you love so personalize as you go.  Choose foods that turn them on.  For example you might not think that chicken wings are romantic but if he loves them then they can be!

Step 1
Pull together all of the house plants that you already have into the area that you have selected for your Garden of Eden.  Use various size plants to form the perimeter of the space. If you don’t already have plants in your house this is the perfect excuse to buy a few. Growing and caring for indoor plants gives many a sense of pleasure, tranquility and peace. It connects us to mother nature in a desperate attempt to escape the chaos that we call life, but not only do plants calm our souls, they also bring us good health by improving the quality of the air we breath.

Step 2
Next you’ll want to layer on the blanket and pillows where the wining, dining, and games will take place!  Use as many pillows as you can in varying sizes and pleasing fabrics.

Step 3
A picnic basket filled with delicious fingers foods that are perfect for feeding to each other comes next.  Because you are setting this up in advance and don’t have to worry about carrying it to an outdoor space any kind of basket or decorative box will work fine.  The idea is to have it filled with special treats that can be discovered through out the picnic.  Remember to include a tray, plates, and any utensils you might need.

Step 4
Set up your wine or champagne close to your food basket.  Include the appropriate glasses, wine cooler, and ice bucket.

Step 5
Music will help to set the mood.  Making your own romantic play list ahead of time is ideal so that once you hit play and your set for the night.  Click here for some romantic music suggestions

Step 6
If games are your thing consider adding some to the night’s activities. A little variation to standard games can give them a whole new life.  Some examples would be Strip Poker and Sexy Scrabble.  Another fun one is to blindfold your partner and feed them various foods and see if they can guess what they are!

Step 7
The last step will be adding a few special Valentine décor elements.  These should include as many candles as possible and of course no romantic setting would be complete without flowers.

*****

WHAT TO EAT
Finger foods are definitely the way to go. And you’ll want to keep things light – the last thing you’ll want to feel is full!  Have a tray prepared in advance to start with so that you can begin to nibble as you are settling in.

Suggested items for your starter tray:
Figs
Prosciutto
St.-Andre Cheese – or other triple-cream cheese such as Explorateur
Crostini with Tapenade
Stuffed grape leaves
Olives
Crusty bread – ready for breaking apart and dipped in:
Herb infused extra virgin olive oil
Hummus

An iced tray of iced oysters with a spicy cocktail sauce would be a great addition to this decadent mix.

Moving over to the sweet side I would go for a chocolate fondue. They are so easy and so much fun.  Fondues come in various sizes from a sweet version made just for two to an over the top bubbling fountain and all are affordable.  There are many wonderful recipes online for making your own chocolate fondue sauce or you can make it really easy and buy a package of melting chocolate and your set to go.  Bite size pieces of fresh fruit, marshmallows, and pretzels are just a few foods perfect for dipping.  Have additional bowls filled with crushed graham crackers, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, and whipped cream for your additional dipping pleasure!

*****

Easy Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, reserve 1/4 cup to thin if fondue begins to thicken
4 bittersweet chocolate bars, chopped, 3 1/2 ounces each
2 tablespoons Frangelico or Amaretto liqueur, optional
1/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts or almonds, optional

Directions
Heat 1/2 cup cream in a heavy non-reactive saucepot over moderate heat until cream comes to a low boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add chocolate. Let the chocolate stand in hot cream 3 to 5 minutes to soften, then whisk chocolate together with the cream. Stir in liqueur and/or chopped nuts and transfer the fondue to a fondue pot or set the mixing bowl on a rack above a small lit candle. If fondue becomes too thick, stir in reserved cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, to desired consistency.

*****

What to Listen to:

Robin Thicke created a custom playlist of smooth, romantic sounds for HWTM readers!  Here are his picks:

1. You’re My Baby
2. Magic
3. Dreamworld
4. The Sweetest Love
5. Hard On My Love
(all of the above are from Robin’s album “Something Else”)
6. Lost Without You
7. I Need Love
8. Can U Believe
(all of the above are from Robin’s album “Evolution of Robin Thicke”)

Log on to www.robinthicke.com/discography/ or listen to or buy Robin’s music.

*****

Thanks for the great info, Julie & Robin. To get more of Julie’s ideas, you can read her blog at www.1800flowers.com/julie

Special Deal:
HWTM readers can enter HWTM14 to receive 15% off the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Valentine’s Day Collection through 2/15/09!

Better Homes & Gardens has a truly mouth-watering recipe gallery out called “Our Best Cupcake Recipes” that’s full of creative, sweet treat ideas for Valentine’s Day, birthday parties, baby showers, or really any time you feel like whipping up something special! Some favorites from the gallery (with recipe links) are pictured above and below…what looks good to you?

Pictured at top:
1. Cherry Baby Cupcakes {so cute!! see recipe below, after the jump…}
2. Red Velvet Sweetheart Cupcakes {romantic red velvet mini cupcakes with chocolate heart toppers}
3. Easy Topped Cupcakes {butter pecan ice cream + caramel sauce + chocolate cupcakes = YUM!}
4. Sweet Potato Cupcakes {cinnamon-spiced cupcakes topped with luscious cream cheese frosting & orange peel}

Pictured above:
5. German Chocolate Cupcakes {with chocolate-pecan ice cream, toasted nuts & caramel sauce!}
6. Brownie Surprise Cupcakes {fudge brownies with a creamy chocolate candy center}
7. Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes {with peanut butter frosting}
8. Rosemary Mini Cupcakes {vanilla cupcakes flavored with garden-fresh rosemary & topped with orange glaze}

Pictured above:
9. Tangerine Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting {finely shredded tangerine peel mixed into vanilla batter}
10. Applesauce Cupcakes {topped with homemade butter frosting}
11. Flower-Power Mini Cupcakes {featuring signet marigold leaves & petals for a lovely citrus flavor}
12. Cookies & Cream Cupcakes {crumbled chocolate chip cookies inside the batter!}

—————————————————————————————————-

CHERRY BABY CAKES
{via BHG}

Ingredients
• 1-1/3  cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3  cup sugar
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4  teaspoon salt
• 2/3  cup milk
• 1/4  cup butter, softened
• 1  egg
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3  cup cherry marmalade or cherry preserves, large pieces snipped if necessary
• 30  maraschino cherries with stems, drained
• 1  recipe Powdered Sugar Icing* (see below)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Line thirty 1 3/4-inch muffin cups with miniature paper bake cups;** set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, butter, egg, and vanilla. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Spoon 1 scant teaspoon of batter into each muffin cup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cherry marmalade and top with 1/2 teaspoon additional batter.

3. Bake cupcakes about 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack.

4. Pat cherries dry with clean paper toweling. Frost each cupcake with about 1/2 teaspoon icing. Dip half of each cherry into remaining icing; place on top of baby cakes. Makes about 30 small cakes.

**Test Kitchen Tip: If you don’t have 1 3/4-inch muffin cups, line sixteen 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups. Prepare batter as directed. Spoon 1 tablespoon batter into each prepared muffin cup. Add 1 teaspoon of marmalade and another tablespoon of batter. (You will only use about 1/3 cup marmalade.) Bake about 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Frost with Powdered Sugar Icing. Add a cherry as directed above. (You will only need 16 cherries.)

*Powdered Sugar Icing: In a small bowl combine 2 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing reaches drizzling consistency. Makes about 30.

—————————————————————————————————-

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, See’s Candies is offering up $25 gift certificates to FOUR  lucky HWTM readers! Whether you’re shopping for Valentines Day Gifts or your own favorite treat (by way of chocolates, lollipops, peanut brittle & more) – doesn’t the concept of “free” make it sound even sweeter?!

HOW TO ENTER:
• Post a comment here telling us YOUR favorite flavor(s) or type(s) of See’s Candies. (Definitely brown-sugar-and-vanilla-buttercream Butterscotch Squares for me!)
• Giveaway ends Friday, January 30th at midnight PST. Winners are chosen randomly and will be announced here on Monday, Feb 2nd. Good luck!

Recipe quick links from thenest.com:

• Chocolate Pinky Valentini {This sounds de-lish! Pinky Vodka, Stoli strawberry, Godiva white chocolate liqueur, Dark chocolate syrup, dark chocolate shavings, and strawberries for garnish….YUM!}
• Pretty in Pink {Such a pretty look to this shot and super easy to make – 1 part Pinky Vodka and 1 part Chambord Black Raspberry Liquer – a personal fav!}
• Sink the Pink {The raspberry garnish in this ruby grapefruit-flavored conconction makes for a very pretty signature drink!}

For a cute and super-easy Valentine’s Day centerpiece , fill clear kitchen canisters with different kinds of Valentine-themed candies. Embellish the canisters with a band of ribbon and a large contemporary sticker or scrapbook embellishment, then sprinkle the table area around them with edible candy confetti. This "candy-coated" centerpiece took less than 10 minutes to put together…

*Apparently I was temporarily blind during the process of taking these pictures because I realized AFTER it was all done & put away that the canister on the right was quite obviously facing the wrong way…oops!

Product resources: Acrylic Canisters (set of 4) – Target; ribbon, Red Hots, and heart-shaped candy confetti Michaels ; red & pink flower Glitter Clears™ by Making Memories; fuschia tablecloth – Plum Party ; heart jellies and Gobstopper heartbreakers – Target .

The promo: A special "preview" of the suite on display at Divine Studio in NY reveals that the room is almost entirely made of chocolate! A chandelier garnished with bonbons and chocolate pearls, a dining table made of truffles, chocolate-adorned sofas and armchairs, Gustav Klimt’s famous "The Kiss " rendered from Godiva chocolates/boxes/foils…the list goes on! In a word: AMAZING!! (Kudos to LA-based designer Larry Abel .) Click here to check out more spectacular photos of this chocolate lover’s paradise.

And just think…somewhere in North America, the winning gift box – with it’s lucky ticket offering admittance into chocolate heaven for 2 – sits and waits to be opened. Remind you of anything ?

And while we’re on the subject of Godiva, how gorgeous are these special "Valentines Day G Hearts " chocolates? Maybe your winning ticket will come in one of these

{via YumSugar }

tiny*prints has some brand new Valentine-themed party invitations that are super stylish and would work great for all of the above…

{clockwise from top left} Party Heart: Red Lantern , Hip Heart , Homemade Valentine , Heart Flake , Heart Kisses
{pictured below} Drinks & Pinks

And speaking of pink drinks …here are a few recipe links for you:

• Pink Martini
• Barracuda
• Berry Cosmos

Some of my personal favorites include Little Bo Peep (baby shower ), hot pink & zebra print Girl’s Night Out (perfect for bachelorette parties ), and the fabulously zen-modern Asian Affair (perfect for bridal showers, engagement parties, dinner parties, etc ).

And for Valentine’s Day , they’ve put together this ultra-modern & romantic Dinner for 2 , starring a ridiculously cool red acrylic candelabra , red sparkle napkins (only $18 for 12!), and more great stuff. Click here for full details . And if you’re entertaining more than 2 for your Valentine’s dinner, check out the Red Dinner Party .

Special Deal for HWTM Readers:
Get 10% OFF your entire order at Social Couture by entering coupon code "HWTM " at checkout!