Homemade Valentine's Day Gifts for Your Man

The best gifts come from the heart and are built by our own hands.  This Valentine's Day, make your gift to the special man in your life something special, something homemade.  Following are some recipes and ideas for gifts you can make yourself to brighten your guy's Valentine's Day.

Just treating the man in your life to a special evening where he is "King for the Night" is gift enough for most men.  Let him have his way on Valentine's Day, and make the effort to be extra nice (even if he gets home late or leaves his underwear lying on the floor next to the hamper) and attentive--don't spend time worrying about what he got for you, or what he will do to make your day special.  Think about what you can do to make his day special.  Men are usually pretty straight forward--give them love, and you will get it in return.

Start the night off with a romantic dinner made by your very own hands, complete with a yummy dessert.  After dinner, give him a full body massage...and let that lead where it may.

Fettuccine Alfredo

A candlelit dinner will set the mood for a romantic evening.  The secret to this delicious recipe is the addition of cream cheese, along with choosing a high quality Parmesan cheese (in other words, skip the stuff that comes in the plastic shaker).

Ingredients

1 pound fettuccine noodles

½ cup butter

2/3 cup heavy cream

3 ounces cream cheese

1 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon salt

Dash white pepper

Cook fettuccine until tender; drain and keep warm.  Meanwhile, heat butter, cream, and cream cheese in a medium sauce pan until butter and cream cheese have melted.  Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.  Stir until cheese is melted, and sauce is smooth.  Add the sauce to the noodles, tossing to coat.  Serve at once, topping with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

Serve this dish with garlic bread and salad, along with a cold beer or glass of wine (whichever your man prefers).

Peanut Butter Cups

These homemade peanut butter cups are so much tastier than anything store bought!  And your man will appreciate that you put the time and effort into making him a treat, rather than just going out to buy something.  Caution:  you may want to make two batches of this treat so you can have some for yourself!

Ingredients

7 ounces dark chocolate*

¼ cup butter

1 tablespoon coconut oil

¼ cup peanut butter

Line miniature muffin tin with paper baking cups (this recipe should make 12).  In a double boiler, combine chocolate, butter, and coconut oil.  Melt, stirring, until mixture is smooth.

In a small saucepan, heat the peanut butter on low until it is melted.

Fill each cup about half way with melted chocolate.  Top chocolate in each cup with 1 teaspoon of peanut butter.  Top each cup with remaining chocolate to cover peanut butter.

Place the peanut butter cups in the refrigerator for a half hour to set.

*I used 6 ounces of Hershey's dark chocolate, and 1 ounce unsweetened baker's chocolate. They were really yummy, and I think next time, I'll add even more unsweetened chocolate!  This depends on a person's tastes however,--how dark does your man like his chocolate?  If he isn't a dark chocolate fan, use milk chocolate instead.

Aftershave

Whip up some of this minty aftershave for him to show you care.

Ingredients

1/4 cup witch hazel extract
2 Tablespoons vodka
10 drops peppermint essential oil or 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 Tablespoon aloe vera juice

Using a funnel, pour all ingredients into a small, 4 ounce bottle .  Cap the bottle and shake well to combine ingredients.  As with any other aftershave, this is applied to the skin after shaving.

Foot-rub Oil

Your man will be in heaven if you give him a nice, long foot-rub using this basic oil that is so easy to make.  You can use all or only some of the essential oils suggested; these particular essential oils are good choices for use on the feet because they deodorize, increase circulation, and aid in relaxation.  If you do not have essential oils, but do have any of the actual herbs on hand, you can click here to find a recipe to make an infused oil for foot massages instead.


Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 drops each:  peppermint essential oil, lavender essential oil, rosemary essential oil, lemon essential oil, tea tree essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oil


Combine the olive oil and essential oils in a small bottle or jar.  Shake well.  Allow the mixture to sit for 24 hours to allow the essential oils to synergize.  Use as a foot massage oil.

Edible Body Butter

Rub this on sensitive parts--and feel free to lick it off! ;)

Ingredients

1/4 cup raw coconut oil

1 tablespoon honey

5 drops peppermint or cinnamon essential oil

Mix all ingredients well; store in a small jar.