Create Your Very Own Backyard Valentine’s Day!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you may be scrambling for ideas for a romantic date night, or for a special dinner outing. Platinum Pools has a few great ideas and recipes to have a unique, private, and of course romantic Valentine’s Day in your very own back yard, best yet, no reservations are required!

Prep the Ambiance

Think candles, mood lighting, rose petals, and your favorite slow dancing music. One idea for your candles is to float lit candles in the pool water. These work nicely

if you follow a few key guidelines. First, buy large candles, since the small ones will burn out fast. Turn off the motor on your swimming pool filter so the water doesn’t move as much and snuff out the romance. If you don’t want to use floating candles, try putting up torch lights around the swimming pool area or light a pathway with flame-less candles to give it a pleasant glow. Scented candles will also turn up the sensory experience.

Next, you’ll want to make sure to have Valentine’s favorite flower on hand; roses. You can spread rose petals around the pool, along a path, at the dinner table or just place a few small bouquets throughout your scene. For a more tropical feel, you can use orchids or birds of paradise. If you have outdoor speakers, put on a playlist that will capture your loving mood for your partner. If you can hook up your smartphone, you can also use portable speakers to make changing the song easier. We also like to use Pandora – they even have a Valentine’s station!
One of the final touches on setting up the atmosphere is heating your pool or hot tub and provide a robe and towel for an after-dessert dip. Luckily right now is a great time to heat up your pool, both the weather and the gas prices allow a less uncomfortable and less costly process.

Food for Romantic Thought

Now that you have sight, touch, smell, and feel, let’s add the taste part to this experience with some easy love recipes! Serve a multi-course meal with appetizers, salad, a main course and desserts to make your partner feel pampered. You can easily serve an elaborate meal at home for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal (and sometimes better-tasting).

First, we’ll loosen up with a cocktail – check out the special mixes below

Red Wine Sangria – Mix I bottle of red wine with 2 cups grape juice. Add fruit of your choice- Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, papaya, sliced apple, sliced lemon, oranges, or lime. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Add 1 small can cold ginger ale just before serving. For virgin option, substitute pomegranate, cranberry, or berry juice for the red wine.
Pomegranate bubbly
Watermelon margarita

*Note: Alcohol can dehydrate your bodies, as well as soaking in hot water, so keep yourselves hydrated with drinking water as well!

The next course? Appetize your partner with a few hors d’oeuvres

Oysters on the Half Shell with Rosé Mignonette
Tomato and artichoke bruschetta
Assorted olives and cheeses
Spinach salad with warm bacon vinaigrette

Below are a few ideas for your main course

Linguine with Shrimp and Creamy Roasted Tomatoes
Chicken with lemon potatoes
Herb Butter scallops
Spinach and artichoke steak roll-ups

And last, but never the least – a sweet surprise for your sweet person