I started loving cooking when I was 19 years old, after I got home and wanted to cook something nice for myself. Ever since I got married, I’ve always wanted to prepare a wonderful dinner for our anniversary. Even when we had the option to go out, I found it more special to stay in and cook. I didn’t buy a gift; my dinner has always been the gift.

This year we celebrated our 26th anniversary, and the menu I planned was shrimp cocktail, which my husband loves, a mini charcuterie board, filet mignon with red wine shallot sauce, truffle mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, and a lemon posset dessert. About two weeks before the day, I started planning the menu and then the table decor. I designed a menu on Canva and printed pictures of us from different years, which led to great conversation at dinner and reminded us of our time together. My husband always gets me flowers, especially red roses, for Valentine’s Day and our anniversary. So I decided not to spend money on anything else, just the food. I already had photo paper at home and the slowest printer ever, but I love the ink that lasts forever; that’s one of the EcoTank models. So I cut the photos, decorated the table with the red roses and the green leaves from the arrangement, and used them to decorate the table too. Votive candles and taper candles added that romantic ambiance, and everything was set. My husband was so impressed with all the details. And you know what? I was surprised too, because it’s amazing how many years we have been together, and I thank God for my great husband, our two beautiful sons, and our house.

A dinner made me realize that it is not just about impressing anybody; I feel it, and I enjoy it. This year, the feeling is very special because we all forgot to take time for each other and stop to smell the roses literally. I feel grateful for these moments, and even more grateful that I still have that feeling to cook a nice dinner since I was 19 years old, and I enjoy it!

You can find the recipes by clicking here!