Today, join some talented friends and I as we share fun inspiration for your Valentine’s Day. My idea is a simple dinner party you can recreate for your sweetheart, family, or even a Galentine’s get-together with pals.
I did a little dry run of a get-together I am having next Thursday to celebrate two dear friend’s birthdays. It’s just a gathering of four, so I made this super simple and the Galentine’s theme works perfectly for this time of year.
I was excited to use my Liberty of London tablecloth I’ve been saving since I bought it last year. I wish they still had it, but I shared a few other fun ones below…Shopping this week I found these organic cotton napkins at Pottery Barn that coordinate and are thick and lovely and only $5 each.( They also come in many other pretty colors.) I used my scalloped placemats (similar here) with this mix to keep it feminine and then a small pink vase of tulips. I found a cute wool heart garland and wrapped it on my chandelier.
My pink coupe glasses that I love worked so well with this and so did my white Glenna plates.
On the Galentine’s menu is pasta salad done the night before, a green salad and a charcuterie board. Recipe for the pasta salad here on Half Baked Harvest. I did not add feta to this photo as this practice dinner was for Max and he isn’t a fan. Next week I will add crumbled feta, and this recipe is an easy one to adapt to whatever you like..
Since it’s Valentine’s I plan to have a Rosé on hand. I think this light dinner for the girls is about right. My experience is women tend to love appetizers and salads..and small bites. For just Max and I, I served the pasta, green salad and salmon instead of the charcuterie board. You could also do a chicken scallopini and a green salad and bread for a family.
For dessert, I made box Ghiaradelli brownies and cut them into squares and added pink and red M&Ms. You can make any cookie recipe Valentine themed with a heart cookie cutter, or just a sprinkling of pink and red M&Ms added at the last minutes in the oven. I have a tiny heart cookie cutter and did a few like that. Just this small addition of the candies makes it festive!
I later added to the table these little primroses in glass pots found for $7 at my local Ace hardware. They make the table springlike and are a favor for each guest to take home where they can replant them in the ground for spring or enjoy the in their kitchen. It was easy to repot them in the vases with a bit of moss in the bottom and on the edges and they look cute on the table..
I hope you find inspiration from this easy Valentine’s Dinner. It could also be a lunch! The important thing is to gather with your people.
Nothing need be perfect. You can be experimental and use a pretty sheet for a tablecloth or a fabric remnant. Mix your plates and napkins, and even find flowers outside and forage. The best part is having fun and creative and make the food easy so you can enjoy yourself too. That’s what I tried to do here!
A few things used here..and others that are similar..
I think you will love what my friends have for you..
Please pop over to their beautiful blogs…
Thanks for being here..See you Saturday for the weekend post!
Kim
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Your table is stunning! Love that the girls get to take home a little flower plant. I’ve made that pasta salad before and it is good!!!
Thanks Mary Ann. Oh I just found that pasta salad on Pinterest. I love all the Half Baked recipes. xx
What fun to celebrate!I had my first outing in over a month to the grocery store yesterday and got stuck in the Valentine Card display!
I have a dear friend who connected me your blog Linda has a birthday on Feb.14 th!!!!!!!
Thanks for the reminder!
Xxx
I am so glad you got out and are doing well. Oh wow how fun Linda is a Valentine baby.So is my niece! xo
Kim! The dinner looks DELICIOUS, obviously, but what really stood out for me was your table – the pop of pink against all the other neutrals in the room is just stunning. It immediately said Valentine’s Day without hitting me over the head with it – so so well done!
Thanks so much Sheri. I had fun doing the table. Can’t wait to see what you share.. always so good! xx
Kim
I love the primrose idea in the little glasses. I am saving that one! What a great menu for a girls luncheon. Your dining room can be transformed in so many beautiful ways. I love pasta salad but rarely make it because I am afraid I might eat the whole thing!!
Primroses look so pretty in anything don’t they? I hope they survive a while! So true about pasta salad..It’s been my lunch very day this week and too addicting. Loved your red table!!
What a pretty table, Kim. I remember when you shared that tablecloth … it’s stunning and a Valentine luncheon is a perfect debut. Also loving your pink coup glasses … swoon. I adore Ace Hardware … they have some really great and unexpected finds. What a fun garland on your chandy. That pasta salad looks yummy. Max doesn’t like feta? What? Brownies are the perfect dessert … you’re right we gals like small bites and lots of them when they’re chocolate. Your friends are going to have the best time next week around your pretty table! xo
Thanks Juliet! I was excited to use it. Funny about ACE right? I have to say I’ve found a lot of good things there. Yep Max hates any stinky cheese he calls it. He doesn’t have a sophisticated palate when it comes to cheese, so I work around it!
I loved your adorable cookies and the sweet packaging! xx
Kim! That Liberty of London tablecloth is everything! The colors look so pretty with the pots of primrose! So sweet to decorate the table and then give as a little favor! Your dining room is a great backdrop for color!! It’s just gorgeous with the pink and red!!
Xx
Aw thanks so much Annie. xo
Your table is so festive and will be fun to share with your friends. Sending my son in CO some baked good for Valentines and he loves brownies, I will add the M & M’s. Happy Valentines Day!
Thank you Jane! Oh hope your son loves the brownies. Happy Valentines!
Hi Kim,
I just ❤️💕❤️everything you created for “Galentine’s Day” – Valentine’s Day. The tablecloth is gorgeous, the colors are so vibrant,
The tulips add such a perfect touch and the primroses in the glass pots are wonderful. What a lovely favor to take home. I have also baked the Ghiaradelli in the box brownies many times and they are always a hit. The “Galentine’s Day “gal pals” will be thrilled with all the love you will be showering on them,
Kim, I did try to hit on the cute wool heart garland to check it out but my iPhone will not bring it up. Shucks!!! I have some, but I like yours because it’s more natural looking.
Today was a BIG day for my Honey Bear, showered him with 🎉 🥳 🎉 birthday love all
day long.
Thanks for sharing all your love and what you’re up to.
💗🌹💗
HI Katherine! Thank you so much. It was fun. Aren’t the Ghirardelli brownies the best? I get the dark chocolate ones. Try the link to the garland again! I wonder if Etsy was done. It seems to be working now. I know love the wool look too. Aw how nice! Happy Birthday to your bear! hope it was wonderful!
xoxo