Love Bites: The Anti-Valentine's Day Menu

Nothing kicks off a day of saying "I'm worth it" than a sparkling wine-soaked breakfast. Why shouldn't you make Valntine's Day all about spoiling yourself? You'll get some extra sleep and a breakfast fit for a queen with this recipe that you prep the night before. Just wake, bake, and get ready for a whole day of treat yoself mentality.

Recipe: Sparkling Fruit with Granola Streusel

These sinfully delicious potatoes can be thought of as a hybrid of French fries and mashed potatoes and, best of all, pair well with breakfast and dinner. Potatoes are roasted until golden brown then doused with your favorite mashed potato additions like garlic butter and nutty pecorino cheese. If you're feeling down on "Singles Awareness Day," two comfort foods combined should knock out any lingering feelings.

Recipe: Garlic Potatoes

Okay, so maybe you started lamenting this lonely holiday's reappearance a night early and you woke up feeling it. Nothing will get you back to normal and ready to bash those cliched gestures like a good old fashioned carbfest. In case you're wondering, almond butter absolutely goes with bacon. Bacon goes with everything, especially bad days.

Recipe: Almond Butter and Bacon Sandwich

Paris may be the city of romance, but French cooking is perfect for gathering around the table with a group — as in, more than two! Throw Valentine's Day convention to the wind and present chicken with mild, buttery roasted garlic — yes, 40 cloves of it — and a few sprigs of thyme. It's simple but completely indulgent.

Recipe: Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

Of course bitter ingredients are Valentine's Day appropriate for a single supper, but bitter greens are also the perfect way to enjoy a fresh, seasonal salad as a first course. A drizzle of honey in a simple vinaigrette rounds out the flavor to start your celebratory meal off right. Yes, you have plenty of reason to celebrate. Remember those ones that — thankfully — got away!

Recipe: Winter Greens Salad

Break out the napkins and maybe the bib, because these sticky wings are just as messy as they sound, but also just as delicious. There's no tailoring your dinner order to impress a date tonight, so feel free to dig in and get your fingers messy! And, yes, it's completely acceptable to lick your fingers clean. With this recipe, it's actually encouraged.

Recipe: Sweet 'N' Sticky Thai Wings

If you're a healthy diner in general, no need to change your ways over one silly day. Enjoy a salad packed with indulgent ingredients, no covert mirror-checks required. Poached salmon is elegant dining 101, and it's perfection paired with a light vinaigrette and sprinkling of onions and capers. Forget the mint and floss follow-up and just enjoy your meal.

Recipe: Salmon Salad with Parsley and Capers

Chili is inherentily not a romantic meal, but it is hearty and comforting, making it perfect for Valentine's Day weather if not the festive mood. This version gives the holiday a nod with its pop of red color without sacrificing that immediate cozy feeling you get when you dig in. A big bowl pairs perfectly with your drink of choice and a movie night.

Recipe: Valentine's Day Red Chili

Having friends over for an anti-Valentines bash doesn't mean you have to serve fancy food. You should absolutely greet your guests with something warm and comforting to kick off the party, like a mini serving of mac and cheese. This recipes makes more than enough so your guests can help themselves to as much gooey comfort as they need.

Recipe: Comfort-Food Hors d'Oeuvres

Seriously, eat both. They're light, delicious, and flavored with your all-time reliable man, Joe. While some might view this recipe as one for couples out there, we see it as perfect for the solo diner. The recipe is small enough that you won't feel like you've pigged out, but just large enough for a "you know what? I'm worth it" kind of night.

Recipe: Cappuccino Soufflé for Two

Red velvet is a quintessential Valentine's Day dessert — it has the classic flavor and the red pop of holiday flair. This cake takes the saccarine, too-bright, too-happy quality of the holiday out of red velvet for a deeply rich, deeply mature dessert that's perfect for a night with your girls. It's worth mentioning that just because it's made with red wine doesn't mean it can't also be served with a glass of the good stuff.

Recipe: Red-Wine Velvet Cake

Let all those couples have the sappy sweet gestures and desserts. You and your single friends all know that a little salt goes a long way toward appreciating sweetness. So grab one (or three) of these salty-sweet, Snickers-studded brownies and rejoice in the fact that every Valentine's Day spent single makes those spent as a couple that much sweeter!

Recipe: Salty-Nougat Fudge Brownies

There's nothing immature or sappy about these cookies — they're packed with grown-up ingredients like dark chocolate, salty pumpkin seeds, and chili powder. Like life, they're a little complicated, but ultimately sweet. Just mix ingredients, drop, and bake. If only the last bum you dated could have been dropped that easily.

Recipe: Sweet and Salty Cookies

While "wine slush" might sound a bit like a euphemism for "wino," it's actually a fun way to eat like a kid and have your alcohol, too. There's nothing dignified about eating a slush, but that's what we love about them. So, subvert that romantic dinner staple red wine by shamelessly turning it into a girls' night dessert. At least it's more dignified than nursing the bottle yourself.

Recipe: Wine Slushes

Sure, a day full of lovey couples can get a little bitter for those who haven't paired off, but all of you dessert connoisseurs know that some of the best sweets have a touch of the bitter. Embrace the duality of the day and use it to your advantage by making this divine bittersweet chocolate tart for your singles gathering.

Recipe: Bittersweet Chocolate-Truffle Tart with Candied Oranges

If you're using the day to celebrate your girls, nothing says "you rock" like a batch of homemade cookies. These little darlings might not look as festive as their flashy counterparts, but the combination of slightly bitter chocolate and sweet raspberry is irresistible. Plus, they're baked full of love. Your friends couldn't ask for anything more.

Recipe: Bittersweet-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Raspberry Preserves

It may not come with the accent, but this dreamy, dark Irishman is one that always makes us swoon. With the February chill, an after-dinner warming drink is the perfect way to end your meal. Coffee and whiskey are sure to team up to get you warm and cozy and a healthy dollop of whipped cream just makes the whole evening a little sweeter.

Recipe: Irish Coffee

This bright and bubbly punch is perfectly suited for the girls who secretly love Valentine's Day, even when they're single. Instead of axing them from the guest list, add a festive drink to the menu to celebrate their perennially sweet disposition. Every group of friends needs a couple of token romantics.

Recipe: Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

Grapefruit bitters and Campari add a surprisingly pleasant bitter note to this variation of the classic Old-Fashioned. This cocktail might look rosy and sweet, but it's the perfect companion for anyone trying to avoid the sappiness of Valentine's Day. Just don't underestimate it — like the original, this sip packs a punch.

Recipe: Gin-Campari Old-Fashioned