Recipes & Cocktails

Even the most devout of beer lovers feels some pressure to pick up a bottle of Champagne for special occasions like Valentine's Day, even if they personally would rather pop the top on a good brew. Don't make that mistake.

Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to impress, enchant and spoil your lover. If you are planning a dinner for two at home, this is a great time to show off your cocktail skills and your extra effort will not go unnoticed, scoring you extra brownie points.

This frozen hot chocolate recipe is rich, creamy and satisfying. Kids love this frozen hot chocolate.

Every season and holiday has different flavors that we associate with it and there is a cocktail for almost every occasion. This directory of drinks will help you find the perfect drinks for whatever season it is.

Avoid crowded restaurants and over-priced menus. Stay home and make a meal you're both sure to love.

Whether you are pairing a delicate white chocolate or a lively dark chocolate with wine, there are a few pairing tips to keep in mind.

eople have one of two reactions at the idea of putting beer and chocolate together. The first comes from the uninitiated, who tend to crinkle their noses and get a look on their face that says they are trying to figure out if the notion is a joke or not. The second comes from those who have already experienced this decadent marriage of food and drink, who instantly light up and simply say, "Yes, please!"

Romantic dinner ideas galore from the cheap to the extravagant and everything in between.

Valentine's Day is a day for romance. What better way to woo your significant other than with a romantic dinner for two?

Tired of the same old dinner and a movie date? Spruce up your 'usual' by using some of these simple date ideas to turn the routine into something memorable.

Heart shaped pizza is a terrific Valentine's Day dinner recipe. Just shape frozen bread dough in the shape of a heart, top with sauce, cheese and pepperoni, and voila! Valentine's dinner for the kids!

Try these delicious, cholesterol-friendly recipes for your next Valentine's Day dinner.

These delicious and decadent chocolate dessert recipes are all easy-to-make, and guaranteed to please that special "chocoholic" in your life!

The Dutch don't fully embrace Valentine's Day. Many see it as a commercial import, or overly fake and cheesy. However, the holiday is gaining ground here and I, for one, am no Valentine's Day grouch. What's not to love about a day that celebrates love?

Nothing says I love you like chocolate. Learn how to make chocolate for your love, or as a fun activity with your kids.

Whether I need to bring something to the school Valentine's Day party or I just want to make the kids an extra special treat, these are the recipes I rely on to put everyone in the Valentine's Day spirit!

Brownies can be fudgy, cakey, dense or chewy. The one thing all of these chocolate brownies recipes have in common is that they're all amazing. You'll find chocolate raspberry brownies, german chocolate brownies and more recipes for brownies here.

With these Valentine breakfast recipes, your sweeties will get their day off to a delectable start!

Kids love making these hot chocolate recipes as much as they enjoy drinking them. Rich, creamy and comforting, these hot chocolate recipes really hit the spot after a cold day spent outside sledding.

From heart-shaped pizza to chocolate dipped shortbread cookies, there are Valentine's Day recipes here for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Valentine's Day school parties.

Chocolate strawberries are surprisingly easy to make. These chocolate strawberry recipes let you enjoy this sweet, juicy combination in everything from chocolate strawberry smoothies to chocolate strawberry cake.

Follow these simple suggestions to make school Valentine's Day parties safe for kids with food allergies.

Many schools do not allow peanuts or nuts in the classroom, but still allow children to bring in treats for special occasions. For Valentine's Day, here is a list of inexpensive, allergy-friendly, kid-approved candy that can be handed out with valentine cards, or served as treats for the class Valentine's Day party.

Sweet treats for your sensitive sweetie.

Rice crispy treats are always a hit with the kids, and this rice crispy treats recipe is a snap to prepare!

This Valentine rice crispy treats recipe is perfect for chocolate lovers. Chocolate rice crispy treats are topped with a chocolate peanut butter glaze, then these Valentine rice crispy treats are cut into heart shapes.

These Valentine cookies will brighten the days of all the sweethearts in your life.

This collection of kiss cookies recipes includes classics, like peanut butter kiss cookies and tuxedo brownie hugs cookies, plus some new favorites, like peppermint kiss cookies.

This easy red velvet cake recipe starts with a cake mix. Sour cream adds moisture, and food coloring adds color to this quick recipe for red velvet cake.

Red velvet cupcakes make a terrific special occasion treat for birthdays, Fourth of July or anytime you want a moist and delicious cupcake. This recipe for red velvet cupcakes can also be made as a red velvet cake.

This collection of chocolate cake recipes includes chocolate cakes for every palate.

Sweet Valentine recipes for breakfast through dinner that will show your family how much you love them.

Warm their hearts with these sweet and tasty drink recipes for Valentine's Day. From icy sweet raspberry smoothies to warm and soothing hot chocolate, these Valentine's Day drinks are guaranteed to give your loved ones a taste of heaven.

Learn about the Italian legend and how to create some deliciously authentic cuisine.

Duck is rather gamy, and also is fairly rich. Raspberries, with their bright fruit flavor and acidity, are a perfect complement to duck. This duck risotto will be perfect for an elegant meal, and also is well suited to romantic occasions.

Though this recipe serves 4, you could easily reduce it (for a romantic occasion) by using a shorter (not thinner) salmon fillet that weighs half as much.

The House of Savoy ruled Piemonte before they became Kings of Italy, and considering the Torinese love of chocolate, it's natural that this sumptuous creamy dessert be named after them.

This particular version of Salmon Crespelle is especially popular around Valentine's Day.

I was recently asked for a recipe for pasta with smoked salmon. Since this is one of the standard Valentine’s Day recipes (the versions printed are often aimed at men) I expected to find one on the Internet. Alas, though I did find several, they were quite elaborate, and almost all involved shrimp, which I find superfluous if the salmon is good. So here is a recipe, off the top of my head, based on a dish of pasta I had many years ago at Il Pantheon, in Rome.

bourbon, orange liqueur, Prosecco

This chocolate mousse recipe is simple to make and virtually foolproof.

These chocolate-dipped strawberries are easy because they only require two ingredients -- strawberries and coating chocolate -- and the chocolate doesn't have to be tempered.

This recipe for easy chocolate mocha truffles requires only three ingredients.

Chocolate truffles are delicious candies that are easy to make at home.

This recipe uses maple syrup as a base.

You'll get unending praises for making this recipe which is unbelievably easy.

Here are the instructions for making a heart-shaped cake without a specially shaped pan.