Valentine’s Day – FoodWatcher

14 DIY V-Day Decor Ideas You Didn’t Know You Needed

Valentine’s Day has never been the most exciting celebration, especially when compared to the holiday season just-passed (and after all, it often wavers year-to-year depending on romantic status), but it does bridge the gap between January blues and th…

Valentine’s Day has never been the most exciting celebration, especially when compared to the holiday season just-passed (and after all, it often wavers year-to-year depending on romantic status), but it does bridge the gap between January blues and the promise of Spring. As a kid, my mom made Valentine's Day baskets for us: mine with pink nailpolish and mini boxes of Nerds, my brother’s with red socks and heart-shaped Reese’s cups. As an adult, I usually have a glass of wine (or two) and screen Call Me By Your Name alone on my couch, but I feel like there must be a middle ground between the two..

So this year, I propose we all give Valentine’s Day its due. Whether you’re celebrating Gal-entine’s Day (my personal favorite iteration of the holiday), a long-term love, or a new flame—go all out with some DIY decor. Decor for Valentine’s Day, you ask? Why yes, because the only sure-fire way to get in the mood for a lovey-dovey day is to set the mood for a lovey-dovey day. Plus, we all need something to do and look forward to, right?

Citrus Salad

One of the best things about winter? It’s citrus season. I love having fresh oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes to bring a bright spot to the short, dark winter days. I tend to go a little citrus crazy at the grocery store–it all smells…

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15 Nifty Valentine’s Day Gifts for Those You Love (Yes, Including Yourself)

If you ask us, it’s never a bad time to shower your loved ones with all sorts of warm and fuzzy, heartfelt affirmations. Enveloping someone in a big ol’ hug, volunteering to take out the trash when a Polar Vertex is afoot, relinquishing the last of the…

If you ask us, it's never a bad time to shower your loved ones with all sorts of warm and fuzzy, heartfelt affirmations. Enveloping someone in a big ol' hug, volunteering to take out the trash when a Polar Vertex is afoot, relinquishing the last of the Trader Joe's roasted Gorgonzola-flavored crackers (true love right there)—there are all sorts of ways to show you care.

This Valentine's Day, say ‘I love you!’ in whatever way works for you. And let these neat gifts (all things that we'd happily—and lovingly—give ourselves!) be the icing on the cake.

Linzer Cookies

This Linzer Cookies recipe is made with your choice of jam sandwiched between simple almond-flavored shortbread cookies. Easy to make and fun to customize with different shapes and flavors of jam! It’s the Year of the Linzer Cookies here in our casa! ♡ Each holiday season, there always tends to be one cookie recipe that […]

This Linzer Cookies recipe is made with your choice of jam sandwiched between simple almond-flavored shortbread cookies. Easy to make and fun to customize with different shapes and flavors of jam!

Linzer Cookies with Christmas and Snowflake Cut-Outs

It’s the Year of the Linzer Cookies here in our casa! ♡

Each holiday season, there always tends to be one cookie recipe that ends up being the new fave that we can’t stop baking. And this year, my husband and I are officially obsessed with these classic, lovely, buttery, jam-filled little delights.

Linzer cookies originally hail from Austria, where they are said to have become popular hundreds of years ago (basically as a mini version of their famous Linzer torte). They traditionally feature a sandwich of simple buttery shortbread cookies made with almond flour, which are then filled with a colorful window of raspberry jam poking through.

Nowadays, you can find variations on Linzer cookies all around the world made with all different kinds of nut flours (or nut-free), different types of fillings (jams, lemon curd, Nutella, you name it), or cut out into all sorts of different shapes and sizes (I’ve included lots of cute cookie cutter recommendations for you below). So there are lots of fun ways to get creative with these cookies! Here in our house, we’re definitely partial to the more traditional-style Linzer cookies made with almond flour, and especially love mixing a generous amount of orange or lemon zest into the dough as well. (You’re also welcome to add in some ground cinnamon if you’d like.) I also love that the shortbread recipe here is not overly sweet, so the cookies balance the jam quite nicely and really let its fruity flavor shine through. Plus they always look so fun and festive this time of year!

Anyway, I know that there are probably already a million Linzer cookie recipes out there on the internet. But after baking — oh — nearly a dozen batches of the cookies already this season (like I said, we’re a bit obsessed), my husband and I have decided that this is the Linzer cookie recipe we officially love best. So today I wanted to pop in and share it with you too!

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Brownie Cookies

I love cookies and brownies, two of my all-time favorite desserts. Combine them in ONE recipe and you’ve got the BEST dessert ever. These Brownie Cookies are phenomenal. The recipe is from 100 Cookies by Sarah Kieffer, one of my new favorite cook…

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Peanut Butter Blossoms

What are your go-to Christmas cookies? I want to know because I am always looking for new cookie recipes to try. BUT I do have my classics that I HAVE to make every year or it just isn’t Christmas. Peanut Butter Blossoms are one of those cookies …

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Brussels Sprouts Parmesan Pasta

This 30-Minute Brussels Sprouts Parmesan Pasta is made with garlicky shredded Brussels sprouts, toasted pine nuts, and a silky cheese and black pepper sauce. Feel free to add bacon or sausage if you’d like, too! Now that Brussels sprouts are back in season, we’ve been buying them pretty much non-stop lately here in our house […]

Brussels Sprouts Parmesan Pasta

Now that Brussels sprouts are back in season, we’ve been buying them pretty much non-stop lately here in our house and roasting, sautéing, and tossing them into salads basically as often as possible. I can’t get enough of these little green superfoods this time of year! But one of our favorite new recipes this past month ended up being an impromptu fusion of one of our favorite pastas (cacio e pepe) and one of our favorite side dishes (sautéed garlicky Brussels sprouts with pine nuts).

For lack of a more creative name, I’m calling it our new favorite Brussels Sprouts Parmesan Pasta. ♡

It’s a super-basic recipe that requires just 6 ingredients and comes together in less than 30 minutes. But I’m telling you, the comfort and flavor factors of this pasta are a full-on 10 outta 10. The texture of that thick and chewy al dente pasta is balanced with wisps of tender shredded Brussels sprouts and toasted buttery pine nuts. And when tossed together with a glossy butter, Parmesan, garlic and black pepper sauce, get ready to go back for seconds because I assure you that one bowl of this cozy seasonal pasta is going to have you swooning.

If you feel like adding in extra protein, some sautéed Italian sausage or bacon in there would be a very, very good idea. Or if you felt like giving the pasta more of a lemon-buttery twist, this recipe would also be delicious made instead with the lemony brown butter sauce that I used in this recipe too. However you make it, this pasta is a great way to enjoy the season’s sprouts. So bring home a batch, and let’s make some pasta together!

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Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Love red velvet cake? Try Red Velvet Cupcakes! Top these classic red velvet cupcakes with a tangy cream cheese frosting and serve them at your next birthday party or backyard potluck. Continue reading “Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese …

Love red velvet cake? Try Red Velvet Cupcakes! Top these classic red velvet cupcakes with a tangy cream cheese frosting and serve them at your next birthday party or backyard potluck.

Continue reading "Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting" »

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

This classic Roasted Tomato Basil Soup is made with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic. . Serve a grilled cheese on the side for the ultimate comforting meal! Is there anything better than a bowl of tomato basil soup? It’s one of my all-time fav…

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