If you are a last-minute person, consider this your heads-up that Valentine’s Day is almost here. It’s likely too late to make a reservation at a fancy restaurant, but there are plenty of places where you can go for a nice meal.

Chocolates and flowers are good last-minute choices, and local jewelry shops will be open for business on Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14. But if you like to do things yourself, your favorite supermarket, butcher or fish shop might be the place to go so that you can prepare something delightful for your valentine.

When you look at suggested menus for romantic meals, they usually lead off with filet mignon, possibly paired with lobster tails. Salmon, duck, rack of lamb, ribeye steaks and Marry Me Chicken (yes, it’s a real recipe found online) are other possibilities. For a vegan valentine, you might consider a seitan/tofu steak or a tofu stir-fry. Making or picking up your valentine’s favorite meal is also a possible plan.

A salad is a good starter, and don’t forget dessert. Chocolate is the favorite, whether it is a box of chocolate, chocolate-covered strawberries, ice cream or chocolate pudding or custard. For vegans, there is tofu chocolate pudding. Know what your loved one enjoys most.

Whatever you choose, make sure it is something designed to show how much you care. And have a great holiday!

Happy hippos ahead

River Horse Brewing Company will be celebrating World Hippo Day on Saturday, Feb. 15 with beer, games and trivia.

The Big Hippo Bash to celebrate the water-loving mammal is set for 3 to 7 p.m. at the brewery located at 2 Graphics Drive in Ewing. Admission is free. Reserve a spot at eventbrite.com/e/world-hippo-day-big-hippo-bash-tickets-1218374885079

Tea lovers’ alert

There is still time to reserve a spot for the Making Matcha Mindfully class at Tea-For-All Tea Bar and Shoppe in the Trenton Farmers Market in Lawrence.

Glenn Shouyuu Swann, a local teacher of Japanese tea artistry, will lead the class set for 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 16. For tickets go to eventbrite.com/e/making-matcha-mindfully-tickets-1130009933129?aff=ebdsoporgprofile.

6-Minute Instant Pot Lobster Risotto

If you and your valentine love lobster and risotto and own an Instant Pot, consider this dish from theviewfromgreatisland.com for your holiday dinner. After you do the prep it cooks in six minutes.

2 lobster tails, about 4 ounces, more or less

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large shallot, peeled and minced

1 leek, sliced and rinsed well to remove grit

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup arborio rice (be sure to use arborio)

½ cup brandy

2 cups fish stock

3 tablespoons mascarpone cheese

salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

fresh thyme leaves or snipped chives for garnish

Browned butter (optional)

6 tablespoons butter

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and boil the lobster tails for about 7 minutes, or just until the shells turn bright red and the tails curl. Let the tails cool slightly and then use kitchen shears to cut lengthwise along the back of the shell. Crack it open and pry out the meat. Give the meat a rough chop and set aside.
Add the 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil to the Instant Pot and push “sauté”. Sauté the shallots and leeks for a minute or two, then add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the rice and stir well. Add the brandy and let it absorb for a few seconds. Add the fish stock and give everything a stir.
Put the lid on, lock, and set the pressure release valve to “sealed”. Press “pressure cook” and set the timer for 6 minutes.
When the timer beeps, release the pressure and open the pot. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve in shallow bowls topped with the lobster and drizzled with browned butter. Garnish with fresh thyme or chives.

7. To make browned butter, heat the butter, stirring constantly, in a skillet over medium heat. It will melt and then foam up. After the foaming subsides the little specks of milk solids in the butter will start to turn brown. Keep stirring or swirling the butter until it is a nice deep brown. Be careful not to take it too far or it will burn.