You’ve been invited to a special Valentine’s edition of Suppa Club! Since our inaugural Suppa at Ben and Lucy’s, we’ve dined outside, tasted “Fall,” traveled to Morocco, and had some serious bonding time. All have been filled with yummy food, rich conversation, genuine friendships, and {at the heart of it all} love.
The rotation brought Suppa Club back around to our house this month, and I immediately got excited knowing that we could declare the theme “Valentine’s.” Valentine’s Day is all about love – and I’ve always believed that nourishing the minds and bellies of your favorite people with good food is one of the best ways to express love.
In the process of planning our Valentine’s Suppa Club, I was blessed with a more than awesome surprise – my first “Foodie Introduction.” A mutual friend, Anjee, introduced Sarah Copeland and I to each other based on our shared philosophies behind the magic of food. At first, all I knew about Sarah were 2 things: 1. that she was a chef in NYC and 2. she was about to publish a healthy cookbook for newlyweds that I might enjoy:
{don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Newlywed Cookbook!}
Photo by Sarah Remington
When this book arrived at my door, I was mesmerized not only by the gorgeous photographs, but by Sarah’s knack for writing so passionately about the language of food and it’s magical ability to nurture and soothe our loved ones – especially as we begin our journeys to domestic bliss in a home we’ve only just begun to cultivate.
Growing up, my mom emphasized the importance of our family dining together and made food the glue that kept us all grounded. She continues to make delicious meals and entertain friends and family because she likes to, and because it’s her way of nurturing us. I share this same love for cooking with my mom, and I have recently been super excited about becoming the nurturer of my own future family.
Sarah’s book couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’ll be married in April, and this is the perfect resource I need to help get my kitchen {and home} started off on the right foot. So when she invited me to join her Valentine’s Blog Tour for The Newlywed Cookbook, I was gratefully honored.
I immediately knew her book would be a fabulous source of inspiration for our Valentine’s Suppa Club since we are {almost} all newlywed couples learning how to express our love through food!
Valentine’s Suppa Club with The Newlywed Cookbook
Going along with the philosophies of Sarah’s book, this special Suppa Club menu was prepared together, with all of us sharing the kitchen.
On the menu:
- A Real Good Salad
- Dowry Dinner Rolls*
- Grilled Lamb Chops with Melted Polenta
- Better Than Boxed Chocolate Cake
Before everyone arrived, I tried to set the table – Valentine’s Day style.
I was feeling the love so much that I got creative with the candles,
and put out fresh flowers to accompany the wine glasses.
I also got a head start on the Better Than Boxed Chocolate Cake so the oven would be free for the rest of our meal.
Photo by Sarah Remington
We added a little extra flare to our cake in honor of Valentine’s Day:
To hold us over while preparing our meal, Sean and Rachelle brought some yummy dips that went perfectly with our planned menu.
Not long after everyone arrived, the boys split off to the grill {even though it would be another 2 hours before the grill would be used} and we stayed in the kitchen for the always needed “girl time.” The gender divide allows for the use of more free flowing words…and we need it. Plus, it makes for hilarious dinner conversation when we come back together and report our separate conversations at the table.
As for the cooking…
Rachelle and Sarah did a bunch of chopping for the Real Good Salad,
{they look so pretty and domestic in this picture! 
}
with Lucy happily taking on the beets.
The polenta was virtually hands free, besides the occasional stir.
As we sipped on our toddy’s, Rachelle proved to be the cutest pregnant person I’ve ever seen with her Busch NA.
When it was finally time to throw the lamb chops on the grill,
all of the boys came upstairs – then went right back down to grill them. They didn’t take long to cook, and were timed perfectly.
As the chops rested, Rachelle and Lucy put a few last minute touches on the Real Good Salad,
and Sarah pulled the Dowry Dinner Rolls out of the oven.
Now, I haven’t mentioned these rolls yet because they were tended to during the entire amount of time {plus some extra} everything else was cooking. Talk about a labor of love. Sarah took charge of these rolls, and I’m super thankful. I didn’t know so much went into baking rolls – but the end result of homemade dinner rolls is absolutely incomparable.
Who knew that bread actually GROWS?
The mixture after 2 hours:
The dough for the next 1.5 hours:
for the next hour:
after 20 minutes in the oven:
and finally, at the table!
Since this was the menu item that the most love was put into, I want to share this recipe with you. {click here to view the recipe} If you’re making these things, you’re making them for someone you love. A lot of time and a lot of learning go into these bad boys – especially if you’re like us and have never attempted homemade rolls before.
We brought everything into the dining room {yes, the lamb is on top of the centerpiece},
and served ourselves.
I took one look at my plate, dug in, and kept a permanent grin as I savored each and every bite.
Yes, some of these menu items had lots of steps and took a lot of time, but in the end, the colossal amount of satisfaction they brought to our table made all of our work totally worth it. As a bonus, we got to spend extra time with each other!
I was especially giddy when dessert time rolled around. I cut that cake with a little pride knowing it was made completely from scratch.
Holy chocolate.
The cake was indeed MUCH better than boxed chocolate cake.
Everything was delicious, and I swear I could taste the effort and love the food was made out of. Maybe there IS something to be said about treating someone you love with something special. You definitely have a better appreciation of what goes into a homemade fabulous meal – that’s for sure.
We sat around the table enjoying each other’s company, with our dessert, for a while…
and even shared our rave reviews on the cookbook.
Our Suppa Club would like to give a big ol’ THANK YOU to Sarah Copeland for inspiring our Valentine’s Suppa. We wish you could have been there with us, and hope this post does your wonderful book well deserved justice.
We all decided that every newlywed couple needs this book. Lucky for y’all, Chronicle Books is generously giving away a copy of The Newlywed Cookbook to a JALO reader! Leave a comment with your thoughts on food and love, and a winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends on Friday, February 16 at 9:00am EST. Happy Valentine’s Day, friends.
I’ll leave you with a little taste of The Newlywed Cookbook – enjoy!
You ladies have serious patience, I would probably give up on those rolls immediately, haha. I love your explanation of food and love, I also truly believe they go hand in hand. For example, my grandmother (who passed away almost 8 years ago) used to make the best pancakes ever when I would stay with her. It wasn’t til I was older that my mom told they were just straight out of the box, but because my “Nannie” made them with so much love, that’s why they tasted so good! I definitely believe her, because I can’t make a boxed pancake taste like that to save my life!
Thanks Amanda! Clarification – Sarah is the one with the patience! I seriously had no idea rolls required so much tender love and care! But yes, I swear food tastes better when it’s made with love – even if Nannie used a box.
Those rolls sound AMAZING! Although I am not a newlywed, nor will I be one for quite some time, I have spent the last year getting into the kitchen and trying out what I can do. I am always looking for a great new cookbook that provides easy recipes along with challenging recipes that you can save for extra special occasions! I’d love to win a cookbook to add to my shall we say, petite, collection!
What an adorable dinner party, Lindsay! Even your outfit was extra festive!
Potatoes! I can’t wait to make these. Through the winter, our CSA is all potatoes and parsnips, and I get really excited when I find ways that I can sneak them into things. I love waiting until after dinner to tell my husband that I’ve again subjected him to our root vegetable stash.
Haha! I guess there’s more than one way to get your man to eat his veggies.
I love the candles! So festive!
And I love the way you set the table! You know how much I love flowers
Thanks Lee Lee!! I love flowers too, but I hate that they die so fast! And I’m just now getting into table setting – it’s sort of fun.
I am so impressed with this meal!! Everything looks awesome…..especially that Chocolate Cake. I can’t wait to borrow your “Newlywed Cookbook” and try some of these recipes myself.
Well thank you! If you leave your name and/or email you will be entered to win one for yourself!
Looks so yummy!!
Thanks Lyt!!
Confession: I was not incredibly patient with the rolls after all. This was my first tangle with yeast and I was convinced that the rolls were not going to rise. Thank goodness they did!
This menu was so delicious and Lindsay is right….everything taste better when one of the ingredients is love!
You were way more patient than I was! At least now we know a little about yeast
Thanks for all of your help! xoxo
Okay I might just try to surprise Chad and make those rolls this weekend!! They look sooo yummy!! And nice job on the cake, Champs! It all looks so delicious!
Do it! But beware, it takes ALL day and you need a food mill. Poor Sarah had to go out and get one! The cake, however, was a lot easier – and super chocolatey! Thanks for the compliments, too
Okay then I might just have to grab one out of John’s freezer next time I am there! haha
Champ!! That looks so yummy! I really want the recipe for that chocolate cake! I’m so impressed. Tell John hello!
Love you!
Thanks, Colq!!! I miss you and wish you could have been there with us
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I’m about to be a newly wed!!!!!!!!!! I WANT IT!
:):)
yeahhhhhh!!! maybe you’ll get it
This dinner looks AMAZING! You and your Mama can work some magic in the kitchen.
Thanks, Cathy!! I’m going to be sad when I don’t live with her anymore…I’m getting spoiled over here.
What a great post! Oh how I love the “suppa club” posts! I think its great that y’all stuck to Sarah’s party planning menu idea! It definitely helped keep everything balanced and fun
I would love the chance to when a copy of “The Newlywed cookbook” as I do hope to be one sometime in the future haha. Oh, and I will have to try those rolls because no meal is complete without your bread!
not sure why my name is “sussweetreats4″ as my blog Sus’s Sweet Treats in no longer running but in case you didn’t know its Susanne Jackson haha
Haha, I knew it was you Sus! I’m glad you like the Suppa Club posts – and I’ll let you know if you “when” this loverly book.
Oh yeah, this book will get you prepared to be a newlywed, too…I’m learning all sorts of stuff about the kitchen.
Oh how I miss your cooking, Lindsay!!! The meal looks fabulous and you know my sweet tooth was drooling over that cake!! YUM! Maybe a new cookbook would inspire me to get busy in the kitchen.. All my love to you and John and hope it’s not too long before I see yall again!! Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day!
Hey Roomie!!!! I wish you were here to share with me because I’m the only one eating it now! You would definitely love this book. Happy late V-day to you! It definitely better not be long, by the way – you promised a trip to Sparkle…
Hook a sister up!!! All looks delicious… I will have to admit that I will probably never try those rolls in my lifetime. My patience dwindles to zip after a day in a mad house with 6 year olds. Lovers you.
I froze some of the rolls and cake, so we can eat them next time you visit. I feel you on the rolls – they were intense, but well worth it! Love you!
Am I too old to be in love? Looks awesome!!!!! You are going to be a great nurturer!
Hey thanks KK – I learned it from the best!!
Na, you ain’t to old!
This whole meal looks so yummy!!! I want to try it all! Cookbook looks awesome!!! Teach me Linds teach me!!!
Hehe thanks Harry! Only if you teach me to paint like you
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