Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day in my house growing up was a BIG DEAL and so it still remains one of my favorite holidays. My mom would totally decorate the dining room and my brother and I would wake up to little gifts, candy and cards before going to school. It always made me feel so special and value family no matter what my dating status was. Heck, this morning at 7:00 my best friend, Christie, called me and asked if I would be her Valentine 
. BFFs are always the best Valentine, no?
Yesterday I had the most delicious brunch ever at Willow Wood market in Graton, which is this tiny random town on the way out to the coast. I had french folded eggs (??!) with herbs and fontina cheese + a side of fruit.
Okay, there might have also been a side of bacon involved. I had one slice
It was just the most gorgeous day—68 degrees and sunny! I felt like it was home. Except home is much colder than here right now! After brunch my friend and I drove out to the coast and watched the waves (which were HUGE!) crash all afternoon. For some reason I never got hungry again until late but I did eat an unpictured banana!
And then we had dinner at my favorite place, Zin. Seriously, if y’all ever come to wine country, make it a point to eat here! The food is fantastic and so is the service
I like dates of all kind, especially when they are wrapped in bacon. (I think the BEST date might come wrapped in bacon?) 
Chicken!
LOBSTER and BACON stuffed potato to share (’nuff said)
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!!!!!!
2 glasses of wine. Love me some Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc!
Looking back, I ate a lot of bacon yesterday. Sometimes its just necessary.
After sweet talking with my Valentine on the phone (aka Christie) I got up and had overnight oats for breakfast:
tehe! Chocolate chips because today is one of those days when you can eat as much chocolate as you want and never feel bad about it!
I don’t really have any plans yet today….currently, Dexter is holding my hand and I’m drinking tea in my bed…but I’m pretty much okay with that. If the weather is nice again I want to be OUTSIDE!
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Haha, my cat is my valentine this year. He nuzzled me while I ate nutella and bananas on toast this morning. Perhaps my most favorite Valentine’s Day yet!
So glad we share the same philosophy about chocolate on Valentines Day
I just had oatmeal AND a piece of my homemade dark chocolate coconut cake for breakfast!! Oh, and coffee of course =)
happy valentines day!
I love it when my kitties hold my hand, so sweet!
Gah I don’t even eat bacon and that sounds wonderful.
Aww sweet Dexter
BFFs totally make the best Valentine’s. For sure.
The Lobster and Bacon stuffed potato looks irresistible! Looks like you had a great V-Day celebration! Hope you and Dexter have fun today. Kitties makes some of the best valentine’s!
I can’t get over the looks of your amazing dinner. When I move back to CA this summer, I’m checking Zin out stat. Bacon wrapped dates? Lobster Stuffed Baked Potato? I can’t handle it!
Spending a sunny afternoon staring out on the Coast sounds like utter bliss. Well done, Jenna!
My parents used to do the same thing when we were kids. We would wake up to some treat and a card. Even though I am now 35, married, have moved out(!!!), I opened a card from my parents this morning. It is so sweet.
It sounds like you and Dexter are having a great morning. Pets make great Valentine’s! I like how you said he was holding your hand!
Creepy comment following: illbe your valentine! Vday is a day of love, not necessarily one between a man and a woman! Have a great day! Nothing beats this holiday cause of the massive chocolate that’ll be consumed!
I love your breakfast! Zin sounds awesome…. I know you’re more experience in travel between coasts than I so I was wondering if you had advise for the cheapest flight to CA? It’s over spring break from NY (Albany) to San Louis Obisbo. I’ve researched flights and they’re priceyyyyyyy! Any advise?
Happy valentines day. I love v-day too. Not for all the things to buy, but because it’s about doing something loving for someone.
BRING ON THE CHOCOLATE!!!
My mom always made Valentine’s special for us too…so even though no boys were ever interested in giving me flowers I certainly didn’t go without.
Have a great day!
My parents made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day too…it’s a tradition I can’t wait to carry on with when I have kids of my own!
lobster AND bacon? yummm I had lobster at my vday date last night
and lots of chocolate haha
That chocolate fondue looks AMAZING, yum! Happy Valentines Day!
It is gorgeous outside! Gonna get out too…..Enjoy the day
Just stumbled upon your blog tonight, and it’s going in my Favorites! The meals/treats look tasty! I am in Iraq right now, so I will have to order some special ingredients in order to treat myself
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Wow that sounds like a lot of bacon when you write it out but it all looked good. I’m glad you enjoyed and had your own valentines
that is quite the spread, but it all looks amazing nonetheless! I hope you have a great Valentines!
that is quite the spread, but it all looks amazing nonetheless! I hope you have a great Valentines!
Jennam I really wonder how this thing works, writing a cook book. Do you try all the recipes in your book? If so, who eats them? We don’t see them on this blog, except a few. Am I the only one who missed those?
Everything’s better wrapped in bacon. Happy Valentine’s day
I admire you so much! No matter what you always have such a positive attitude, and reading this blog really helps me have that same outlook on life. After being recently broken up with, I thought V-day would suck, but really, it’s not so bad (I asked my girlfriend to be my valentine today) Like you said, just being allowed to indulge today makes things all that brighter
Thanks for being such an inspiration <3
What a fabulous BFF you have there, you’re very lucky!
Have a grea day!
I loooove dates too, they’re one of my favourite foods! I’ve never had them stuffed/wrapped with anything savoury though, I always think of them as a dessert food!? They’re still glorious either way though
Oh and LUCKY YOU x 100 for having fab weather! Cold and wet where I am
I’m a vegetarian but that picture of bacon makes my mouth water. They always say bacon is a veggie’s biggest nemisis!!!
Bacon + lobster stuffed potato and bacon-wrapped dates sound like HEAVEN. I forgot how much I loved the sweet-savory bacon combination. Except for in chocolate, the staple of V-Day. IMO, dried bacon + chocolate just don’t go together.
Wow – all your meals look fantastic! And yes, sometimes bacon is a necessity.
K
a very meaty day! love the last pic, chocolate chips make the world go round
You should never feel bad about chocolate or any kind of food Jenna!
Jenna, I see so many kitchen appliances that people push all over the blogs – unfortunately I cannot afford ANY of them…not even something at 5 dollars
am I seriously missing out?
u seem to be able to function without any fancy gadgets…
really what is all the hype with these vita mixes and magic bullets and saw…it is mind boggling…doesnt matter much because I cannot afford it anyway…but thanks for “keeping it basic” girl…love your breakfasts as always…toast and oats and bananas etc…does the heart good ..happy v day.
Happy Valentines day!
Sometimes you just need a little bacon, right?
xo
K
Sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day!
sounds really fun! and I really don’t know if there’s such a thing as too much bacon…i find it’s always an appropriate food
I wouldn’t say V.Day was a “big deal” in my house growing up, but it was def a special day: my mom would decorate the table and have small gifts for us + breakfast (raspberry rose water heart-shaped scones) before we went to school : ) I’m certainly missing those special mornings right about now. Have a LOVELY day, Jenna : )
The best way to celebrate Valentine’s is with friends…and chocolate. Is it weird if I also consider chocolate a friend?? haha have a good one!!
my friend’s my valentine too!
i think it’s so cute that your mom would do that…reminds me of elementary days when we’d pass around those lollipops and cartoon-inspired cards!
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
French folded eggs??? I’m not sure what it means exactly but it sounds divine!!
Chocolate is definitely a free food on valentine’s day
Wow I am jealous of your weather and bacon.
Yummm
What an amazing day you had yesterday! I’m pretty jealous.
The weather here is actually cooler then it is where you are! Crazy huh? I actually got my husband a Vosges bacon bar. You can’t go wrong with bacon and chocolate. 
I always feel a little “Bridget Jones” on Val. Day in my singledom…until I remember the sweet little gifts my mom used to buy us as kids for Val .Day….those memories are more precious anything!!!
surprisingly of all the delicious food you’ve presented the thing I’m craving the most are you eggs with herbs and fontina! Maybe I’m in the mood for a wine/cheese/chocolate combo
happy valentine’s day!
I think I’m going to convince my fiance to move out west with me to wine country. You eat some of the most ridiculous food out there!!!! Enjoy your cozy day of love. So happy it is a special day for you.
Happy Valentines Day! Sounds like you’re having a blast. What on earth are french folded eggs?
Happy Valentine’s Day! That stuffed potato…
Oh my God! *drool*
Jenn
Lobster and bacon stuffed potatoe? Ok, now I NEED to try that… Seriously? Add some asparagus and butter to that and I’ll be in heaven I’m sure…
That’s so nice re the AM Valentine surprises as a child. GREAT food photos. Bacon…how I love thee, let me count the ways.
It’s Maverick waves season–yesterday here in Carmel a man in mid 30s was washed off our benign looking beach–they called off the search after 3 hrs. And a large group of spectators yesterday were struck/injured by rogue wave in Half-Moon Bay south of San Francisco.
Was excited about America Cup win! After 15 year world’s oldest sailing trophy is finally coming back to US soil. Will be at SF Yacht Club on Chrissy Field! http://bit.ly/9bvpTy
I thought Larry Ellison looked like Eric Clapton.
So sweet of Dexter to hold your hand…my cat used to do that too–while on laptop wd put his hand on mine….they specialize in being cute.
Bacon. Yum. Chocolate. Yummier.
…although indepedence is sweet too I guess isn’t it?
Awww…Jenna you’ll have a sweetheart soon – how is a girl like you single!!
Thanks for sharing your childhood memories…
Happy Valentine’s Day, Jenna!!!
Extra big hugs to you,
Michele
Looks like a great Valentine’s Day
I don’t think you should EVER feel bad about eating chocolate!
Ohh, the eats look amazing!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
I LOVE bacon! Gwaltney has a 40% les fat bacon that is awesome! I don’t know how easy it is to find elsewhere since the plant/factory isn’t too far from here (Smithfield Foods).