A Galentine’s Day Guide

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

  1. 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.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, poppy seeds, and salt.
  3. 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.)
  4. 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

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and salt until well blended. Whisk in 3/4 cup goat cheese, then set aside.
  3. 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.)
  4. 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!

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