Homemade Valentine's Day Meal

I'm working on Valentine's Day this year, so my husband and I celebrated a day early.  I always like to serve him by cooking him a nice meal rather than going out to eat.  Here was our menu:

Three Cheese Tortellini with Sausage Meat Sauce
Asparagus Parmesan  (from filippoberio.com)
Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

For the Three Cheese Tortellini with Sausage Meat Sauce, begin by browning ground mild Italian sausage over medium-high heat.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil and add a package of tortellini.  When sausage is browned, add a jar of marinara sauce and reduce heat to medium-low.  Drain tortellini and add to sausage mixture.  Done!

For Asparagus Parmesan, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Rinse asparagus and chop off the non-green portion on the bottom of the stalks.  Place the asparagus in a 13x9 baking dish and add 1 tablespoon each olive oil and water.  Season with salt.  Cover tightly with aluminum foil.  Bake for 15 minutes, or until asparagus is fork tender.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the asparagus and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Happy Day of Romance!

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

from the back of Ocean Spray Craisins Bag

2/3 Cups Butter or Margarine, Softened
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 1/2 Cups Old-Fashioned Oats
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 6 oz. Package Crasins

2/3 Cups White Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, mixing well.  Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl.  Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition.  Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire rack.  Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

A few days ago, I was eating a handful of craisins and saw this recipe on the back.  I thought to myself  "these would be cute for Valentine's Day with the red cranberries and white chocolate chips!"  When I started to make them, I wasn't keen on some of the measurements.  Two-thirds of a cup of butter isn't that easy to measure!  I almost considered doubling or even tripling the recipe for even amounts.  But I had exactly two-thirds of a cup of brown sugar, so it worked out perfectly!  These are my type of cookies, not to sweet, and not to fussy.  Make them for your valentine this year!