For The Love Of Food: Romantic Recipes & Cook's Tools

{ Via: Carolyne Roehm }

However you are celebrating the most romantic day of the year, these food and cocktail recipes are easy to fall in love with. Start the day with breakfast in bed and Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes. Enjoy a pre dinner kiss with a little Love Potion #9 cocktail complete with dry ice. And who could resist a Cabernet Chocolate Latte, to end the day on a sweet and creamy note? It's all so lover-ly!

HERE: 21 Recipes To Love

Love Potion #9 Martini
How cute is this cocktail? The magic is in the dry ice. There might be time for a little romance, as you must wait 5 - 10 minutes for the
 dry ice to dissolve!
The Cookie Rookie 

Breakfast: Strawberry Cheesecake Flapjacks
Why not start the day off in a romantic way? Or in the case of my household, breakfast for dinner is always a winning idea.
Good Housekeeping 

Rose Lemon Spritzer
There's no better aphrodisiac than the perfect Apéritif. This recipe could be it, roses and all. Rosewater adds a subtle flavor that is floral. Blood orange or pomegranate juice adds the soft pink color.  Vodka is for your Valentine. You can get the rosewater HERE. 
The beautiful recipe is from
Half Baked Harvest   

French Cookware
There's plenty to love at the Le Creuset Valentine's Day shop. Imagine serving your stew in a heart Cocoette, or dipping strawberries in a chocolate heart shaped fondue pot. Find the perfect accessory for your Valentine dinner!
Le Creuset 

Appetizer: Roasted Beet Hummus
I have never made my own hummus, but with a recipe this gorgeous, it may be 
worth the effort.
Le Passe Vite 

Grilled Oysters With Proscuitto & Mignonette
You know what they say about Oysters! Serve me this, and I'm yours. This fabulous recipe is from Michael Chiarello's Live Fire book which you can buy HERE. Recipe can be found at
Adventures In Cooking

Strawberry Ladyfinger Icebox Cake
If you want to impress your Valentine, make this. I mean, who doesn't love Mascarpone Cheese, Strawberries, and Whipped Cream?
Taste Of Home

Spaghetti With Crab
This meal would not make me crabby! Thank goodness that it calls for a cup of parsley because it also calls for 8 cloves of garlic. 
Gourmet Traveller  

Five Ingredient Raspberry 
Marble Fudge
The combo of white chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate fudge with swirls of raspberry puree is delicious. This recipe only takes 10 minutes.
Sugar and Charm 

Wild Jonah Crab Claws
No time to cook? Or maybe you just want to send a little love across the miles. This delicacy comes pre cooked, scored, and frozen. These would put me in a romantic mood. 
How about you?
Dean and Deluca

Pappardelle Pasta Two Ways
Truth be known, I have never made homemade pasta, but it looks fun to do. And how nice would it be to create something without the preservatives that your normal box has in it? This dough is tinted with beet puree giving it that naturally pink color.
A Beautiful Plate  

Imperia Pasta Machine
A great gift for the cook or pasta lover! Sold exclusively at 
Williams-Sonoma

Valentine's Day Pink & Red Salad
Oh how lovely! "Here, the familiar rich red and pink tones of the holiday come through from the vegetables, which get an exotic deep purple background of black rice plus a snowy-white dab of goat cheese."
Foodnetwork  

Table for Two
Cooking and Entertaining For You and Your +1
A beautiful book to celebrate romance at home. My friend, Marc, sets the scene for kitchen island soirees, breakfast in bed, or a just a casual catch up for you and your significant other. There are useful guides, inspired stories, and terrific tablescapes that all feature fresh ingredients and fabulous flavors. Purchase a hand signed book by Marc HERE or if you prefer, Amazon also carries the book, not autographed.

Filet Mignon with Porcini Mushroom Compound Butter
For some, like my friend, Sharon, a filet is the perfect entree. Simple and delicious. Then there are those like myself that think there is something lacking in flavor in the filet. Oh I know! It's lacking the fat content. This recipe adds the fat and then some. Looks divine!
Foodie Crush

Cacio e Pepe Soufflé
I love the simplicity of this dish. It is sturdier than most Soufflés with oodles of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. A stylish side dish. Yum!
Food and Wine 

Goat Cheese Mousse with Red-Wine Caramel
A dish that is both sweet and savory can serve two purposes. This creative recipe can be used as an appetizer or as an after dinner cheese course. Any way you serve it, this culinary creation will be unexpected.
Food and Wine

Caramel Pot De Creme
A simple three ingredient Valentine’s dessert that will knock your socks off.
Bakers Royale  

Valentine's Day Cocktails
My Instagram friend, Kara, has created the cutest cocktail ever for Valentine's Day. She styles the prettiest parties. The flutes are rimmed with raw agave sugar, and then dipped again into pomegranate sugar rimmer. Sugarfina's Hot Lips Candies were stacked on a stylish bamboo pick for
the perfect added touch!
Style Meets Soiree  

Blackberry No-Bake Cheesecake

Loving this recipe because you can make it the day before. Why get heated up before the romantic dinner?

Cooking Melangery

Cabernet Chocolate Lattes
And to top the evening off, something warm and creamy! The perfect nightcap to a 
romantic day.
How Sweet Eats



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In The Mood For Love

Valentine’s Day Baubles for $500 or Less

( Via: Tiffany LaBelle }

I'd day yes, if he came bearing baubles, what about you? Flowers are fabulous, on a Monday or any 'ol day of the week. Not on Valentine's Day, though. Hands up if you agree. A little sparkle goes a long way. The good news is great jewelry is great, no matter what the carat weight or price tag. You can thank me later for rounding up some fabulous finds that won't break his budget. Go ahead, click the forward button and give a little hint.

HERE: 14 Baubles That Won't Break Hearts Or The Bank

Ranjana Khan

Posie Statement Earrings

Red roses are romantic and ravishing. But I much prefer the kind that never wilt. These make a strong statement any day of the year!

Neiman Marcus

Hearts & Engraved Gifts

Give her your heart and this diamond heart pendant. In fact, you can get both pieces and still come in under $500. 

Monica Vinader

Power Gemstone Rose Quartz 

Cuff For Love

What a pretty piece to wear alone or layered. At this price, you can afford more than one. "Rose Quartz is used to purify the heart, this sensitive stone removes negative energy. Pure and uplifting, Rose Quartz can be used to bring you happy harmony and unconditional love." 

Gorjana

Vintage Brooch #6

Circa 1960's. It's both chic and cute to the max. Don't worry, she will know how to wear this.

Lulu Frost 

Leather Heart Earrings

For the fashion forward girl. Part of the new Pretty in Punk collection.

Henri Bendel

POPORCELAIN

Loving this contemporary porcelain jewelry that has been handmade with love in Copenhagen. This Plum Blossom ring makes a 

beautiful statement.

AHAlife 

Tory Burch Message Cuffs

Trust me. She'll get the message. These chic cuffs are made of crystals and brass.

Tory Burch

Straight From The Heart by

Alexis Bittar

She has all the Valentine's feels: Grater Hinge Bracelet, Heart Stud Post Earring, Grater Heart Cocktail Ring and Petite Grater Heart Pendant Necklace

Kendra Scott Misha Earrings

Fluttery and flirty in blush mother of pearl.

Nordstrom

Jennifer Zeuner Love You 

If you love her, spell it out. This is a fun piece that would be great layered. 

Neiman Marcus

Scarlette Tassel Earrings

The girl in red always has the best time. A luxe look for less than $50 

Baublebar

Fallon Crystal Embellished Tuxedo 

Bow Choker 

The color that goes with everything - crystal. Loving the chiffon bow in pink or grey. Fun to wear fancy or tailored with the 

perfect white shirt.

Moda Operandi

Sofie Pavé Silver-Tone Smartwatch

Tell her that you will love her until the end of time.  Then give her the sun, the moon, the stars, and this watch! For the fashion forward techie in your life.

Michael Kors

Marnie Floral Bib Necklace

Mignonne Gavin's floral necklace makes a one of a kind statement. And these flowers

 will never fade.

Anthropologie 

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Romantic Valentine's Day Gifts 
To Give & To Get

Wedding Wednesday: The Organized Bride

{ Via: Southern Weddings }

As I have written before, "Ms. Shop This" is newly engaged, and the wedding planning is about to begin. Don't say a word, but I have been looking for a good looking bridal planner for her. She's picky, as she should be, and has her own definite style. Maybe I'll just let her pick out her own. Even if you have hired a professional planner, you need to be organized. It is your day after all. Organization is key, and you might as well do it with style!

HERE: 12 Pretty & Practical Planners

Evergreen Planner Set
Pretty in pink and practical too. This wedding planner contains sections covering getting started, guest lists and budgets, planning and preparing, what to wear, celebrating, gifts, contacts, notes and memories.
Paper Chase 

Bride & Wedding Journals
Some of the most elegant leather bound bridal books you ever did see. These will a have a prime spot in your home for years to come.
Graphic Image

Acrylic Clipboard
I am a big believer in clipboards. They keep papers together. Perfect for the day of the big event. Someone needs to be the 
keeper of the schedule!
Inkspot Workshop

Dream it, Plan it, Do it 
Expanding File Folder
This expandable file folder grows with your plans for your big day. It features a lovely and chic geode design with gold accents and the saying "Dream. Plan. Do."
Paper Source 

Wedding Planner Binder
This wedding planning binder is the perfect tool to help you organize and plan your dream wedding. This custom binder is made of solid chipboard and laminated with your custom design and hold up to 300 letter-sized pages.  Love that you can supply your own design.
Wicked Bride 

Kate Spade New York Gift Log

This is a very important book. You don't dare misplace one gracious gift and its' giver. From them to you, keep track of the gifts given and received with this 150 page floral gift log, with 8 tabbed sections for organizational ease.

Saks 5th Avenue

Smythson Wedding Planner

A beautiful gift for the bride to be. Light blue pages with gilded edges are beautifully presented in this keepsake box.

Smythson 

The Knot Wedding Planner App

Use your wedding app to go from inspiration to booked...anytime, anywhere.

Apple iTunes

Carlo File Folders

Monogrammed Carlo File Folders are both pretty and practical. Store your wedding planning contracts, in them. Or keep your wedding list handy at all times in one. Pick a color that matches your home or your wedding palette. I think this Mother Of The Bride needs some.
Graphic Image 

Bridal Notes Writing Journal

Love this for bridal dress notes. Include photos of dresses you love. Then make notes on dresses you have tried on and where they can be found. Very cute!

Ink & Indigo 

Kate Spade Wedding Planner

If you want to live happily ever after, you better get organized.
Nordstrom

Black is always elegant and never goes out of style! Loving the font used 
for the handwritten cover. 
Made To Plan 

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