Tag

Feb. 14

Browsing

Red velvet pizzelle are a perfect cookie for February

Pizzelle are the ultimate holiday cookie. In my family, we eat them for Christmas and New Year and always, always, always around Easter. We can even count on them for birthdays. Valentine’s Day was feeling left out so I put a red velvet twist on this traditional Italian cookie. The bright red color and crispy, rich chocolatey taste make them perfect for sharing with your better half. Dunk these Red Velvet Pizzelle in ice cold milk or savor with your morning coffee for a combo that will have you believing in love at first bite. Red Velvet Pizzelle Makes about 3 dozen Ingredients 3 large eggs 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp vanilla 2 tsp red food coloring Directions Preheat pizzelle iron and set aside. Lay a few low-lint…

A short but sweet history of Hershey’s kisses

The year was 1907. Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States, Oklahoma had been admitted as 46th state in the Union, and Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses came into the nation’s collective candy-loving conscious. Hershey’s has been planting its chocolaty kisses on Americans for more than 110 years. Today, the bite-sized candy is the 5th most popular chocolate brand in the country, with sales topping $400 million. To keep up with demand, more than 60 million Hershey’s Kisses are produced each day between the company’s two factories. So how exactly did this iconic candy get its lovable name? While no one alive today was there to witness the first bottom-heavy, bite-sized, chocolaty blob hit the conveyor belt, urban lore has it that the tasty treat was named for the lip-smacking sound the machinery made when dropping the melty chocolates during the manufacturing process. Naysayers argue that the word “kiss” had been a…

Heart-shaped peanut butter cookies

Soft, sweet, and chewy, who can resist peanut butter cookies? This recipe is packed with peanut flavor, sure to satisfy that peanut butter craving. They taste as delicious dunked in ice cold milk as they do all on their own. Plus, you’ll fall in love with the little heart-shaped design. This is my go-to recipe for peanut butter cookies. While I don’t always take the extra time to make them into hearts, you simply have to this time of year. It’s so easy, and no cookie cutter or rolling out dough necessary. It makes them extra fun for kids and coworkers, plus, it gives you an excuse to get baking in the first place! You can put this creative twist on just about any peanut butter cookie recipe (some of the 3-ingredients recipes are a little too crumbly to hold up). How to make heart-shaped peanut butter cookies Step 1…

The 100 most romantic restaurants in America, according to OpenTable users

Valentine’s Day is the most popular day all year for dining out, and to help diners decide where to impress the object of their affection, OpenTable has released its user generated annual list of 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America. The online restaurant reservation company creates its comprehensive list by culling more than 12 million verified diner reviews of more than 28,000 restaurants in all 50 states plus D.C. And the results? Perhaps surprisingly, Ohio tops the list with nine recognized restaurants. Texas comes in close with eight, followed by North Carolina and Virginia with seven each. Pennsylvania places fifth with six winning restaurants. And the type of food diners desire most? American cuisine-serving restaurants dominate the list, but French, Italian, Latin, Seafood, and Southern restaurants have a strong showing, so you’ll be able to customize the cuisine to whatever your love loves most. “These 100 restaurants excel at setting…

Krispy Kreme offers Conversation Hearts Doughnuts for Valentine’s Day

Conversation Hearts might be back with their little messages of love thanks to Spangler Candy Company, but Krispy Kreme doughnuts also have something to say. The delicious doughnut chain decided to launch a line of heart-shaped doughnuts, available now through Feb. 14. It can be hard to find the right words to express your love on Valentine’s Day, but offer the object of your affection a box of these pastel-colored, jelly-filled beauties, and he or she will surely know. “Finding the right word can be like, I don’t know… hard. But eating a doughnut is easy. So we printed the right words on the doughnuts for you so you can’t mess this up,” Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer Dave Skena said in a release. The decked-out doughnuts come in strawberry and kreme, cake batter, original kreme, and chocolate kreme, and include 24 sayings, like “All the feels,” “Be Mine,” “So…

Tips for making the best breakfast in bed this Valentine’s Day

On any given weekday, breakfast might mean a simple cup of coffee and perhaps a piece of toast—still warm if you’re lucky—gobbled up as you leave a trail of breadcrumbs to the door. But Valentine’s Day is a special day meant for spending with the one you love—and the food you love—so what better place to cash in on that merriment than in bed cozied up with your better half and your favorite breakfast? Here are a few tips for making the ultimate breakfast in bed. Plan ahead You don’t want to wakeup and find you’re out of OJ, or coffee, or baking powder for your waffle batter, or anything else you had anticipated being available. Get ready for your morning a few days before by planning a menu, making sure you’ll have everything you need, then head to the store to fill in the gaps. go for the good…

Chocolate raspberry thumbprints to love

Raspberry and chocolate. Need I say more? This classic combo is easy to love on Valentine’s Day or anytime you want to treat yourself — or someone else! — to something special. I wanted a quick cookie that could ship easily to those I love overseas and across country. With protection of a cookie tin and a few layers of wax paper to separate, these did the job beautifully — thanks for the idea Saving Room for Dessert.  Chocolate raspberry thumbprints Ingredients 2 cups flour, leveled 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp salt 1 cup sugar 2 sticks butter (1 cup), room temperature 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup raspberry jam, stirred (seeded or unseeded) Optional: 2 tbsp milk Optional: crushed pistachios, Directions In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside. In a stand mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar…

14 things you should cover in chocolate for Valentine’s Day

Chocolate covered strawberries are incredible, but most things tastes delicious when smothered in a layer of smooth, warm, chocolate. Why not expand your skills this year, and try something new? Here are 14 new ideas for that pot of tempered, melty fudge. Marshmallow pops To get to that delicious, chewy marshmallow you must first break through a layer of sweet, melty fudge first. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/553520610438069437/ Banana split bites Most fruits can be a perfect companion to luscious chocolate. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/202591683215403774/ Chocolate and bacon covered pretzels A way to his heart… https://www.pinterest.com/pin/206602701631196610/ Chocolate covered apple slices Be sure to use good, firm apples for best results. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/302585668692928251/ Chocolate covered cookie dough balls Imagine receiving a heart-shaped box of these beauties. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/108790147222673563/ Chocolate covered potato chips Sweet and salty is always a good combo. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/13370130119218641/ Chocolate covered jalApeños Raise the heat this Valentine’s Day with these chocolate covered jalapeños. Spicy and smooth are an excellent…

These are the 100 Most romantic restaurants in America

Sometimes you just need to fill your stomach, but other times, you’re going out for the food as much as the ambiance. As the biggest dining out holiday of the year approaches, OpenTable, an online provider of dining reservations, unveiled what users voted as the most romantic restaurants. More than 12 million verified experiences were tabulated, so it’s safe to say this isn’t just one person’s opinion on romance. The complete list is pretty diverse and includes 32 different states. The food includes everything from Italian and French to steakhouses — proving the right atmosphere and charming location matters just as much, if not more than the type of food served. Listed in alphabetical order, here are the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2018. 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2018 Altius – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd08yzeljz2/?taken-by=altius_pgh Ariana – Bend, Oregon https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbr9_dTBBQs/?taken-at=1986676 Arrowleaf Bistro – Winthrop, Washington https://www.instagram.com/p/w2vgC6pCVN/?taken-by=arrowleafbistro…

Survey reveals most popular Valentine’s Day candy by state

It’s no secret that people spend big bucks for gifts on Valentine’s Day. Flowers, perfume, jewelry, romantic getaways, and, of course, candy. It’s projected that Americans will spend about $1.8 billion on the sweet stuff in the weeks leading up to the holiday of love. But if you’re not sure what kind of sugar to buy your sweetie, a glance at this state-by-state map of favorite candies might give you some inspiration. CandyStore.com analyzed 10 years of online bulk candy sales from January 1 through February 14 every year to revel the trends. And it looks like there’s a new candy king in town. Conversation hearts are favored by more people than the traditional heart-shaped box of chocolates. Other lovable favorites like Hershey Kisses and chocolate hearts also made the list. So which candy does your state prefer? Does it sync with your own favorites? When it comes to Valentine’s Day…