I’ve been single for two years.
Sure, I’ve gone on dates, and even a blind date.
But it’s been quite a while since my last serious relationship. I kinda like being single! (Not that I want to be single forever, but it’s fun for now.) My roommate is single at the moment, too, and so we were each others’ date for Valentine’s Day—for breakfast, at least.
I made us each a bowl of this: Hot Fudge Oatmeal.
It was a very low-key Valentine’s Day. Emily cleaned around the house, and I did blog work (including dealing with a giant tech-issue headache. Running this blog takes a lot more work than it might seem!) I also tested a few recipe experiments. The best one of the day was peanut butter maple fudge. Yummmmm…
Later, I incorporated the leftover strawberries into my lunch:
Double-Decker Coconut Berry Sandwich
(Really more of a concept than a recipe.)
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
- Soft coconut butter or Homemade Coconut Butter
- Bread of choice
- optional: jam, chocolate chips, etc.
To assemble the sandwich: Spread a layer of coconut butter on one or both slices of the bread (or pita, sandwich thin, etc. Optional: layer on some jam and/or chocolate chips. (You can also opt for a sprinkle of sugar or stevia if you have an extreme sweet tooth and want more of a cake-like sandwich.) Slice the strawberries on top and close up your sandwich. Eat!
For this particular sandwich, I used a Mrs. Bairds whole-grain grillin thin. They’re vegan, and they’re really good! (I’d originally bought the package so I could have a bun for my Amy’s Bistro burger at a party last week.)
That’s my giant salad in the background, with a boring (but delicious) olive-oil vinaigrette. Not the prettiest background choice for a photoshoot, but when I am hungry I don’t want to bother with a photoshoot. I just want to eat! (It’s one of the reasons I rarely post about my savory meals. Who wants to stop and take photos while your dinner gets cold?)
Question of the Day:
Would you rather be single or in a relationship?
Being single is definitely easier, but I don’t want to be single forever… I’ve set such high standards that sometimes I worry I will be! The things you have to work for are the most rewarding, and I guess it depends on the other person in the relationship. I’ve had some really fun, meaningful relationships and one that was not-so-great from the very beginning. (It was a high school fling, though, so maybe it shouldn’t even count!)
My favorite Valentine’s Day was when my boyfriend surprised me.
But this year, my single friends and I had a “girls-only” night, and that was pretty fun too. I made a chocolate truffle pie for the night… the recipe will be in tomorrow’s post!
I love your optimism, Katie! I have dated a lot but never been in a long-term relationship, and even though I’m lonely sometimes, I’m honestly really enjoying the single life right now. I’m living abroad right now, and it’s great to be doing my own thing! I look forward to someday being in a committed relationship, and then married, but I’m enjoying my early 20s as a single gal right now. 🙂
I am sure that your standards are not to high! I was told all of the time that I would be single forever because my standards were way too high… but I never lowered them and I celebrated my 2 year wedding Anniversary this past Monday (Feb. 13th). My uncompromising criteria was …. A good Christian gentleman… that I thought was attractive… made me laugh… and didn’t smoke. I am soo glad I didn’t lower them or compromise. There will always be compromise…. But be careful what you compromise on.
Also being single was great… you don’t always realize that when you are single. You can still be lonely in a marriage… a husband does not replace the spot in your heart that is meant for your girlfriends… God makes a new spot for your husband.
Don’t rush…. It all happens when it’s supposed to. God might still be preparing him to be your husband!!
Katie – I just ordered some product from Nutiva called Coconut Manna – can that be used as coconut butter in your recipes?
I *think* it’s the same, but I’ve never actually tried it.
Thanks! I will give it a try and see! Thanks for the response! Much appreciated!
I can say it is the same! Taste is a bit different from Artisana, but it IS coconut butter =D
That looks like a heavenly lunch!! I’ve actually never had a boyfriend around Valentines Day, so I guess when I say I like spending it alone I don’t know what I’m missing! There’s something to be said, though, about just pampering yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed my V-Day without a man 😀
CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YUM!
I totally boycotted valentines day. But I’m loving the chocolate giveaway – consider me entered!
katherinedibello (at) gmail (Dot) com
It’s been so long that I’m not so sure about relationships; we’ll see! So, I guess I would like to be single with someone for benefits! (And those benefits also include fixing the hot water tank, lifting heavy things, etc.).
Question: You coconut butter looks moist and spreadable. How does that work when you’re just pulsing coconut? I obviously haven’t tried doing this myself yet, but I will.
I actually used Artisana this time. It’s solid when cold, but if you warm it up it gets soft and melty.
But it works the same when you use homemade… at least, it should!
Ohh that sandwich looks delicious and makes me think that I *must* try coconut butter very soon! I’m single and have been for a little while now. My life is full with great things and I’m very busy but I also would love someone to share it with! Here’s hoping they come along this year!
Definitely in love with your blog! I have an amazing husband who shows me all year long how much he loves me not just today! If your significant other only appreciates you on valentines day they are failing the other 364 days of the year!
Been in a relationship for almost 2 years now with my on again off again high school sweet heart, and I LOVE it mostly because I’m head over heels for him 🙂 Hopefully this time it sticks, I’m staying optimistic!
And by the way, for our valentines day dessert I made your famous chocolate bar pie and topped it with raspberry cheesecake sauce..he said it was one of the best desserts he’s ever had, and I have to agree, thanks for making our tummies happy haha <3
I am so excited! I have been wanting to try the sweet riot chocolate (and here it is, on my favorite chocolate blog, of course!) not to mention these yummy recipes… thanks!
Being single has some great benefits, but with the right guy, you never really give them up. He should encourage your independence and understand the importance of girl time as part of your life. So to me, with a marriage you are only gaining, not losing!
I’d love to be entered in to win! And, I am in a loving serious relationship, and have a beautiful daughter who was a surprise! Ooops, but being single was nice, enjoy it! 🙂
I do like being in a relationship, don’t get me wrong, but being single is definitely not a bad thing. There was a day when I realized, “I have the option to date (or not date) anybody I want!” and it made me feel so empowered!
(Good thing I love my boyfriend very much, and I enjoy choosing not to date anybody else ;). That’s always a plus!)
Oh girl, I’ve been single for 18 months and like you have gone on dates but my standards are high. I’ve been burned pretty darn badly in the past, but have had 3 serious long-term relationships. I don’t live in a city that is super easy to meet people in but I still have faith that I’ll meet the right person when the time is right! But I hear you on having such high standards that I sometimes worry about it never happening haha!
It is also a LOT easier to enjoy being single when you have single friends! A lot of my friends are coupled up but I always REALLY enjoy my time with the friends I have that are single.
I love your berry sandwich, it looks like a good old-fashioned English cream tea that I would enjoy growing up (my parents are Brits!).
I loved being single but when i saw my guy for the first time, i knew something was up! I’ve had a handful of experiences where I’ve seen someone and felt a small jolt of lightning hit me. I remember feeling so weird I had to sit down. I got to know him through friends we became acquaintances. About a year later he had been single for a while and so was I, I started telling myself that we would start dating and fall in love. I started psyching myself up. Then I, MYSELF, asked him out at a party we were both at…..flash forward 9 years and he still tells me loves me every day . So always go after what you want!!!
ps. Made a single blackberry/cranberry muffin yesterday that was ahhmazzing…thanks!!!