It’s February 14th, and the most relationship stimulation you are getting is watching ‘Love Island’ every night with your roommates. Walking through your town, you see heart-shaped signs lining sidewalks and ‘sweetheart latte’ specials that you feel too disgusted to try, and it’s not because strawberry-flavored coffee is weird. But maybe Valentine’s Day does not have to be so sour. It can be sweet, savory or even salty (to match your single saltiness). Check out these recipes for your Galentine’s Day celebration inspiration.
Heart-Shaped Pizzas
These pizzas will provide a little pizza love that might be missing from your life. These mini pizzas are best when they are heart-shaped and personalized to fulfill all your culinary needs. Without being too cheesy, all you need is love… and maybe a few other ingredients.
Ingredients
· Pizza dough
· Marinara sauce
· Veggies (peppers, onions, spinach, mushrooms, etc.)
· Cheese of choice (mozzarella, cheddar, goat cheese, ricotta, etc.)
· Meats of choice (pepperoni, bacon, sausage, etc.)
Steps:
1. Assemble dough in the shape of a heart. Roll the sides of the dough into a crust
2. Add sauce to dough
3. Add toppings
4. Bake according to dough instructions
There is so mushroom for personalization and variety in these personal pizzas. With this savory addition to a day dedicated to love, you will surely feel olive the Valentine’s Day vibes.
Fruits
To complement this savory treat, make sure to have some fruits and chocolate-covered strawberries. You will be very grapeful to complement your photoshoots with some hanging grapes, cherries and strawberries that will make your photos delectable. Whether you prefer a platter or no display, they will make a berry good addition to your spread.
Cinnamon Buns
Bring your best buns to your Valentine’s day party. Besides their aesthetic value, cinnamon buns are a classic and will add sugar, spice and everything nice to the table. Drizzle them with pink frosting and colorful sprinkles to add a pop of color to your environment.
Ingredients for 12 servings
Dough
· 2 cups warm whole milk
· 1/2 cup sugar
· 8 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
· 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
· 5 cups all purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· 2 teaspoons salt
Filling
· 3/4 cup brown sugar
· 12 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
· 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Steps
1. Whisk together the warm milk, sugar, and melted butter. The mixture should be between 105˚F
2. Add yeast to milk mixture, stir and allow to sit for about 15 minutes until the yeast has ‘bubbled’
3. Add 4 cups of flour to the milk mixture and stir until combined
4. Cover the bowl and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until nearly doubled in size
5. Butter baking pans and set aside
6. Make the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Mix
7. Remove cover from the dough and add/stir the remaining cup of flour, baking powder, and salt
8. Turn out dough onto a clean surface
9. Knead the dough for at least 10 minutes until the dough is not sticky and springs back when poked
10. Roll the dough out into a 1cm thick rectangle
11. Spread the filling evenly over the dough
12. Roll the dough into a log
13. Cut the log into even pieces, about 1½ inches thick. Place rolls onto sheet and cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 35-45 minutes
14. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes at 350˚F, until golden brown
15. When the cinnamon rolls are finished, let cool for about 10 minutes
16. Drizzle the frosting over the cinnamon rolls and enjoy!
Other Classics
There are some other classics to try out, according to the Trader Joe’s flyer. Add some pre-packaged treats to complement your homemade goods:
· Chocolate Cheesecake Bites: Picture party-sized squares of velvety richness with chocolate crumble for a crisp crunch. One bite and you might actually fall in love this Valentine’s.
· Raspberry Croissant Carré: Buttery layers of thin golden pastry sprinkled with coarse sugar and a sweet raspberry filling.
· Trader Joe’s Chocolatey Dipping Kit: This kit is exactly how it sounds but better. It contains milk chocolate discs, dark chocolate discs and two styles of Valentine’s Day sprinkles.
So, whether you are single or taken, these treats will make your day exponentially better, and provide you with so much love.