Luckily for all you love birds, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year. Which means you could either plan a romantic candlelit dinner for two the evening prior or change up your annual plans and opt in for a brunch date. Not only will this show your significant other that you can think outside the box, it also shows you like to spice things up. Skip your typical Sunday brunch destination and plan a date they won't even have to change out of their jammies for – brunch at home. Nothing says “I love you” more than a homecooked platter accompanied by cocktails.
Stuck on what to make? Stun your sweetie with our at-home brunch guide.
Luckily for all you love birds, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year. Which means you could either plan a romantic candlelit dinner for two the evening prior or change up your annual plans and opt in for a brunch date. Not only will this show your significant other that you can think outside the box, it also shows you like to spice things up. Skip your typical Sunday brunch destination and plan a date they won't even have to change out of their jammies for – brunch at home. Nothing says “I love you” more than a homecooked platter accompanied by cocktails.
Stuck on what to make? Stun your sweetie with our at-home brunch guide.
Brunch in bed always seems like a great idea, but in reality, it is a bit messy and unbalanced. Instead, set up a small table for two with white linens, candles and flower petals. The saying “less is more” holds true here. The food you are about to prepare should be the statement on the table. Give your date something to sip while he or she sits - giving yourself some time to prepare the brunch.
Most of your time should be spent cooking the food, so it is best to find an easy-to-make cocktail that still makes an impression. Break out of the mimosa-rut and entice your beloved with a refreshing spritzer. They are light enough to drink before noon, but elegant enough to impress your gal or guy.
3 ounces pear juice
2 ounces gin
3 ounces Cupcake Chardonnay
Club soda, lemon flavored
Rosemary sprig
Sliced pear
In a mixing glass, add pear juice, gin and wine. Stir to combine and strain into a drinking glass. Top with club soda and garnish with a rosemary sprig and sliced pear.
1 ½ ounces Don Julio Blanco Tequila
¾ ounces grapefruit juice
¼ ounce agave nectar
3 ounces Prosecco
Grapefruit slice
Combine tequila, grapefruit juice and agave nectar in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a champagne glass. Top with Prosecco and garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Now it’s time to court your sweetheart with confections. A Valentine’s Day celebration is the perfect excuse to indulge in a real treat. We are talkin’ Baileys Irish Cream, whipped cream and chocolate, people. Baileys French Toast is the “be all end all” of breakfast foods – trust us.
3 ounces Baileys Original Irish Cream
6 ½ ounces whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 slices of thick bakery-style bread
1 tablespoon butter
Chocolate sauce
Raspberries
Whisk together ½ ounce Baileys Original Irish Cream, 4 ounces whipping cream and powdered sugar. Chill and set aside for topping the finished product.
In a deep plate, combine 2 ½ ounces of Baileys Original Irish Cream, 2 ½ ounces of whipping cream, vanilla extract and 2 eggs. Dip the bread into the mixture while heating butter in a pan for frying on medium heat. Fry the piece of dipped bread until golden brown. Serve on a plate and top with the Baileys whipped cream made earlier, chocolate sauce and raspberries.
12 slices of smoked bacon
2 ounces of Cooper’s Mark Maple Bacon
Coarsely ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut your bacon slices into 5-inch pieces and fold each slice in half lengthwise. Shape two folded pieces of bacon into a heart on the parchment paper. Brush maple bourbon on each piece of bacon. If you want extra sweet bacon, you can add extra maple syrup to the bourbon before you brush it on. Bake the bacon for 10 minutes, or until crispy. Lightly sprinkle pepper on the bacon and serve.
