A few years ago my friend called on Valentine’s Day afternoon to let me know her flight was grounded and she’d be stuck in town overnight. Lloyd and I invited her to stay at our place and welcomed her to join us on the dinner date we had planned. Thus began a serendipitous tradition that we’ve upheld ever since in which we spend Valentine’s Day with out of town guests. This year, my aunt, uncle, and three cousins happened to be visiting. All seven of us enjoyed a sweet and spicy meal featuring island fare – grilled ahi tuna with pineapple-chipotle salsa, chipotle smashed Okinawan sweet potatoes, spinach salad with honey-butter dressing, and coconut cream pie from Kaneohe Bakery. Good food with a table full of family is my kind of love celebration.

Here’s my supper plan for the rest of the week: