For many reasons, this Valentine’s Day was very, very different from any I’ve had in a while. Fortunately, it’s all good—this was actually my favorite V-Day in recent memory. After a satisfyingly productive day, I made dinner to share with some of my lovely lady friends.

The day started off with an energizing breakfast: kodiak cakes (with cocoa powder mixed in because I’m going through a phase) topped with peanut butter and banana. I’m always surprised at how long this actually keeps me full. Since I basically didn’t stop moving all day, this was especially helpful.

Pardon the blurry photo—it was early!

Lunch was a salad I rushed to make but took forever to eat: baby spinach with roasted veggies, olives, canned tuna, goat cheese, and balsamic; popcorn for “dessert” while I attempted to catch up on work emails

After rushing across town to get my hair cut and then to have fingerprints done at the hospital I’ll be interning at, I made a quick snack before I settled in to prep dinner. I’m still not over yogurt with cocoa powder, berries, and cereal. 

Dinner with the girls was so much fun—and tasty. While we talked and drank wine, we enjoyed a salad of arugula with dried figs, chopped plum, parmesan and fig vinaigrette. There was also mushroom lentil bourguignon (adapted from this recipe).

Dessert was mini chocolate red wine cakes in chocolate glaze (adapted from this recipe). There were also some Valentine’s Day candies one of my friends brought from work. Not too shabby.

Did you do anything for Valentine’s Day this year? What are some of your favorite dinner party foods? 

As always, thanks to Jenn for hosting the link party. To see more What I Ate Wednesday posts from other bloggers, visit Peas & Crayons!