valentine’s lunch + the ‘morning after’

I guess the heavens heard my cries and took pity on me, because Valentine’s day was beautiful! Boyfriend-less + flower-less, but absolutely gorgeous sunny + crisp t-shirt-cool weather. I’m no big-time chef, but every now and then I get the itch to try my hand at a random recipe. I found a recipe from a guy’s food blog for Hawaiian Marinated Seared Chicken a couple weeks ago and I couldn’t pass it up (and luckily I didn’t mess it up!) The author describes, and I quote, that the marinade is “…a blend of strong flavors, particularly the Chinese five spice, fresh mint and mustard.” I was sold on his photos alone! I made the citrus marinade the night before to marinate it in time for lunch the next day.

I didn’t stop there. I wanted a contrasting accompaniment to the hint of sweet flavors the meat had to offer, so I found another recipe for a Vietnamese Sweet + Sour Cucumber salad. Sugar, rice vinegar, thai chili, lime, fresh mint + cilantro – just to name the majority of ingredients. It was a pretty nice fusion of flavors. My Valentines (my parents) were quite pleased :)

The next morning I hadn’t kicked the itch yet and plain ol’ eggs + bacon just didn’t seem appropriate for the ‘morning after’

I put a twist on the BLT and piled on two strips of turkey bacon (with cracked black pepper added while frying), swiss cheese, a hefty tomato slice, a little onion + a small bunch of fresh cilantro instead of lettuce all on a slightly toasted bun.

So fresh + full of flavor!

Maybe next year I’ll whine about my love-life instead ;)