This year, ditch the restaurant drama and embrace the unique challenges and opportunities of crafting your own Valentine’s Day food fortune. Whether you’re cooking with or for your partner — or simply making a nice meal for yourself to enjoy, in this guide you’ll find inspiration to create a magical meal!
Breakfast
When you imagine waking up on Valentine’s Day, perhaps imagery of breakfast-in-bed comes to mind — or maybe the thought of breakfast is the only reason to get out of bed. In any case, fun pancakes with fresh raspberries are a great way to start the day. You can make the batter from scratch, or use a heart-healthy mix. Just add your batter to a squeeze bottle, which can be found at most big-box stores, and draw hearts or other fun shapes onto your pan or griddle. Adding chocolate chips or Connecticut maple syrup may sweeten the deal.
Or, perhaps a lumberjack-style breakfast is more your style. Toast and eggs (the way your partner likes) with strawberry yogurt is a tasty idea. Cookbook author Maegan Brown, known online as “The BakerMama” shows how to make heart-shaped bacon, too.
Plus, your partner’s favorite breakfast cereal is always a good choice!
Lunch
The quintessential nostalgic lunch food is the grilled cheese. Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls Co. shares their “His and Hers” collection of grilled cheese recipes, which includes gourmet twists on the classic grilled cheese sandwich with brisket, chicken, bacon, berries and different cheeses and techniques. Even a classic grilled cheese and tomato soup, like the New York Times shares, hits the spot.
House of Nashville’s recipe for baked brie in a puff pastry shell is designed for sharing, topped with apricot preserves makes for a sweet dish for two.
Treats
No Valentine’s Day list would be complete without chocolate-dipped strawberries. Have some fun and decorate with sprinkles or candies and use a pretzel stick to create a strawberry lollipop.
A twist on the classic marshmallow treat comes from Stop and Shop’s Savory Magazine with heart-shaped s’mores treats, using Cheerios (which even come heart-shaped too). These are a great sweet snack and even better when made from scratch.
Dinner
A fun activity you can do with your partner is construct heart-shaped pizza. Each person takes a side and decorates with their favorite toppings or designs a picture; but there’s always the option to work together on your pizza creation as well.
Maybe you’d like to prepare dinner ahead of time. One great dish is a baked chicken parmesan. Chef Alton Brown shares his recipe for the American-born dish with a homemade tomato sauce, which he promises will impress anyone tasting it. Brown’s recipe can be found on his website alongside many other potential dinners.
Savory Magazine also offers a gallery of easy to construct savory dinners, including chicken cordon bleu casserole, strip steaks with wild rice and green beans, gingery salmon, shrimp linguini alla vodka and a variety of vegetable sides.
Complements
Roasted vegetables, like asparagus, brussels sprouts or colorful root vegetables can add vibrancy, flavor and essential nutrients to your dish. Paired with mashed potatoes infused with herbs, you can pump up your meal.
Perhaps a refreshing salad adorned with seasonal greens, crisp vegetables, sweet berries and a light vinaigrette will complete the plate. Maybe you can act like you’re at a fancy restaurant and toss the salad for your partner.
Sweet endings
Dessert could be considered the sweetest part of your Valentine’s Day meal plan. Indulge in the melt-in-your-mouth decadence of a classic chocolate lava cake with its warm, gooey center.
Fresh fruit and ice cream is always encouraged — create a couple’s trifle by layering the fruit, whipped cream and cake or cookies in individual glasses for a light and visually stunning dessert.
If you’d like a challenge, Food Network’s DISH shows you how to master macarons — with these delicate and elegant French cookies, you can also decorate using icing.
Remember, love is the secret ingredient
For those looking to start cooking but do not know where to start, chef Alton Brown’s TV series “Good Eats” chronicles at-home techniques and the “why” behind food, available on Food Network and on demand with a Discovery Plus subscription. If you prefer reading, Bon Appetit, Epicurious and Savory magazines all offer useful recipes, tips and tricks and perspectives from chefs from around the world. On the web, you can find numerous resources, such as the “Binging with Babish” video series and other useful sites like Engadget’s lists for all skill levels.
When it comes to cooking on Valentine’s Day, focus on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with personal flairs. Plate your dishes thoughtfully — perhaps a garnish with fresh herbs will add to the touch. If you’re dining together, enjoy music that sets the mood, maybe light some candles or enjoy the smell of your favorite flowers. These small details will elevate your home-cooked meal to an unforgettable Valentine’s Day experience.
Of course, find what works best for you. These ideas are meant to inspire and implore you to embrace the joy of cooking and let your love story unfold on the plate!
