Happy Friday, gang! Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays — not for the grand gestures or the prix fixe menus, but for the excuse to slow down and treat the people I love to something special. There’s nothing quite like cooking at home: the clinking of glasses, the smell of butter and garlic filling the kitchen, a beautiful meal shared around your own table.
This week, Kelly and I are sharing our idea of Valentine’s perfection: a Raspberry French 75 that’s as beautiful as it is delicious — all rosy pink bubbles and bright citrus — paired with Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp that’s rich, indulgent, and impossibly easy. The shrimp comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you’ll have plenty of time to set the table, light some candles, and actually enjoy the evening. Whether you’re cooking for a sweetheart, gathering your favorite girlfriends for Galentine’s, or simply treating yourself to a luxurious night in, these recipes are here to make it memorable.
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
- Bubbles & Blush: Raspberry French 75 🥂
- FAQs – Raspberry French 75
- Raspberry French 75 Recipe Card
- Love at First Bite: Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp 🍤
- FAQs – Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe Card
- Oscar & Ollie: Forever Part of Fridays 🐾
- A Little Valentine’s Polish: What We’re Wearing 💝
- Cheers To A Little Valentine’s Elegance ❤️
- More Weekend Inspiration From the Blog
Raspberry French 75 & Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp
Bubbles & Blush: Raspberry French 75 🥂
The French 75 is one of the most elegant cocktails I know — gin, lemon, a touch of sweetness, and champagne to make it sparkle. This raspberry version takes it up a notch with Chambord, that gorgeous French raspberry liqueur that turns everything a beautiful shade of pink. It’s festive, it’s celebratory, and it tastes like something you’d order at a fancy cocktail bar. The fresh raspberries and lemon twist at the end make it absolutely stunning in the glass. This is the kind of drink that makes an ordinary Saturday feel like an occasion — and Valentine’s Day deserves nothing less.
✨ Beth’s Tip: The Chambord does double duty here — it adds raspberry flavor AND a beautiful pink color. If you don’t have Chambord, you can muddle a few fresh raspberries in the shaker, but the color won’t be quite as vibrant.
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FAQs – Raspberry French 75
A French 75 includes gin (or sometimes cognac), lemon juice, and simple syrup — it’s essentially a Tom Collins topped with champagne. A classic champagne cocktail is just champagne with a sugar cube and bitters. The French 75 has more complexity and a lovely citrus brightness.
Absolutely! Champagne, cava, or any dry sparkling wine works beautifully. Prosecco tends to be a bit sweeter and fruitier, which pairs nicely with the raspberry, but use what you have or prefer.
Yes! Skip the gin and Chambord, and instead muddle fresh raspberries with the lemon juice and simple syrup. Top with sparkling water or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine for a beautiful mocktail.
You can mix the gin, Chambord, lemon juice, and simple syrup ahead and keep it chilled. When ready to serve, pour into glasses and top with Prosecco. Don’t add the bubbles until the last minute or they’ll go flat.
You can make it in seconds: dissolve equal parts sugar and hot water, stir until clear, and let cool. Or use a teaspoon of honey dissolved in the lemon juice.
Raspberry French 75 Recipe Card
Raspberry French 75
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz Chambord raspberry liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 4 oz Prosecco chilled
- Ice
- Fresh raspberries for garnish
- Lemon twists for garnish
Instructions:
- Chill your glasses: Place two champagne flutes or coupe glasses in the freezer for a few minutes while you prep. A cold glass keeps everything bubbly longer.
- Combine the base: In a cocktail shaker, add gin, Chambord, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake with ice: Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until very cold.
- Strain: Strain evenly into your two chilled glasses.
- Top with Prosecco: Slowly pour 2 oz of chilled Prosecco into each glass. Give it a very gentle stir.
- Garnish: Drop a few fresh raspberries into each glass and add a lemon twist on the rim.
- Serve immediately — bubbles wait for no one!
Did you make this recipe?
We’d love to see! Tag us @styleatacertainage
Love at First Bite: Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp 🍤
This is the dish I make when I want to impress someone without spending hours in the kitchen. Large shrimp seared in garlic butter, then swimming in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, wilted spinach, and a shower of parmesan — it’s indulgent, it’s rich, and it comes together in about 25 minutes. The cream cheese melts into the sauce and gives it this velvety, luxurious texture that clings to every bite. Serve it over pasta, with crusty bread for dipping, or honestly just eat it straight from the pan. No judgment here. This is Valentine’s dinner, after all.
✨ Kelly’s Tip: Don’t overcook the shrimp! They cook fast, and the residual heat from the sauce will finish them. Pull them from the pan when they’re just turning pink — overcooked shrimp get rubbery, and nobody wants that on Valentine’s Day.
FAQs – Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp
Large shrimp (26-30 count per pound) work best here — they’re meaty enough to stand up to the rich sauce. Jumbo shrimp work too, but will need an extra minute or two of cooking time.
Yes! Just make sure to thaw them completely and pat them very dry before cooking. Excess moisture will cause them to steam instead of sear.
You can substitute 1/2 cup heavy cream, though the sauce will be thinner. Cream cheese gives it that thick, clingy texture that’s so luxurious.
Absolutely — this sauce is delicious with chicken (slice thin and cook through before making the sauce) or even scallops. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
Linguine, fettuccine, or angel hair are all great choices — anything that will catch the creamy sauce. You could also serve this over rice or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
The sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently, but I’d cook the shrimp fresh. They only take a few minutes and are best right out of the pan.
A crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc complements the richness of the sauce beautifully. Or just pour another Raspberry French 75!
Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe Card
Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp
Ingredients:
For the Shrimp:
- 3/4 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 4 oz cream cheese softened and cubed
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes oil-packed, drained and chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Optional:
- 8 oz pasta linguine, angel hair, or your favorite, cooked according to package directions
Instructions:
- Season the shrimp: Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Sear the shrimp: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the minced garlic. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant — don’t let it brown.
- Deglaze: Pour in the white wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
- Build the sauce: Add the chicken broth and cream cheese. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the good stuff: Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Wilt the spinach: Add the spinach and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute.
- Finish: Stir in the parmesan cheese. Return the shrimp to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve: Spoon over cooked pasta if desired, or serve with crusty bread. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Did you make this recipe?
We’d love to see! Tag us @styleatacertainage
Oscar & Ollie: Forever Part of Fridays 🐾
Valentine’s Day feels like the right time to say it again — this column exists because of love. Love for good food, love for getting dressed up (even when we’re staying in), and love for a sweet German Shepherd who made every Friday better just by being here. This week’s photo of Oscar makes my heart so full — that big, happy smile of his, wearing his little red bandana like he knew exactly how loved he was. Because he did.
Ollie has been holding court in the living room this week, sitting with that quiet dignity she’s famous for and gazing at us like she has something very important to say. (She probably does — it’s likely about catnip.) She’s our Valentine this year, and she knows it.
A Little Valentine’s Polish: What We’re Wearing 💝
Beth’s Valentine’s Look
There’s something about pink and navy together that feels so fresh — it’s romantic without being obvious, which is exactly the energy I wanted for this Valentine’s week. This Striped Button-Up in the prettiest shades of cool pink, peeking out from under a classic Navy Cardigan, adds a bit of preppy charm to the look.
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I’ve paired it with Cream Wide-Leg Pants that keep everything light and modern, and my Cognac Ballet Flats tie it all together with a warm, polished finish. It’s the kind of outfit that moves easily from mixing cocktails on the porch to sitting down for a candlelit dinner — no fuss, just effortless.
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Kelly’s Valentine’s Look
Red for Valentine’s week? You know I had to. But I wanted to keep it casual and fun, not costume-y — so I went with this Red Waffle Knit Cardigan layered over a White Pointelle Top for a sweet, textured contrast. The Barrel Leg Jeans are my favorite denim silhouette, and I added my Leopard Print Belt because a little pattern never hurt anyone.
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Black Ballet Flats ground the whole outfit. It’s a Valentine’s outfit that says “I made an effort” without trying too hard — my favorite kind.
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Cheers To A Little Valentine’s Elegance ❤️
That’s a wrap on this week’s Fridays with Oscar! Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a sweetheart, your best friends, or a quiet night just for you, I hope these recipes bring a little elegance and a lot of deliciousness to your table. There’s something about pink bubbly cocktails and creamy garlic butter shrimp that makes any evening feel like a celebration.
So light the candles, pour the bubbles, and toast to love in all its forms.
🐾 With love from Beth, Kelly, and Ollie — and always, Oscar.
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