Thursday

Cavatappi Nicoise (recipe in the comments from June 7, 2009)
Herbed goat cheese toasts (recipe in the comments from June 7, 2009)
Cantaloupe

Hot tea
Molasses cookies
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This was such a great new meal in June and since our friend Flynn likes goat cheese so much, this was a no brainer to have again. Everyone loved it and it makes enough so that we have tons of leftovers for a picnic tomorrow :) We're planning a hike if the weather is good!

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Green beans, grape tomatoes, olives, shallots, parsley, thyme
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: It's going to be awesome for our picnic.

Reaction
J: "Still so French!"
M: "Still lovin' the toasts!"

Monday

Polenta with spinach, black beans, and goat cheese (recipe in the comments)
Fresh pears

Hot tea
Valentine chocolates
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We needed a fast prep meal for tonight because we are actually cooking two dinners. Tomorrow is the anniversary of when M and I started dating and as we're celebrating the actual night at home, we wanted a festive, but EASY meal for tomorrow. As is so often the case when we're looking for a low pressure meal, we've turned to our slow cooker. Stay tuned for our amazing Beef Daube recipe. Anyway, tonight's dinner is unexpectedly easy and very unusual - a great, if atypical combination for a fast meal. The sun-dried tomatoes (not a typical favorite of mine) blend so well with the spinach and goat cheese. That complex and, yet harmonious, flavor is perfectly complimented by the creamy polenta. Even if you're skeptical, make this and you'll have a new busy night favorite.

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, pears
Time: 20 minutes
Make ahead: So long as you do the polenta last minute, you're fine.

Reaction
J: "Yummy, filling, and surprisingly speedy."
M: "Culinary sunshine."