Our Valentine’s dinner started off with roses being delivered. Nice.

We placed the salmon in the oven for baking. It was already seasoned and marinated. Nice.

Then our neighbor called to rib us about something — and he ended up coming over to eat our steak and salmon.

Not nice.

So it wasn’t exactly the romantic spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp I had hoped it would be. But, really, with the kids in the other room watching Space Buddies on DVD, was it ever going on the list of most romantic dinners of all-time?

No. 

And after 11 years of marriage, we’ve come to expect the unexpected. I truly can’t remember the last meal we’ve had in our house where we weren’t interrupted.

It’s just usually done by someone under the age of 10.

All kidding aside, our neighbor brought laughter and frivolity to our dinner, along with his 6-year-old daughter who promptly went to watch the DVD in the other room. And we couldn’t have been more pleased to have them.

Here’s what we enjoyed . . .

A little garlic rice pilaf amazingly complemented this juicy Top Sirloin. 

And those salmon filets?

They were moist and tender — and very flavorful. What a treat to have surf AND turf!

We topped off our meal with a wonderful Lemon Charlotte Royale cake that had raspberry swirls in it. It was just right for Valentine’s Day. Who could ask for anything more?

And although it may seem like we had a very mature-sounding Valentine’s Day, don’t let us fool you. Our biggest topic of conversation was whether to Tivo “Bromance” on the living room TV or the bedroom TV.

Decisions, decisions.

I hope today is a great day for you and you spend it with the ones you love.

Speaking of love . . . I’m spending this evening with one of my greatest loves. And my husband will be there, too.

Ba dum dum (*air drums*).

Seriously, we both can’t wait for our steak and salmon dinner. I couldn’t keep it a secret because, well, I’m like that.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my love! I hope you enjoy dinner — I know I will.

Steak + my favorite person = awesome.

Remember that old ketchup commercial set to Carly Simon’s song?

That’s how I feel today. My order of steaks, salmon and a cake I don’t have to bake have arrived.

I’m ready to eat them NOW. But I have to wait.

V-Day is just 2 days away. I think I can do it.

But after a week of Slim-Fast, Kashi Go Lean and countless chicken nuggets (the kids ate those — but I did have to look at them) I think I deserve my steak. Don’t you?

I hope you have a steak planned for this Saturday, too. It’s really the only way to go.

I’ve talked to a lot of my neighbors and of the ones who do have Valentine’s plans, they all involve steak — either at a restaurant or at home.

It’s not just me. I’m sure of it!

And since you probably are craving steak, too, I’ll be kind enough to share some photos of my Valentine’s meal with you.

And I promise I won’t put ketchup on it.