BY LAUREN SEPHTON
Red roses, chocolate cake, and a cozy movie night. Who said those special delights are solely for Valentine’s Day? Intertwining simplicity and creativity, this guide will help give you a day full of memories to last a lifetime, because Galentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to be a little extra in celebrating you and your friends.
Let’s first take a little walk down history lane to see the origin of Galentine’s Day. While it’s not an official holiday, February 13th is definitely a day worth marking on your calendars. The idea of Galentine’s Day originally came from a fictional character, Leslie Knope, in the well-known tv show, Parks and Recreation. Released in 2010 in their second season, Leslie gathered together her closest lady friends for a scrumptious brunch of waffles. In the episode, Leslie describes Galentine’s Day as “ladies celebrating ladies.”
Simple Activities
- Stay loyal to Leslie Knope by hosting a “Waffle Brunch”
- Charcuterie Happy Hour
- Chick Flick Movie Marathon
- Game Night
- Wine Tasting
- Self-Care Night (with takeout and face masks)
- Karaoke Night
- Outdoor Picnic
- Galentine’s Day Bake-off
- Take an Online Dance Class
- Take an Online Mixology Class
- Gift Exchange
- Relax with Yoga
- Homemade Taco or Pizza Night
Decorations
- Tassel Garland
- Lips / Heart Balloons
- Striped / Pink Straws
- Heart-shaped Garland
- String Lights
Easy Recipes
Lemon Poppy Seed Waffles
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
- 2 tbsp. Granulated Cane Sugar
- 1 tsp. Poppy Seeds
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 3/4 cup Milk of choice
- 1 tbsp. Vinegar
- 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
- Zest of 1 lemon, about 1 teaspoon
- 1 large Egg
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil or Butter (melted)
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Whisk together the milk, vinegar, and lemon juice in a small bowl to stand for 10 minutes, until curdled. Then, whisk in the egg, olive oil, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, poppy seeds, and salt.
- Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, then whisk until combined. (The batter should be mostly free of lumps but be careful to not overmix.)
- Grease and heat a skillet over medium heat. Using 1/4 cup batter per pancake, cook until bubbles appear on the surface (about 2-3 minutes), then flip for an additional 2 minutes. Continue until all batter is used. Enjoy warm with maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a lemon glaze.
Cremini Mushroom, Arugula, and Goat Cheese Frittata
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 12 large Eggs
- 1 cup (4 oz) Goat Cheese, crumbled
- 3 tbsp. Whole Milk or Plain Yogurt
- 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 3 cups Arugula
- 1 cup Cremini Mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and salt until well blended. Whisk in 3/4 cup goat cheese, then set aside.
- In a large oven-safe skillet (up to 12″), heat up the olive oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Add in the sliced mushrooms and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the arugula for 1 minute or less, until slightly wilted. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes, stirring with a spatula. (Alternatively, add the vegetables into the egg mixture, then pour into a casserole dish to bake.)
- Add the reserved cheese on top, then transfer to the oven to bake for 20-25 minutes. It’s done when the eggs appear fully cooked, yet the center is slightly jiggly.
Cheese & Meat Pairings for a Charcuterie
- Salami and Gouda
- For an added bonus, pair with dried apricots, toasted or caramelized pecans, and olives.
- Soppressata and Havarti
- This pairing of a creamy soft cheese and dry salami can be beautifully complemented with roasted cashews and pears.
- Prosciutto and Parmesan
- Enhance their flavors with a little crunch from sesame sticks and sweetness from figs or cantaloupe.
Grab a drink, a box of chocolates, and your ladies for a day showered with love!
