February is a month to be romantic. We’ve got Valentine’s Day coming up and it’s still cold outside so it’s pretty conducive to snuggling!

But – man or woman – nothing says romance like a romantic dinner.

One of my all-time favorite romantic meal ideas is a couple of filet mignons, whipped potatoes, side salad and a delicious red wine.

That’s a lighter option. If you want something hearty that’ll warm you both up, mouth-watering Beef Wellington is an excellent choice. And… as a bonus, this is a heat and serve gourmet meal. Just pop ‘em in the oven and serve on some lovely china! The flaky pastry crust makes this dish so unique!

Now, if you REALLY want to impress your sweetie, Chateaubriand is the way to go. A gorgeous roast simmering in the oven is one of my favorite aromas. It creates an ambience that’s so important for setting a romantic stage.

Plus, it’s tender and juicy, and, well, it’s French. It just seems more romantic if it’s French.

So, what will you feed your sweetheart? These romantic meal ideas are in themselves a gesture of love. And that speaks volumes!

My toes are perpetually frozen this time of year. So a hearty, beefy soup makes perfect sense right now.

I need a meal that’ll thaw me out!

This Beef and Vegetable Soup recipe uses bite-sized beef tenderloin tips made from Filet Mignon and it really does the trick.

Ingredients:                                                                
1 lb. package Beef Tenderloin Tips, minced
2 onions, minced
2 carrots, minced
3 celery stalks, minced
2 cups, diced tomatoes
1 cup barley
1/2 cup lentils
6 cups beef stock
1 tbsp. oil
salt and pepper

Directions: Sear Beef Tenderloin Tips in oil and remove from pan. Add carrot, celery and onion and sweat. Add barley and cook for three minutes. Add tomato and beef stock and bring to a simmer, cook for 30 minutes and add lentils. Continue to simmer for another 10 and add reserved beef. Cook for 10 minutes, season to taste and serve.

Servings: 8

A soup that includes bites of steak? Yes, please! This one’s a winner!

We beef lovers have so many choices when it comes to main courses. And it’s so fun to be able to explore all those options.

This is my list of 15 ways you can BEEF up the new year in style:

1. Applewood Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon
2. Tenderloin Medallions
3. Chateaubriand
4. Flat Iron Rubbed Steak
5. Steakburgers!
6. Peppercorn and Sea Salt Kansas City Strips
7. Flank Steak in Sweet BBQ Sauce
8. Beef Brisket
9. Caramelized Onion and Gorgonzola Sliders
10. All Beef Hot Dogs
11. Wagyu Kobe Beef
12. Garlic and Herb Prime Rib Roast
13. BBQ Beef Burnt Ends
14. Porterhouse Steak
15. USDA Prime Bone-In Ribeye Steak

So many choices … and only a year to get through them.

Now go get some beef and start working on this list. This’ll be fun!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.