Put the va-va-voom back into Valentine’s Day.

Let’s face it. Many of us can’t go to a candlelit dinner with our partners for Valentine’s Day. Busy schedules, finding a babysitter, (paying the babysitter), and long wait times makes the idea of a romantic night out seem rather unromantic. Even if you don’t have children, meals can be pricey, you have to pay tip, and even parking if you have dinner in the city.

Back in December, as part of my Charlene Chronicles Holiday Gift List, I mentioned Healthy Habits Kitchen as a great gift idea. Well, this time around, I am mentioning it because it may put the va-va-voom back into your Valentine’s Day.

Healthy Habits Kitchen (HHK) is based in Wellesley, MA. It is open Monday-Friday (12-2pm and 4-6:30pm) just off Route 128. It is just a kitchen where dishes are made into kits. You then buy the kit, so you can cook a gourmet, healthy meal in the comfort of your own home. (For a visual, check out the HHK YouTube video.)

Sticking with the flavors of the season, each month HHK has a new menu with various fish, chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian dishes. In February, HHK has “Cod with Tomato Cream Sauce” and “Orzo with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Goat Cheese”, to name a few. (My mouth is watering.) Basically, items you would find on a menu in a nice restaurant.

The dishes are either fresh or frozen and comes with all of the sauces and/or spices you need to make it. So no worries about buying extra spices or marinades, special tools or pans, that you may just use once or twice. Plus, the dish comes with detailed instructions on how to put it together. So no fumbling around the kitchen either. (You are trying to have a romantic night, right?) Bonus? All of the meals can be made in under 30 minutes.

You can also pick up some cookie dough batter (like dark chocolate cherry cookie dough) so you can nibble of something sweet after dinner. (Besides your partner, of course.)

The menu is online and ordering is a snap. Then you can stop by and pick it up, frozen or fresh; packaged and ready to go. (If you have little ones, she can even bring your order out to your car since there is no easy way in with a stroller). Or you can have it delivered for a fee. (Fee varies based on distance.)

Meals are around $17 for a dinner for 2/3 people. It is just for the main meal, so for some of the dishes you may want to pick up a couple of sides, which range from $2-$4 each for 2/3 people. The cookie dough is $3 for 2/3 people too. So for about $30, you get a great dinner for two. No hassles, no waiting to be seated, no tip, and no babysitter costs. Yet the meal is gourmet so it adds some elegance so it doesn’t seem like another meal at home. Add some candles, slow music, a glass of wine or sparkling water, and maybe pull out your fancy dishes (if you have them) to add more pop and ambience. With the money you save, maybe you can rent a movie too.

So put the kids to bed, and enjoy a fabulous snuggly Valentine’s Day this year; on whatever day you end up celebrating it.

And leave a comment below to win a Healthy Habits meal kit!

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Rules: (Gotta have them)

Leave a comment about this post. One comment permitted per person; US entrants welcome.

Include your name and email in the appropriate fields so I can contact you if you win. (Including just first name or first name + last initial is OK!). Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be discarded.

Entry period closes at 11:59PM EST, Monday, February 14, 2011. Minimum of 5 people must enter for the giveaway to occur. You must be able to pick up the meal kit at the HHK location, or be willing to pay for delivery. Does not include sides or dessert.

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*One lucky winner (drawn randomly via Random.org) will receive a a meal kit of their choice, from the February menu only, for 2/3 people from Healthy Habits Kitchen on behalf of CharleneChronicles. The winner will be notified directly via e-mail, then listed back at this post using first name only.

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Image Credit: stock.xchng.com