Simple Valentine's Day Recipe Ideas

Hey guys! If you're like me, you don't get overly excited about Valentine's Day. Honestly, to me, it's another day to eat great food & watch horror films. Yes, I watch horror films on Valentine's Day. It shows how much I love V-Day, hmm? Haha. But if you don't have a Valentine or do, I have a couple of great recipe ideas for you or you and whomever to grub on this Friday while you hang out and watch movies or hang out on Tumblr all day.

- Mini pot pies. Chicken, beef, turkey, vegetables; whatever you prefer. But to me, there's nothing like a delicious and warm pot pie to make you feel that warm cup of comfort that we long for sometimes. Now, I've researched Pinterest, and there are tons and tons of mini pot pie recipes. But it all just comes down to what you like. Typically, I'd use a good biscuit dough in a muffin pan to make my mini pot pies. You can layer the bottom of the muffin pan with a small layer of the biscuit dough and layer another one on top of the filling. (Makes for a perfect golden crust.) It's incredible how simple it is. But it all comes down to what you put inside. Fill the mini pot pies with a combined mixture of whatever meat you decide on, or none at all, then a veggie mixture, some base as in cream of chicken or mushroom, or some broth. My mixture would have to be as followed: beef tips, corn, potatoes, carrots, mushroom & onions, mixed into a half beef broth/half cream of the mushroom base. Salt and pepper to taste. Place them in the oven on 375-degree heat for 20-30 minutes, or until they're golden brown on top, & hollaaaa! Comfort in an instant. It sounds like a lot to do, but I promise you, it's not! It's super easy, & since they're mini pot pies, it makes it cuter & much more entertaining to make.

- Parfaits. So easy, so customizable, & so good. Alright, grab a Mason jar, a tall glass, or something clear & cute to layer your delicious dessert. Now, for Valentine's Day, I'm going to recommend a chocolate strawberry parfait. It's super cute, and it's super easy and tasty. Start with a layer of fresh strawberries (or whatever fruit you want, remember, this is entirely customizable,) then a layer of pre-baked brownies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, vanilla wafers, whatever you prefer. Next, layer with chocolate pudding, or vanilla, strawberry, butterscotch, caramel, whatever you fancy. Keep layering until you run out of room, then garnish with some cocoa powder, mint, or whatever you have on hand. So easy & simple! It is just another thing that doesn't cause too much stress & is 100% customizable to your tastes and cravings.

- Snack mix. Cuddle up on your couch or your bed, wear your comfiest clothes and watch some good movies on Netflix. You need no man! (If you have a man, ignore that comment. Unless he treats you wrong, then dump him. You don't need any man!) But while you're watching HappyThankYouMorePlease, Love, Blue Valentine, or in my case Halloween & My Bloody Valentine, make yourself a snack mix. Another thing that's 100% customizable Pop some popcorn throw your favorite Chex mix, candy, & other popcorn toppings in there, and you automatically have the best night ever. Who needs a boyfriend when you have the greatest & easiest snacks in the world? Make your food your boyfriend for the night. Experiment with new flavors and combinations in each of these ideas. You never know what you may come up with!

- Drinks. Now, I don't know about you, but on Valentine's Day, I'd treat myself to my bottle of wine or my favorite whiskey drink. Maybe that's just me. But if you're underage or don't do the alcohol thing, try some strawberry-infused water! It's so refreshing and healthy for you. Or some strawberry or raspberry mint water. Yummmm. And while you're watching your movies and it starts getting colder, treat yourself to some hot chocolate (with extra marshmallows and whipped cream because remember, you don't need no man.) Or make yourself some coffee. Warm drinks are the way to my heart in the winter. Now, about those movies...

Movie recommendation list:
- Blue Valentine. Starring Michelle Williams & Ryan Gosling. Probably one of my favorite movies of all time. It's so hauntingly beautiful, authentic, & honest. I recommend this before anything else. Plus, it's streaming on Netflix.
- The First Time. Starring Dylan O'Brien & Britt Robertson. It's such a cute movie about first loves and... first adventures within a relationship? Sure. I'll word it that way. I own it, and it's also probably one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm such a sap. And I have a lot of Dylan O'Brien feels, too. So...
- HappyThankYouMorePlease. Written, directed, & starring our favorite dad from How I Met Your Mother, Josh Radnor. I don't think many people have heard about this movie, but I do know it's a great film. I watched it on Netflix a couple of years ago, and I fell in love with it. I mean, the headline for the movie is "Go Get Yourself Loved" like... how perfect. I don't know where you can find this... Probably online if you're up to looking for it. I do recommend it, though.
- Love Actually. Starring a whoooooole lot of popular actors. I'm obsessed with this movie, and although it's a Christmas movie, it's also a movie that holds numerous love stories. So perfect. I think it's on Netflix as well.
- Titanic. With Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet. I think that this speaks for itself. Rose + Jack forever.
- ANY NICHOLAS SPARKS MOVIE. Duh. *coughs* A Walk To Remember, The Notebook, & Safe Haven.

- Regardless of what you decide to do on Valentine's Day, remember that your relationship status doesn't determine how much you're loved. Remind yourself that you're worthy of nothing but breathtaking, heart-fluttering, nauseating, scream-I-love-you-at-the-top-of-your-lungs love. Love yourself. Love others. Treat yourself & respect yourself. You deserve it. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, & remember that all of us here at Dream On Youth love you!

To the moon,
Taylor Young