Breakfast in bed seems almost as appropriate on Valentine’s Day as it does on Mother’s Day. In case you want to start the day out on a romantic note by making a fab breakfast or brunch for your partner, here are some of my favorite options for the occasion:
Baked French Toast
Cherry Chocolate Coconut Granola
Smoked Salmon Egg Scramble
Peanut Butter Smoothie
Kale Ricotta Omelets
Breakfast Panini with Herb Butter
Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
Chocolate Pancakes with Strawberry Yogurt
Peach Raspberry Granola Crumble
I love doing restaurant-style meals at home, and this menu would be my upscale version of classic diner food. Provencal burgers with a side of baked oven fries are a splurge, but so worth it. Finish with a fresh strawberry milkshake for dessert. To make it sickeningly sweet a la typical Valentine’s Day, perhaps one shake with two straws?
If I were trying to emulate a fancy restaurant meal at home, I would make these caramelized scallops. Scallops are one of the things I am most likely to order when dining out, and this is a phenomenal at-home version. Parmesan crusted goat cheese with basil oil makes a perfect starter. Garlic rice pilaf is just the thing to serve with those scallops, along with a green veggie of your choice. Finish on a strong note with raspberry cobbler with dark chocolate biscuits – yum!
If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen and cooking together with your partner, this menu is for you. It is intentionally a bit more involved than the others so that you can enjoy the process of preparing a meal together. Roasted beet chèvre ravioli is fun to make and coincidentally has a perfectly festive naturally colored filling. Pair with a blackberry chèvre salad, and enjoy some crostini with fresh ricotta while you work on the other food prep. Chocolate caramel tartlets for two are a perfect way to end a superb meal.
Mussels steamed in white wine might seem crazy fancy but this is actual one of the most simplistic dishes there is. The delectable sauce is begging to be soaked up with good quality, preferably homemade bread. These whole wheat baguettes are a great option, but sourdough or whole grain ciabatta are equally good alternatives. I would serve this with a roasted berry and brie salad on the side and with a soft chocolate raspberry tart for dessert.
This cheesy pasta with tomato cream sauce is an ideal special occasion in my book. It is simple, extremely delicious and a little bit indulgent. I would pair it with a kale Caesar which we have been all about lately. You just can’t go wrong! Homemade nutella with an assortment of items for dipping (fresh berries, pretzels, marshmallows, graham crackers, etc.) is a wonderful dessert option for that little something sweet without being too much. Though, in reality I must admit that my real dessert choice with this meal would be affogato. For those unfamiliar, it is a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream (usually vanilla.) It is one of my ultimate favorite desserts but I have never posted about it because it seems to simple to even bother posting. However, if you have never tried it, I highly recommend it.
I hope this helped provide some inspiration for you all. Have a lovely weekend and Valentine’s Day!
