How do you spend your Valentine’s Day? Well, I guess that depends on a lot: your relationship status, your opinion on if Hallmark invented the holiday (they might not have invented it, but they sure helped it become the hullabaloo it is today), or your desire to celebrate another holiday in quarantine. This is truly the last holiday left before we’ve made it a whole year in quarantine. By St. Patrick’s Day 2020, parades were canceled and restaurants were shuttered.
Long before COVID-19, our tradition as been to go out to dinner the weekend around Valentine’s Day, but not on the actual holiday itself. This “tradition” — a rather clever one when you think about it — my husband came up with back in college when we were dating and had absolutely no money to spend on a Valentine’s Day priced dinner. Who knew he’d get away with making it a tradition for the rest of time!? We spend our Valentine’s Day in, and my husband makes his famous grilled cheese sandwiches (a recipe I’ll share another time!)
This year, staying in might not feel like anything super special, so try one of these quarantine friendly date night ideas to start a new Valentine’s Day tradition.
Quarantine Friendly ways to make Valentine’s Day special
1. Movie Night
Ok, yes, you’ve probably had at least 300 movie nights in the past year, but here’s a great way to avoid arguing over who gets to pick tonight’s flick. My in-laws first shared this idea with us, and now we keep a “basket of movies” constantly queued. Make a list of your favorite movies, or just movies you’ve been wanting to watch and have your partner do the same. Choose 5 each and write them on slips of paper. Fold them up and label them with your initials. When you’re ready for movie night, draw from the basket to choose. Whoever’s is selected, that is the movie for the night — no arguing! The baskets can be themed “Comedy” or “Romance” or “Oscar Winners” if you want, or just go for a random collection! Follow along on Instagram to see my Valentine’s movie recommendations!
2. Sunday Drive
Again, not a ground breaking concept here, but after a year of only filling my gas tank up to get groceries, a Sunday drive sounds like a vacation! Don’t plan for where you’re headed, but rather grab a coin and flip for your destination! At each chance for a turn, heads = right, tails = left. So you don’t end up in driving circles or into a ditch, you might have to take some liberties, but you get the idea — let spontaneity be your guide! And don’t forget the tunes!
3. Breakfast in Bed
Being home all the time has pretty much taken away the charm of being home. Try to spend sometime doing the things in your home that are relaxing, and avoid that pile of laundry in the corner or those dishes in the sink. Treat yourself, surprise your significant other or the kiddos with heart shaped chocolate pancakes for breakfast! I am pretty obsessed with Kodiak Cakes and their flavors, mixes, and quality! Their Dark Chocolate waffle mix makes this super easy! To make these heart shaped, I used Williams Sonoma’s Valentine’s Heart cookie cutters.
Kodiak Chocolate Pancakes
- February 12, 2021
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Kodiak Dark Chocolate Pancake mix
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp whipped butter
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Directions
- Step 1
- Combine the pancake mix, milk, water, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Let stand while preheating a griddle to 350°F.
- Step 2
- Spray the cookie cutters with non-stick spray. Melt the butter on the griddle. Place the cookie cutters on the griddle and pour in the batter until the cookie cutter is about half full.
- Step 3
- Once the pancake begins to bubble, use a knife to run around the edge of the cookie cutter to pop-out the pancake. Flip the pancakes and cook until light brown.
- Step 4
- Remove and plate to serve. Use a sifter to sprinkle powdered sugar on the top of the pancakes. Add butter or syrup as you like! Enjoy!
