Valentine's Day
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I Got One of Those Expensive Holiday-Themed Le Creusets, and Here’s What I Used It For
The year was 2013. Hanukkah was upon us and people everywhere were losing their minds over the fact that the Festival of Lights would coincide with Thanksgiving for the first time since the 1800s. They called it Thanksgivukkah, and the Internet was abuzz with dishes that incorporated scrumptious traditions from both holidays: challah bread stuffing, cranberry applesauce, Manischewitz-brined turkey.
Feb 14, 2018
Make This Flank Steak with Chimichurri for Valentine’s Day
I have a hard-and-fast rule that you should not eat out if you can make the dish better at home — especially on Valentine’s Day. This recipe for flank steak with a flavorful chimichurri sauce looks like it falls under that category. It’s just what the love doctor ordered! Something about Valentine’s Day calls for a hearty protein that you don’t eat all the time. Meat says I love you, right? Well if it does, you should probably cook it longer! (Sorry not sorry.
Feb 13, 2018
5 Sweet and Simple Ways to Share the Love This Valentine’s Day
Making something sweet and special is my favorite way to spread the love to my nearest and dearest on Valentine’s Day. Whether your Valentine’s Day plan includes a girls’ night in, a romantic evening with your main squeeze, a special family night, or helping your little ones spread some love through the classroom, sweet treats made for sharing are a must.
Feb 10, 2018
The Best (and Easiest!) Valentine’s Day Crafts on Pinterest
No matter how crafty you are, the dead of winter is the best time to hunker down with some hot chocolate or wine and make something. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we rounded up some of the easiest and cutest projects on Pinterest. Whether you’re celebrating many years with a significant other, turning the celebration into Galentine’s Day with your girlfriends, or hanging with the kids, there are tons of fun ways to spread the love.
Feb 9, 2018
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Has a Special Deal for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is next week. I felt like I had to get that information out of the way for anyone, like me, who has been sitting around thinking, Why is everyone writing so many Valentine’s Day stories right now? I still haven’t taken off all my New Year’s Eve makeup. Valentine’s Day is a million years away. But Valentine’s Day is actually next week, so you should start making plans. Personally, I don’t really like going out on Valentine’s Day.
Feb 7, 2018
5 Classroom Valentines You Can Make Using Dollar-Store Finds
As the parent of an elementary-school kid, Valentine’s Day might be one of my favorite holidays. The kids’ wonky penmanship, spelling out messages of friendship on brightly colored paper, brings me immense joy. High school Valentine’s Days can take their time getting here. If you have a little artist at home or really want to make special Valentines with your kids this year, here are five of our favorite sweet ideas.
Feb 6, 2018
The Best Tips for Cooking Together Without Stirring Up Trouble, According to our Readers
Although cooking dinner with your significant other sounds like the domestic dream, it can sometimes turn into a battleground when you’re balancing different cooking techniques, a too-small prep space, and hungry guests or kids waiting in the background. That’s why we reached out to you, our readers, to get your tips for cooking together without conflict. While dozens of you warned against it, a lot of you had good advice to share during a recent reader poll on Facebook.
Feb 6, 2018
These Tiny Bears with Hearts Will Hug You Back
We all know that Valentine’s Day is a day for candy companies and chocolatiers and flower shops, and if you hate this holiday with a passion that is totally okay. (Or maybe you celebrated yesterday on Galentine’s Day, Leslie Knope’s very favorite day of the year?) But isn’t it kind of amazing that there’s a day dedicated to doing ridiculously cute things in the name of love? And there really is no end to the ridiculously cute things out there.
Feb 14, 2017
Good News and Bad News for People Who Love Chocolate
Today is Valentine’s Day, a day when 70 percent of Americans give chocolates to their loved ones and the nation spends $1.7 billion on confections for the holiday. Are you one of them? If you’re on the giving end or just an all-around lover of chocolate (no judgment, we heart chocolate too), there’s some good news this year — along with a little bit of bad news as well. Which do you want first?
Feb 14, 2017
Spending Valentine’s Day Alone? Make This Pizza.
Maybe you’re happily single (and ready to mingle), maybe your sweetie is working late (like mine is), or maybe you just got out of a relationship and you’re feeling pretty sad. Regardless, just because you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone this year doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the holiday-themed fun. Show yourself some love by making this delicious heart-shaped pizza. Why this recipe? Well, first the obvious: The pizza is shaped like a heart.
Feb 14, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Libra
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” Decision-making takes time for you, Libra, so it’s no surprise you have a special place in your heart for chocolate treats that offer a little bit of everything.
Feb 9, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Cancer
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” You’ve got a sensitive palate, Cancer, which means you crave intense flavors that give you pleasure.
Feb 8, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Taurus
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” You, Taurus, are an epicure. You appreciate the finer things in life, especially when it comes to food and drink.
Feb 7, 2017
Your Valentine Will Love These DIY French Macarons
Macarons are notoriously intimidating, fussy, and finicky. So why would you ever want to make them yourself instead of buying them from a fancy French bakery? Because they make the perfect, heartfelt Valentine’s Day gift. Seriously. Nothing says “I love you” like a batch of homemade macarons.
Feb 7, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Gemini
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” Geminis don’t sit still.
Feb 6, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” Everyone wants a friend like you, dear Aquarius. You value your chocolate as much as your nearest and dearest, and you firmly believe in sharing the wealth.
Feb 2, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” You’re as classic as they come, Capricorn. You value the essential, simple things in life and live happily with understated elegance.
Feb 1, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.
Jan 31, 2017
5 Chocolate Treats for Your Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
This month we partnered with the Astrotwins to reveal the ways your zodiac sign informs your chocolate preferences. According to the Astrotwins, “Each zodiac sign has a distinct set of personality traits — and believe it or not, there’s a chocolate recipe out there to match every horoscope sign.” For you, Scorpio, chocolate is all about intensity, mystery, and sensuality. That’s why something like a molten lava chocolate cake appeals.
Jan 30, 2017
Recipe: Riesling Rhubarb Crisp Layer Cake
This Riesling rhubarb crisp cake has it all: tender white cake, rhubarb-strawberry compote and matching buttercream, a crispy oat crumble, and a fanciful, ruffled finish. It’s the perfect cake to bake when you’re feeling like showing off your cake-baking skills or looking for a weekend project to tackle when you want to spend the day in the kitchen.
May 20, 2016
10 Romantic Cinematic Food Scenes
The surge of amorousness come Valentine’s Day and the accompanying pressure to celebrate the holiday with an over-the-top bouquet and a fancy dinner reservation can be overbearing. Yet there’s no need to fret if impromptu tulips weren’t delivered or you couldn’t snag a table at that swish new French-Vietnamese restaurant. It’s far more fun to settle in for the night with low-cost bubbly, a casserole in the oven, and a flick.
Feb 12, 2016
The Delicious Ways Pastry Chefs Hide Engagement Rings
As an introvert, I would be absolutely horrified if a stranger asked me to help with their proposal. Heck, I’d be sweating bullets if a friend asked me to help — I can’t keep that kind of secret! But upscale restaurant staff? They’ve got it down to a science. It’s true that every proposal is special, but — thanks to them — some are definitely more delicious than others.
Feb 12, 2016
4 Affordable Alternatives to Dom Perignon
Bubbles are basically always appropriate, whether savored as an aperitif before a five-course blowout at a mahogany-walled bistro or at home alongside kung pao chicken takeout. But the effervescent stuff is especially fitting on Valentine’s Day. Really, is there anything like the sound of a cork popping to heighten the holiday’s starry-eyed pursuits?
Feb 4, 2016
Treat Yourself with These Precious Soap Stones
If you’re your own valentine this year, there’s no reason not to treat yourself to a little something special. Preferably something a little frivolous that will make you smile every time you use it. We think these soap stones from Pelle Designs are just the thing. Pretty bar soaps seem to be a bit of a lost art these days, as most everyone favors the liquid variety instead.
Feb 4, 2016
Recipe: Homemade Marshmallow Fluff
Sometimes there are so many reasons why we should DIY instead of buying pre-made goods at the store. From being more cost-efficient to making things healthier, building your own homemade pantry might seem to be more hands-on, but it sure has its perks. Even something as commercialized as marshmallow cream can be made better and tastier at home. This marshmallow fluff recipe proves just that. This fluff is light and creamy, and it has a smooth, real vanilla taste.
Jul 26, 2015
Recipe: Lamb with Dark Chocolate Pepper Sauce
Chocolate is an essential part of any Valentine’s meal, so why not surprise your dinner companion by using it in this savory dish? A roasted lamb rack is perfect for two, and the chocolate enriches the pan juices, making the perfect sauce to accompany it. This recipe shows how you can use chocolate to enrich a sauce. Cold butter is often whisked into pan juices to create a sauce, but here, the chocolate thickens and adds a touch of bitterness, as does the black pepper.
Feb 13, 2015
9 Things You Should Know About Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Thinking of picking up a bottle of bubbly this weekend? Like chocolate, Champagne gets lumped in with the tropes of Valentine’s Day, but hey — I will take any opportunity to drink more Champagne. Just don’t stop after the holiday. Consider Valentine’s Day this year an opportunity to brush up on your knowledge of sparkling wine and Champagne. Do you know what Champagne really is, and how to open a bottle the elegant way?
Feb 13, 2015
Recipe: Grilled Radicchio with Creamy Cheese
This simple and mildly bitter recipe is a great way to begin your Valentine’s meal. Look for the elegant, long Treviso radicchio; it is easier to grill and sexier to eat. For the cheese, I’d recommend a Brillat-Savarin, as its creaminess balances the radicchio’s natural bitterness. → Buy Jennifer’s Book! Bitter: A Taste of the World’s Most Dangerous Flavor, with Recipes by Jennifer McLagan → Read more of Jennifer’s writing on her blog.
Feb 13, 2015
What’s the Story of Conversation Hearts?
Conversation hearts are our candy of choice for Valentine’s Day. (You can eat chocolate any other day of the year, after all.) But how much do you know about the delightfully chalky, message-filled candies? Mental Floss, in their quest to explain everything, has a guide to the history of the sweet treat.
Feb 12, 2015
10 Things You Should Know Before Getting into a Relationship with Someone Who Loves Food
So you’re thinking about embarking on a relationship with a food-lover. Congratulations! I hope you don’t feel uncomfortable being the third wheel when you go out to eat. You’ll grow to accept this role in your partner’s life, I promise. Besides the fact that you’ll probably eat well, there are a few things you should prepare yourself for in your relationship.
Feb 11, 2015
12 Ways to Use Up Candy Canes
They appear just once each year, but what to do when you’re stuck with more candy canes than you know what to do with? Rather than tossing these festive sweet treats, transform them into baked goods and even cocktails and use up every last (even broken) piece! Read on for some creative uses for your leftover candy canes this holiday season. Perfect for even the broken leftovers, crushed candy canes make tasty and cute garnishes for holiday treats.
Dec 28, 2014
5 Tips for a Date Night in the Kitchen
Yes, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and yes, since it is a universally acknowledged date night, that is one reason I’m writing this post. However, as Anjali noted earlier today, she thinks (and I agree) that gestures of love are far more special on a day you’re not being pressured to do it. So, this really goes out to all the nights — tonight, tomorrow, next week — you and your special someone wanna heat things up in the kitchen.
Feb 13, 2013
Midwinter Recipe: Roasted Beet Soup with Fennel and Orange
I don’t much go for the trappings of Valentine’s Day, but I do appreciate the excuse to cook something brilliantly, undeniably pink. Most often that means playing with beets, and this year I’m roasting them up to make a velvety, magenta-colored soup. From the looks of them, you’d never know that humble beets could be so luscious — romantic, even. But sweetened up in the oven and pureed with good vegetable stock, they make a gorgeous, almost creamy (yet vegan) soup.
Feb 13, 2013
Recipe: Bone-in Pork Loin with Dijon Sauce
Happy Valentine’s Day, dear Kitchn readers. I know some of us love to hate this Hallmark holiday, but it can also prompt us to take a moment to acknowledge and be thankful for the ones we care for. I can’t think of a better way to show my love than in the kitchen. After all, food is love. My beloved and I unceremoniously decided to share our Sunday together — a celebration of “us” with nary a paper heart or pink cupcake in sight.
Feb 14, 2011
Sweet Pink Treat: Quick Pomegranate Sherbet
Ever since we discovered this delicious sherbet recipe, we’ve been on a sherbet kick. A big one. Lemon, orange, tangerine, and now pomegranate—just in time for Valentine’s Day, should you want something festive and pink. And we have a simple substitution that makes this recipe even easier, if that’s possible.The original recipe, from The New York Times, calls for freshly squeezed tangerine (or any fruit) juice.
Feb 10, 2011
Make Holiday Butter Mints In Any Shape Or Color
Many people have strong opinions about mints, especially those of the wedding variety. But those who have either been on the fence or a little shy about them — you’ve never had a real, melt-in-your-mouth butter mint. Bonus: they’re easily customizable for any party and a snap to make!Amanda over at Bake It Pretty has been kind enough to share her recipe for butter mints. This time she pressed them gently into a small snowflake mold to make them festive for the season.
Dec 15, 2010
Valentine’s Breakfast in Bed Recipe: VS Mocha Café
What are you drinking on Valentine’s? (Or, for that matter, Chinese New Year, President’s Day, or Fat Tuesday?) A little later today we have a roundup for you of creative and delicious Valentine’s Day cocktails. But first, let’s consider breakfast. Why not start the day off with a spiked mocha? Here’s one recipe that looks so good; we’d love to curl up with a hot mug of mocha on this snowy weekend!
Feb 12, 2010