As they say, the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach, right? Why not cook for your special someone? Here are some ideas:
Breakfast
If you want to surprise them with a great meal to start their day, cook them a filling breakfast.
Champorado
Instead of the usual chocolates, why not try making Champorado instead? And if you want to take it up a notch, you can use premium chocolate as your cocoa powder. You can find locally-made high quality cocoa that will surely make your partner’s heart melt.
Just boil the rice (preferably sticky rice) with water and stir continuously so that the bottom wouldn’t get burnt. When the consistency is about to reach perfection, you can then add the cocoa tablea or the cocoa powder, and stir until it dissolves completely. Make it more special by adding milk or by pairing it with tuyo (dried fish).
Arroz Caldo
If your partner isn’t into sweets, you can opt to cook Arroz Caldo. This is rice porridge with chicken strips and ginger. Saute the ginger, onion, and garlic. Add the chicken strips and saute until the outer layer of the chicken turns golden. Add the rice and saute for a bit. Pour water, add the chicken broth or bouillon and bring to a boil. Salt and pepper to taste. For additional color and aroma, add safflower, and scallions. You can also put hard-boiled eggs and fried tokwa (tofu). Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that?
Lunch
Want to make a packed lunch worthy to be envied by your partner’s co-workers? Try these:
Tapsilog
If your partner prefers a big meal, try cooking TapSiLog (Tapa-Sinangag-Itlog). Plus, this is easy to prepare as Tapa is basically beef jerky. You just saute the Tapa, fry the sunny-side up eggs and stir fry the garlic rice. You can also choose any Si-Log variant to match what your partner likes.
Boneless Bangus
If you want to serve fish but you don’t want your partner to be prying off annoying fish bones at work, fried boneless bangus is the answer. You wouldn’t want your day to get ruined by fish bones getting stuck on your partner’s throat, either.
Dinner
Having a dinner date at home? Here are a couple of suggestions to conclude the night on a great note:
Chicken Adobo
You can make the crowd favourite — Chicken Adobo! Saute garlic and onion, then add marinated chicken. Put soy sauce as well as dried bay leaves and peppercorn. Simmer until the chicken is tender. Add vinegar, then simmer. Season to taste.
Make it a bit different by forgoing the soy sauce to make Adobong Puti, using salt instead. Or if you want to make it extra special, why not upgrade it to Chicken Pork Adobo instead?
Bicol Express
They say spicy food are great aphrodisiacs. Test the myth by cooking one of the favorite spicy delicacies of the country: Bicol Express! Saute garlic, onion and ginger. Add pork, and cook until the pork turns a bit golden. Put chili and an optional shrimp paste (bagoong). Pour coconut milk and bring to a boil. Simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
Showing your love this coming Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be too expensive nor complicated. Whichever you choose to cook for your special someone, they’ll surely appreciate it as long as you prepare it with love.
– Marcy Ricci Rivera
