will you be my Valentine?

i had a little group of my retired Japanese pals over, on Wednesday, for a mexican lunch and American Valentine's party. now, Japanese people's pallets are super sensitive to spice. so in planning the meal i took this into account, especially since i was cooking mexican and i have a mouth of steal.

tdub made a batch of his homemade roasted salsa for them and left out most of the fire, we both thought it tasted like tomato sauce with a hint of garlic and cilantro, thats how un-hot it was. i asked them as they were eating it if it was too hot, and in their very polite and gracious way said "almost too hot, just a little ok." needless to say there was a lot leftover. and queso too. (yay! more for me.)

in honor of a traditional Valentine's day, i asked them to bring little notes or cards and maybe a small candy for all the other friends. they did as i asked, cutest little candies you have ever seen, (they make an apple look like it should be a diamond ring the way they wrap things here). i had decorated paper bags with doilies and their names and they had a jolly time distributing their candies and cards to one another.

here is a picture of them with their bags, happy as little clams. i didn't have the heart to tell them that the only other people this Valentine's day that will be this excited about getting a paper sack with treats inside, are the kiddos in kindergarten.

look how cute they are.

Happy Valentines Day, friends.
give some love away today.