I speak not as an angry spinster but as a happily married woman when I say: I hate Valentine's Day. It probably stems from my general dislike of anything overly girly or pink, and my feeling that a sweet gesture of love is much more special on a day when society isn't pressuring you into doing it. And don't even get me started on how alienating the holiday is for anyone not in a romantic relationship.

In short, my feelings about Valentine's Day are a lot like this popcorn: salty and a little bitter, but impossible to ignore.

We're adding this to our list of pink and red foods for Valentine's Day: red beet gnocchi from Jodi of What's Cooking Good Looking. She uses beets instead of the traditional potato in this recipe, which give the gnocchi a beautiful deep pink color — perfect for Valentine's Day. (Her version is also gluten-free and can be made vegan, if you so choose!) More

The first time I made these roasted vegetable tacos, I had few expectations beyond using up odds and ends: some leftover tortillas, a handful of carrots and parsnips, a lone sweet potato, half a head of cabbage. Enlivened with a pinch of pantry spices and a squeeze of lime, however, the tacos turned out to be worthy of making again and again, with intention and pleasure. More

What happens when apples and peanut butter – that old standby – get dressed up with a little flair? They turn into these charming little apple sandwiches. More

Nine times out of ten, when you see fennel salad on a restaurant menu, it is simply shaved with lemon, olive oil and Parmesan cheese — a classic, foolproof combination to be sure, but if I'm going to pay $9 for a side salad, it had better not be something I can make perfectly well at home on a Wednesday night. So when I spotted an unusual fennel salad with roasted tomatoes, pistachios and cream on the menu of Seattle's The Walrus and the Carpenter, I knew I had to order it. And once I tasted it, I knew I had to make a version of my own. More

Eggs and I have a hot-and-cold relationship. Some months I can't stand them and then, suddenly, I find myself in a phase where I find them deeply satisfying. Maybe it's the chilly weather or the desire for simple, inexpensive meals, but this is one of those "put an egg on it" moments when I'm inclined to top any lunch or dinner with some sunny protein, especially when that meal involves braised lentils and silky ribbons of chard. More

Nix the preachy diet-lingo. Forget memorizing rules or doling out calories. If you're looking to jumpstart a new habit of healthy eating without involving the word "diet," Terry Walter's revised Clean Food is what you want. Season by season, this book gives you all the tools, recipes, and encouragement you need to change the way you eat and help you stick with it. More

It's January, which means we are all craving food that is a little lighter, a little healthier, and a little more in line with the way we've resolved to eat this year. But at the same time, it's January and when we're wrapped up in sweaters and blankets, it's comfort foods we're dreaming about. That's where this recipe comes in. With its rich, mushroom-studded filling tucked under a layer of soft mashed sweet potato, it has all the hallmarks of a good shepherd's pie, but it's completely vegan — and includes a secret ingredient that adds body and creaminess to the filling, without any cream. More

Quinoa and black beans are pillars of our pantry. In summer we toss them into a satisfying, protein-packed salad with ripe tomatoes. In winter, however, we replace the tomatoes with something just as refreshing yet more seasonally appropriate: vibrant, juicy oranges. More

If you're taking the plunge into gluten-free eating this year, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed right about now. With so much information and so many products out there, where do you even start? This straightforward guide to gluten-free flours and explanation for making your very own signature flour mix from Shauna Ahern of Gluten-Free Girl and The Chef is just what you need to get going. More