Ladyfriends, gather 'round.
This Saturday is only the best day of the year (according to everyone’s favourite girl-power advocate, Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation). That's right, February 13 is Galentine’s Day, and that means it's time to assemble your friends for a celebratory girls-only brunch.
Opinions on hearts, flowers or Hallmark holidays aside, taking time out with your girlfriends to enjoy good breakfast food, drink mimosas and hand out outrageous compliments to one another is as good a reason as any to get together — whether you have plans on the 14th or not.
Intrigued? Here are five things you can do to turn a weekend brunch into a Galentine’s Day celebration for all your ladies (attached and unattached).
1. There must be waffles. As Ms. Knope says, “we need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter, but work is third.” (And frittatas, don't forget the frittatas.)
2. Over-the-top compliments should be given with abandon. Bonus points if you can deliver said compliments with the awkward and endearing panache of Ms. Knope herself.
3. Mimosas. What's a weekend brunch without a little OJ and bubbly? Treat yo' self.
4. Make thoughtful, overly personalized gifts. Kidding. You're already hosting brunch. These homemade candy conversation hearts would make a cute take-away, though.
5. Cards. Quirky and fun, handmade or meaningful cards are all accepted. Get ideas here.
But really, as long as you’re all together, anything goes. Here are our best brunch recipes to get you there:
This milky whipped pudding is the perfect addition to any brunch spread. Did we mention it's also plant-based? Get this oat milk latte pudding recipe.
Put a delicious twist on this traditional French salad by swapping tuna for smoky salmon. Get this hot-smoked salmon niçoise salad recipe.
This casual cake makes a perfectly acceptable breakfast, too. Get this strawberry yogurt snacking cake recipe.
A mix of blueberries and raspberries give these crepes a beautifully rich purple hue. Serve straight away. Get this berry crepes with rosewater chantilly cream recipe.
Rhubarb coffee cake with a streusel topping is a tasty spring treat. Get this rhubarb coffee cake recipe.
Light protein with a creamy, green spin, this twist on classic egg salad is a crowed-pleaser. Get this green goddess egg salad sandwich recipe.
Brewed black tea and grilled in-season fruit make a lighter, more complex sangria with a hint of smokiness. Get this grilled fruit sangria recipe.
A drizzle of honey makes these oatmeal-stuffed apples even tastier! (This is basically the breakfast version of apple crisp.) Get this oatmeal-stuffed apple recipe.
Spend a little part of your weekend prepping this delicious recipe, and you'll have rich, creamy and thick breakfast yogurt all week. Get the Instant Pot yogurt recipe.
Fluffy, airy and delicate pancakes worthy of a slow Sunday morning meal. Get the Japanese pancake recipe.
For those days when you don’t have time to sit down and enjoy a freshly toasted bagel, these bagel bites are here for you. Make them in advance and keep them for up to five days. Get this cream cheese-stuffed bagel bites recipe.
This unconventional take on the Canadian classic uses fresh watermelon and a vegan Caesar mix instead of tomato clam cocktail. Plus, all the other products are sourced from Canadian companies with women at the helm. Get this Chatelaine caesar recipe.
Not all smoothies must be green. This richly flavoured (and healthy) take gets your day started with a touch of nuttiness, smooth chocolate and creamy banana. Get this tahini cocoa breakfast smoothie recipe.
This dish is eggy and fruity and a touch sweet, and comes together so quickly. Get this plum and black pepper clafoutis recipe.
Yes, with the right ingredients, you CAN have cookies for breakfast. Here we’ve mixed a homemade granola of oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut and flax, and turned it into a breakfast cookies recipe that helps you take on the day well-fed and with a smile on your face. Get this blueberry granola breakfast cookie recipe.
Freeze-dried berries give the meringue its blush-pink hue, while fresh berries add aromatic sweetness. Get this pretty in pink strawberry pavlova recipe.
Make your table Instagram-worthy with these beautiful eggs. Get this cloud eggs recipe.
Our recipe is inspired by the original Filipino chocolate rice porridge, using oatmeal instead of rice. Get this champorado recipe.
Skip the flowers and make this beautiful and tasty wreath the centrepiece on your brunch table. Get this cinnamon twist wreath recipe.
While French toast is great on its own, we think topping it with freshly roasted plums is a great way to kick your brunch up a notch. Get our classic French toast recipe.
These puffy pancakes have many unusual names including bismarcks and Dutch Puffs. In every case, a simple batter poured into a hot pan creates instant, unforgettable magic. Get this sweet Dutch baby recipe.
Dress up waffles with homemade compote made with ripe berries, as well as rich cream and a dusting of sugar for an Instagram-worthy breakfast. Get this blackberry waffles with compote recipe.
This pretty in pink layered treat uses homemade raspberry jam using chia seeds instead of pectin. Get the peanut butter and raspberry jam chia parfait recipe.
It's not brunch without a quiche. This one is a plant-based version, using chickpea flour instead of eggs. Get the plant-based quiche recipe.
This breakfast classic comes together in under an hour and freezes beautifully. Get this blueberry oat muffins recipe.
Break bread with your family with this gorgeous braided egg bread. We wouldn't say no to a warm slice slathered in butter. Get the braided egg bread recipe.
Take these traditional hotcakes to the next level with a few extra ingredients. Top with berries, drizzle with maple syrup, then serve. Get this crumpet French toast recipe.
Use vitamin-K-filled spinach and omega-3-rich salmon instead of ham or bacon, and spoon our heathy hollandaise overtop (the secret ingredient: yogurt!). Get this smarter eggs florentine recipe.
Made with a mix of buckwheat and all-purpose flours, these blinis can be prepared several days in advance. Get this buckwheat blinis recipe.
Bacon. A brunch essential. Get this maple-bacon with fennel recipe.
There’s no gettting around it—these chubby darlings take time to make, but the reward for the effort is a childhood dream made better. Get this peanut butter and banoffee choux aux craquelin recipe.
Classic pancakes that are thick, fluffy and oh-so delicious. Get this buttermilk pancakes recipe.
An elegant brunch tart to impress those gathered around your weekend brunch table. Get this French onion tart recipe.
These easy yogurt parfaits (made with our homemade toasted muesli) are easy to make ahead of time. Get this yogurt parfait with toasted muesli recipe.
This rich pound-cake gets warm and crisp like French toast. A scoop of ice cream, yogurt or whipped cream is the perfect finishing touch. Get this cake toast with honeyed strawberries recipe.
Better than banana bread and ultra portable! Using spotty, very ripe bananas will ensure a softer, moist muffin. Get this vegan banana chocolate chunk muffins recipe.
With our homemade pickled peppers and a fresh stalk of celery, we’re not sure we’ll be able to wait for Sunday brunch for a taste. Get this spicy caesar cocktail with celery recipe.
Although eggs Benny is usually a restaurant brunch treat, why not save a little cash and enjoy it at home (maybe even in bed)? Just follow these simplified steps to a decadent breakfast that’s as stress-free and easy as Sunday morning. Get this easy eggs Benedict recipe.
Challah bread is ideal for this recipe – it’s sturdy enough to stand up to long cooking. We like the subtle sweetness of this dish but really love it served with lots of maple syrup. Get this slow-cooked maple-bacon French toast recipe.
This rich French toast with creamy mascarpone and raspberry filling is a decadent way to start the day. Get this French toast sandwich recipe.
Whether you hurriedly pop one in your mouth on the run, or savour them over Sunday brunch, these tartlets are one of our favourite ways to start the day! Get this eggs and toast tartlets recipe.
Fresh raspberries and thick yogurt keep these gluten-free muffins extra moist. Get this gluten-free raspberry and almond muffins recipe.
A long-standing favourite, this pull-apart sweet bread is fun to eat and incredibly delicious. Get this monkey bread recipe.
Instead of mimosas, add a bit of zip to brunch with chardonnay and limoncello cocktails. Get this chardonnay zinger recipe.
If you love bruschetta and garlic bread, you will love this strata. The cheeses and tomatoes are cooked into the bread so there’s no worry of toppings falling off as you indulge in this savoury brunch favourite. Get this three-cheese tomato strata recipe.
Light and refreshing, a big bowl of fruit salad never goes amiss at the brunch table. It’s a perfect add-on to break up the indulgent sweets and rich savoury dishes. Get this fresh fruit salad with lime-ginger drizzle recipe.
Make breakfast a lip-smacking success with this quick homemade mix. Get this easy pancake mix recipe.
If you've only had morning glory muffins from a plastic grocery store shell, you need to try them the way they were originally meant to be enjoyed when they first appeared on the scene in the '70s: fresh, from scratch, with plenty of grated carrot and apple for crunch. Get this morning glory muffins recipe.
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