All You Need is Love...and Pancakes...and Cool Jackets

Valentine’s Day is just another day on the calendar for me. Maybe it's because the Hallmark holiday happens to fall just 3 days after a much more important day - my birthday! Or maybe it's because I'm not really into the cheesiness of it all. Either way, February 14th has never really done it for me. The chalky sweet heart candies, the cheap (and sometimes, inedible) chocolate, and the always overdone bouquet of red roses - yeah, count me out.

I’m no scrooge though. I have a lot of love to give and my two cats get most of it (kidding- Chris gets his fair share). I also adore just about every flower out there besides carnations and roses. And chocolate? I’m a total fiend for it - but only when it’s dark and doesn’t come off a drugstore shelf.

In all seriousness though, I get the appeal. As I kid, my mom would spoil me on Valentine’s Day with a special breakfast, flowers, and only the finest box of chocolate truffles. Oh, and the valentine exchange parties at school were always a welcomed distraction from multiplication lessons. It’s just that as an adult - without any kiddos...and with a husband who’d rather put his efforts toward my birthday, I don’t have any reason to celebrate the red and pink and all too fuzzy romantic day.

But I will always use the holiday as an excuse to eat extra sweets and get extra sweetness from my guy...hence the nauseating kissy photo you'll see below. 

While I’m certainly not a lover of all pancakes, I do love the way my mama always made ‘em. Extra light, fluffy, and buttery. I also love them when they’re filled with chocolate and topped with strawberries because, why the heck not make them as decadent as possible? Side note: my sweet tooth is a force to be reckoned with and it’s only gotten worse with age. Another side note: these pancakes are no representation of my usual plating abilities but they are freaking delicious. So don't judge. It's Valentine's Day, after all. 

I also love wearing red and this red suede jacket was just the statement piece my wardrobe needed. Admittedly, it was a rare and unregretful splurge (Shh, don’t tell Chris). Paired with some casual white-on-white action, this beauty gets to pop while being dressed down. 

Whether you've historically celebrated Valentine’s Day or not, make some extra special pancakes this year. You can make them prettier than mine too - wouldn't be too difficult to do. Treat yourself to a fun new jacket or a day at the spa too. Go on with your bad self. 

The Food:

Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 large egg

1 cup milk (I used Almond milk)

2 tbsp vegetable oil

¼ tsp vanilla extract

¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the sauce:

2 cups frozen strawberries

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Directions:

Add frozen strawberries, water, and sugar to a small to medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring consistently. When strawberries are completely cooked down and sauce is thickened, set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. In another bowl,  beat the egg, milk, oil, vanilla, and chocolate chips. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Using a soup ladle or 1/4 cup measuring cup, pour the batter onto a lightly greased hot griddle. Gently flip the pancakes when bubbles form on top. Cook until the second side is brown.

Plate pancakes, top with strawberry sauce, extra chocolate chips, and fresh strawberries. 

The Fit: 

Red suede jacket, Blank NYC. White sleveless turtle neck, Urban Outfitters. Similar here. White destroyed denim, Abercrombie & Fitch. Sunglasses, Urban Outfitters.