It's only three days away! Is anybody else planning to cook on Valentine's
Day? Here's the menu I'm planning. (It's got a Chinese bent because this
year that day is also Chinese New Year, and Lin and I like to "play Chinese"
on that day.)

* Steamed golden beets, maroon carrots, and water chestnuts[1] with plum
sauce

* Chinese greens stir-fried with mushrooms, garlic, chiles, and chives

* Steak with black-bean butter sauce

* Jasmine rice

* Chocolate-dipped candied kumquat[2]

I want to come up with some quasi-Asian cocktail using blood orange juice,
too. Maybe blood orange juice, mango nectar, and rum? I haven't decided yet.

Bob
[1] Our local Whole Foods sells fresh water chestnuts, which are a dramatic
step up from canned.
[2] This assumes that kumquats will be available in the farmers' market on
Saturday. According to the farmers, they *should* be there. If not, I'll
make something else. I want to downplay dessert in any case.