Cupid, Roll Out Your Dough....

Valentine's Day has always been a special day for me. It was the day that my wife and I started dating, it was the day that we got engaged, and it was the day that our nephew, Evan, was born. With all of the chaos and commotion now in our house, going out to dinner on the busiest restaurant night of the year doesn't seem so appealing. Nowadays the quiet, romantic dinners have been set aside for another day so we can celebrate with our daughters.

This year, I stepped up to my New Year's resolution early and bought myself a pasta maker. I got my new kitchen toy just a few days ago - perfect timing to put to use for a nice Valentine's dinner. What made it extra special was the enthusiasm and excitement that our daughter, Julianna, showed when I asked her to help roll the first batch of pasta. She's been showing a real interest in helping out in the kitchen, making her own lunch and helping with dinner, so asking her to assist me with a Play-Do like project was a no brainer. She was all into the preparation and rolling of the dough, and mastered the crank machine in no time. And I have to say that the pasta that we made – wheat fettucini – turned out to be absolutely awesome. I used the noodles in a Giada De Laurentis recipe, Whole-Wheat Pasta with Lemon, Basil, and Salmon. It was the perfect Valentine's dinner.

Being the proud Italian father that I am, it is always gratifying to see our kids enjoy themselves while learning something new and creating new memories. It's a goal that my wife and I strive for every day. Every picture tells a story, and these pictures will forever be a reminder of our first time making pasta together and making yet another great Valentine's Day memory.

Love, hugs and kisses to my wife Daria and our daughters Julianna and Ava.