Happy Friday, gang — and happy almost-Valentine’s Day! Hot off the press: I hosted a Galentine’s dinner for my team last night, and it was one of those evenings that reminded us why celebrating the women in your life is the best kind of Valentine’s tradition. The menu was simple but special, the table was set with all the pink and red, and everyone left full and happy. We’re sharing the whole evening with you today — from the make-ahead pasta bake to the prettiest antipasti skewers to a fun little mocktail that was the hit of the night.
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
- We Threw a Galentine’s Dinner & You’re Invited! 💕
- Cann Blood Orange Cardamom Social Tonic 🍹
- FAQS – Cann Social Tonic
- Antipasti Skewers 🫒
- Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce 🍝
- FAQS – Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce
- Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce Recipe Card
- Shop the Galentine’s Dinner 💝
- The Dessert Platter 🍰
- The Tablescape 💕
- Our Galentine’s Day Looks 🩷
- Oscar & Ollie 🐾
- Cheers to a Festive Galentine’s Day Dinner!
- Catch Up with Fridays with Oscar
We Threw a Galentine’s Dinner & You’re Invited! 💕
Cann Blood Orange Cardamom Social Tonic 🍹
We wanted something festive but different for this dinner — something that felt like a toast-worthy moment without the alcohol. Enter Cann Social Tonics. These little cans are infused with 5mg THC and 10mg CBD, so they give you that relaxed, social buzz without the hangover.
The Blood Orange Cardamom flavor was perfect for the evening — bright and citrusy with a warm, spicy finish that felt sophisticated and fun. We poured them into pretty pink coupe glasses (because presentation matters, even with a canned drink), and they were the hit of the night. If you haven’t tried Cann yet, this is a great place to start.
FAQS – Cann Social Tonic
Cann Social Tonics are cannabis-infused sparkling beverages — think of them as a cocktail alternative. Each can contains a low dose of THC and CBD designed to give you a light, relaxed feeling without the effects of alcohol. They’re all-natural, low-calorie, and come in a variety of flavors.
The dose is intentionally low — 5mg THC and 10mg CBD — so it’s more of a gentle, social buzz than anything intense. If you’re new to THC beverages, start with half a can and see how you feel. Everyone’s tolerance is different.
Availability depends on your state’s cannabis regulations. You can check Cann’s website for a store locator. In many states, they’re available at dispensaries, specialty beverage shops, and even some grocery stores.
Yes — they’re best served cold! We poured ours into coupe glasses over no ice, but you could also serve them over ice in a rocks glass.
Antipasti Skewers 🫒
No Galentine’s dinner is complete without a gorgeous appetizer, and these antipasti skewers are as easy as they are beautiful. There’s no real recipe here — just thread your favorite Italian bites onto wooden skewers and arrange them on a platter. They look impressive, take about 10 minutes to assemble, and disappear almost immediately. Here’s what we put on ours:
- Salami (folded in half or quarters)
- Fresh mozzarella balls
- Marinated artichoke hearts
- Cherry tomatoes
- Green olives
- Fresh basil leaves
✨Beth’s Tips: Use good-quality salami and marinated artichoke hearts — they do the heavy lifting. A drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky salt over the finished platter doesn’t hurt, either. You can assemble these a few hours ahead, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce 🍝
This is the kind of dinner that makes everyone feel taken care of. A rich, bubbling baked pasta with Italian sausage, vodka sauce, and an absurd amount of melted cheese — served straight from a heart-shaped baking dish because it’s Valentine’s week and we’re leaning in. The beauty of this recipe is that you can assemble the whole thing ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when your guests arrive. By the time everyone’s had a drink and caught up, dinner is ready. It’s crowd-pleasing, comforting, and perfect for a night with the girls.
FAQS – Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce
Yes — that’s the beauty of this recipe! Assemble the full dish through step 6, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready, bake covered at 375°F for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let it rest 5 minutes before serving.
Rigatoni is ideal because those big tubes hold the sauce beautifully, but penne or ziti would also work well. Just make sure to undercook the pasta slightly since it’ll continue cooking in the oven.
You can, though the vodka helps bring out the tomato flavor and gives the sauce a subtle depth. If you’d prefer to skip it, just omit it and add a splash of pasta water instead.
Totally up to you! Sweet sausage gives you a more mellow, crowd-friendly flavor. Hot adds a nice kick. You could also do half and half for the best of both worlds.
Absolutely — turkey Italian sausage works great here if you want a lighter option. The vodka cream sauce is rich enough that you won’t miss the pork.
A simple green salad and some crusty bread are all you need. I made a classic Caesar salad.
Yes! Assemble through step 6, wrap tightly in foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce Recipe Card
Baked Rigatoni with Sausage & Vodka Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 lb rigatoni
- 1 lb Italian sausage sweet or hot, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup vodka
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup fresh basil chopped (divided)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until just barely al dente — about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the sausage: Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, breaking it into small pieces, and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Build the sauce: In the same pan with the drippings, cook the diced onion until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste for 30 seconds.
- Add vodka and tomatoes: Pour in the vodka and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until reduced by half. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and half the chopped basil. Return the sausage to the pan and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Assemble the bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce and stir well. Pour into a greased 9×13 baking dish (or a heart-shaped dish if you’re feeling festive). Top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan.
- Bake until bubbly: Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden and the edges are bubbling. Garnish with the remaining fresh basil before serving.
Tips/Notes
Did you make this recipe?
We’d love to see! Tag us @styleatacertainage
Shop the Galentine’s Dinner 💝
The Dessert Platter 🍰
We kept dessert simple and sweet — literally. A platter of heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink icing and red sugar sprinkles alongside mini chocolate cupcakes topped with swirled pink and chocolate frosting and tiny heart sprinkles. Nothing homemade here, and no shame about it — sometimes the prettiest dessert table is the one you didn’t stress over. Arrange everything on a cake stand, set it next to the flowers, and let your guests graze. Done and done.
The Tablescape 💕
I set a simple Valentine’s table — festive without being over the top. Think pink glass plates, white dinner plates, blue linen napkins with ceramic napkin rings, and gold flatware. Each place setting had a little Valentine’s treat — a box of Sweethearts and a bag of Lindt Lindor truffles — because it’s the small touches that make a dinner feel special. A lush arrangement from Urban Stems of red roses, pink ranunculus, and lavender mums in a glass vase anchored the center of the table, and red polka-dot gift bags added a pop of fun. The whole thing felt celebratory and warm — exactly the way a Galentine’s dinner should.
Our Galentine’s Day Looks 🩷
Beth’s Look
I went full Valentine’s in the prettiest pink-and-hearts combination — a white hearts graphic tee layered under the pink Ainsley cashmere cardigan with gold buttons, paired with white wide-leg crop jeans, a hot pink belt, and pink flats.
It’s the kind of outfit that says “I’m hosting and I’m festive” without trying too hard. The heart tee peeking out from under the cardigan is the perfect subtle nod to the holiday.
- Wide Leg Crop Jeans
- Similar Hearts Graphic Tee
- Ainsley Cashmere Cardigan
- Alternative Pink Flats
- Similar Pink Belt
Kelly’s Look
I went monochromatic in a rich winetasting burgundy — a cashmere crewneck sweater with matching flare-leg cotton stretch pants and Mylie ballet flats. A layered gold chain necklace with a heart pendant tied the whole look to the Valentine’s theme.
Shop Kelly’s Outfit
It’s polished, cozy, and the kind of tonal outfit that always looks more expensive than it is.
Oscar & Ollie 🐾
Ollie made sure we knew she was aware of the Galentine’s dinner — even if she wasn’t technically invited. She spent the evening lurking just outside the action, stalking through the hallway with that intense, focused look she gets when something smells interesting. She never quite committed to joining the party, but she wanted us to know she could have if she’d wanted to. Classic Ollie.
Oscar, meanwhile, is here from the archives today — enjoying his favorite green ball on a sunny late-winter afternoon in the backyard. Some days you get invited to the dinner party, and some days you get the yard and your favorite toy all to yourself.
Cheers to a Festive Galentine’s Day Dinner!
That’s a wrap on this week’s Fridays with Oscar — Galentine’s edition! If there’s one thing we took away from this dinner, it’s that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about fancy restaurants or grand gestures. Sometimes the best way to celebrate is around your own table with the women who make your life better, a bubbling pasta bake, and something fun to toast with. Happy Valentine’s Day, ladies. We hope you spend it with people you love — and that there’s pasta involved.
With love (and heart-shaped everything), Beth, Kelly, Oscar & Ollie 💕🐾
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