I wrote your name in the sky,
but the wind blew it away.
I wrote your name in the sand,
but the waves washed it away.
I wrote your name in my heart,
and forever it will stay.
- Jessica Blade

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women you can
I prize thy love more than whole mines of Gold.
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold repay,
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
-Ann Bradstreet

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need; by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath.
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Setting the Mood with Food on Valentine’s Day, or Any Day
Courtesy of www.entertaining.about.com

aph-ro-di-si-ac: noun; 1. an agent (as a food or drug) that arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire; 2. something that excites. Merriam Webster Dictionary
When you think of " Valentine's Day, which images first come to your mind? Flowers? Cupid? Large, red, heart boxes with chocolates inside? Heart-shaped cookies with pink sugar on top? A romantic, candlelight dinner for two with a bottle of wine?

If you are like most Americans, it would be a combination of all of the above. Our romantic fantasies may begin with Cupid and flowers, but somehow they always seem to end with luscious food.

Much of this comes from a universal belief that certain food and beverages have mystical properties that create sexual attraction between two people. Every culture has its own magical foods. In America, chocolate, oysters, and champagne lead the pack of favorite aphrodisiacs. But whether it's something inherent in the food or the power of the mind believing in the food's qualities is something science has been unable to prove conclusively.

Some aphrodisiac foods, such as bananas, oranges or oysters, gain their powers through their resemblance to sexual body parts. The magic of champagnes and wines can best be attributed to their ability to lower one's inhibitions. And then there are other foods, such as chocolate, that make us feel good. In some cases it can be attributed to certain chemicals they release in our bodies, as chocolate has been proven to do. In others, it's that they excite many of our senses through a combination of taste, texture and appearance. 

In fact, many foods considered to be aphrodisiacs are really everyday items. Almost everyone, young, old, single or married, eats bananas. But bananas in a brown paper lunch sack don't have the same powers to seduce as a sweet, buttery, Bananas Foster does when served at the end of a romantic, candlelight dinner for two. That's why context, and a little attention to detail, is so important, and maybe even more so than the foods themselves.

If you've set the mood with romantic colors, flowers, soft music, a bottle of wine, and candles, even a hamburger could become an aphrodisiac!

Here are some tips to help you plan your Valentine's Day dinner:
Keep the food light, or serve small portions. You don't want to feel bogged down later in the evening.
Make the meal pleasing to all the senses by using food with an exciting combination of colors, aromas and textures.
Select a sweet, but light dessert so you can feel indulged without being too stuffed for romance.
Feed one another, or at least watch your partner eat. Remember how sexy the dinner was in the film "Tom Jones" as the hero and Mrs.Waters watched one another?
Drink just enough wine or champagne to lower your inhibitions, but not so much as to put you to sleep!

A centerpiece of luscious, ripe fruit in a beautiful crystal bowl could add a sensual touch to your table. Think of combinations such as mangoes and avocados, red apples and pears, or lemons and limes. A bowl full of ripe, red, aromatic peaches would be very seductive, as would a mound of luscious strawberries. Aim for colorful abundance and choose whatever looks most appealing at your supermarket.
Keep the lighting subdued. Everyone looks better by the warm glow of candlelight. A room that is lit with only candles can be completely enchanting.
Use soft, textured linens in muted colors for a romantic, pampered feeling. Lace is the most traditional choice for setting the mood.
Don't forget to select sexy music to accompany your meal.
Remember - the best aphrodisiac you can bring to the table is a romantic attitude.