Now I know that this is a sappy "holiday" and it seems unfair for those who don't have special loved-one, but I think it's a perfect day to spoil yourself or have fun with your friends (I personally love a good Galentine's Day).
Now did you really think I was about to put on a Spotify playlist with the world's most popular Valentine's Day songs? You bet your ass I'm going to!
Click on the 'Valentine's Day Love' photo to follow along on the jams.
Now that you've got that booty moving, here's what I'll be talking about today. A cute and easy breakfast that you can do even if you're a busy person. Next, find out what's in my basket full of goodies. And finally, get ready for the romantic dinner menu with a seafood theme including a recipe for a gluten free dessert.
Ready?! Let's get cookin'!
“They invented hugs to let people know
you love them without saying anything.”
– Bill Keane
HOMEMADE PANCAKES (GFO)(LFO)
I’ve posted a recipe that I use on weekends I’m feeling productive. I’m sure most of you have mixes, but if you have any gluten intolerant people in your life, and are trying to find a recipe, check it out here:
Photo by Oh Lady Cakes
GIFTS FROM THE HEART
I hate spending lots of money on Valentine's Day gifts when they're not food, so I try to make gifts that really come from the heart. Since the day is on a weekday, I wanted to make the night as easy as possible for partner, Alan. I plan to transform our balcony space into the ultimate outdoor dining terrace with a home-cooked meal and a basket chocked full of little things I want to give to my guy. Here's what's in it:
love letter: I can't help it...I'm the biggest sap. Every single holiday I write a hand-written letter with a hand-made card. You can see this year's punny gem here.
bottle of bubbly: We love starting an evening with a bottle of Champagne or Prosecco. It's refreshing and light and is just a festive drink to celebrate love. Obviously any alcohol works for this.
coupon book: I love giving gifts that require time and activities with my friends and family, so giving a whole booklet of things to do is my idea of fun. Here's a link to the blog post from earlier.
candles: The ultimate mood-setters. If you have mosquitos, it's a good opportunity to light some citronella candles to keep them at bay, but still keep the romantic vibes.
board game: This is my special touch since we're competitive people and love trying to beat each other in anything we can find. This year I've chosen Bananagrams! It's fun, fast-paced, and easy to play with any number of people.
chocolate mousse: I'll be making a batch of little Two Ingredient Chocolate Mousse by Oh Lady Cakes so we can indulge on those after dinner. I know it's supposed to be in the fridge, but for the purposes of making my basket, I'll be throwing it in right before he comes home. ALSO, if you haven't fallen in love with Oh Lady Cakes already (obviously I'm in love), check out her website and Instagram. She's one of the most hard-working souls doing that hustle and she's a role model to me.
THE MAIN DISH
One of the best memories I've got with Alan is trying to shuck oysters for the first time on the deck of our room at Timber Cove in Jenner, California. We watched a video on YouTube of course, and were passing the shucking knife between us trying to figure out if this was how it was done.
I'll be getting a dozen Sydney Rock Oysters with a wedges of lemons as the entrée.
Along with the oysters, I'll be getting two whole snappers to roast along side some potatoes, garlic, and tomatoes.
I don't have a specific recipe for this since we roast things all the time, but I'll try to write everything down and post it if it all goes well on the 14th. Wish me luck!
