Southern Style Cooking: What to Make for Valentine’s Day

Saturday, February 12, 2022

What to Make for Valentine’s Day

Some Thoughts on Valentine's Day and Loving Through Food

I like the name for Valentine's Day that I grew up with the best: Día del Amor y la Amistad. I like the way friendship is front and center—right next to romance, just as important.

The most beautiful, transformative relationships in my life have always been friendships. They've been a source of inspiration, growth, and understanding in a way that I cherish beyond measure. I read an essay in The Atlantic that made me reflect on that fact a lot this week.

Jennifer Senior writes, "Practically everyone who studies friendship says this in some form or another: What makes friendship so fragile is also exactly what makes it so special. You have to continually opt in. That you choose it is what gives it its value."

Like any relationship, friendships need to be tended to, nurtured, and celebrated. And the best way that I know how to shower my friends with love is by cooking for them.

This Valentine's Day, I'd like to challenge you to call or text your friends and tell them you love them. Invite them over for brunch tomorrow and make them the dreamiest stuffed french toast and tres leches cake iced latte. Or maybe this gorgeous roasted vegetable quiche. Or this orange breakfast bread. If morning doesn't work, have them over for an evening of indulgence (dessert and drinks). Make them this super easy chocolate mousse if you're short on time or this olive oil cake if you're feeling more ambitious. Make them festive cocktails like our Dark 'n Fluffy or salted caramel martini.

And then do it again as often as you can.