At the risk of sounding like a hopeless romantic, Valentine’s Day or Single’s Awareness Day is one of the best days of the year. If you are in a relationship, you are bound to get showered with love (a.k.a. gifts and chocolate) by your partner — whether or not your significant other believes Valentine’s Day was made up by Hallmark to make bank is irrelevant. If you are single, it’s the one day a year you can lounge in self-pity and no one can judge you. Honestly, there are probably many more singles in Isla Vista than table-for-twos types, so find your other single friends (those that feel they have utterly failed at life as well as those who boast about their glorious independence) and have a shameless drunken night-in together.
A lonely hearts club sounds awful and cliche, but it is surprisingly fun as long as you do it right and have the right ingredients. My Valentine’s day will proudly be filled with friends, a mix of bad rom-coms and epic Quentin Tarantino films plus popcorn, cookies and lots of wine to drown my so-called sorrows.
What’s a movie night without popcorn? It is almost an impossibility for those of us who love popcorn to get bored of that buttery taste. That being said, if you want to try something new there are hundreds of popcorn enhancer recipes. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Easiest: Add Milk Duds
Maybe this sounds disgusting to you, but I promise it’s the opposite. The perfect balance between salty and sweet is awaiting you. The chocolate melts off the caramel candy creating a delicious surprise of sweetness to your popcorn handful. The chewiness of the caramel also adds an interesting new texture.
Photo by Erin Gurewitz.
Easier: Parmesan Herbed Popcorn
Maybe you are in the mood for something savory. My roommates said they weren’t interested in eating popcorn but ended up finishing the bowl with this recipe. The mixture of the seasonings creates a complex taste that is sure to give you and your friends a “no man left behind” mentality.
Ingredients:
1 Tsp Oregano
1 Tsp Basil
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/4 Tsp Salt
2 1/2 Tbs Parmesan
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then add to popcorn bag and shake.
As I said, Valentine’s Day should be looked at as an opportunity to eat and drink whatever you want without judgement — and popcorn just might not be enough. Red Velvet cookies were basically made to eat on the day that celebrates romance. This Red Velvet cookie recipe is perfect for those of you who want to try something new and don’t have much experience baking because it uses a cake mix, which makes single life even easier.
Adding the pudding gives a new flavor to the common red velvet cookie taste. The pudding mix also makes the cookie extra light and fluffy. The texture is enjoyable because there is a slight crunch upon the first bite and then a smooth moist middle to savor. This cookie is not extraordinarily sweet, so it pairs well with red wine.
Easy: Red Velvet Cake Cookies
Photo by Erin Gurewitz.
Ingredients:
1 pkg. Red Velvet Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Tbs Chocolate Pudding Mix
1 Tsp Vanilla
Preheat oven to 375° F.
Combine eggs and oil in large bowl. Add pudding and cake mix. Mix contents together until it all sticks together. Make dough into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheet. Slightly flatten with plate.
Bake for 6-8 minutes. Let cool for 1 minute.
Sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar and shaved chocolate for an elegant look.
