Galentines: the ideal dinner spread

It’s officially the month of love! Whether you’re wifed up, lonely and looking, or happily single, a galentines party is the perfect way to show some love and appreciation for your girlies - because who needs a partner anyways? Here are my recommendations for the ideal, budget friendly dinner spread, so you can spend quality time together with minimal effort or financial burden. 

The decor 

By no means an essential, but definitely adds to the ambience. A bit of pink or red adds that valentines touch, be it the napkins, a tablecloth, the crockery itself, and so on. Lots of discount shops and supermarkets sell valentines tableware and decor that don’t break the bank. Last year for example, I got pink and red heart shaped confetti from Poundland to add to my table, which brought the atmosphere together. If you’re a perfectionist like me, it’s all about the details, but of course they aren’t necessary! 

The centrepiece 

When it comes to the food, there is plenty of options to explore, all coming down to people’s preferences, dietary requirements and what you have time for. It doesn’t have to be a sit-down meal; it could be a buffet or a selection of different plates. A personal favourite for a galentine's centrepiece this year is heart shaped pizzas. To save the effort, some supermarkets this year are selling them ready-made, including Aldi. Though if you have time, a great activity would be to make the pizzas together from scratch and add your own toppings. They might not turn out quite as perfectly shaped as a shop-bought version, but it’s memorable and a bit of fun! 

All about the sweet tooth 

Continuing the theme of quality time with the sweets, why not decorate your own cupcakes or biscuits for dessert? Whether from a packet mix or from scratch, baking them together again adds to the experience, but this could be done in advance of the night to make things run smoothly, especially if things got a little messy with the savoury! Red, pink and white icing and toppings are fitting for the season and accessible in most supermarkets. We all deserve a sweet treat, so why not make them look the part? 

Did someone say...drinks? 

If you’re opting for booze this galentine's, classy cocktails are always desirable, yet often cause a lot of hassle and expense through buying multiple ingredients, especially if guests have different tastes. For a fruity glass of fizz with a twist, I’d recommend a scoop of sorbet topped with sparkling wine or prosecco. A classy drink without the classy price tag; both can be bought together for under ten pounds at most supermarkets. This could also be made sober-friendly by subbing the bubbly for an alcohol-free alternative, such as Shloer. Whether you are drinking at galentine's or staying sober, raise a toast to each other and enjoy... sorry, no boys allowed!