PRODUCTS: Valentine Gifts That Aren’t Chocolate

Not everyone wants chocolate for Valentine’s Day. Here are three better-for-you options for that someone special.     1. LAUDEMIO FRESCOBALDI EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL There are enough excellent EVOOs out there to make decision-making difficult. So here’s an easy choice: Marchesi de Frescobaldi Laudemio Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil (photo #1). Silky and elegant,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Valentine Brownies, Quick Or Old School

[1] Share the love with heart-shape brownies. [2] Dutched cocoa removes the bitterness by adjusting the pH with alkali. [3] Use the best quality chocolate chips. We like Ghirardelli and Guittard (photos 1, 2 and 3 courtesy King Arthur Flour) [4] Dutched cocoa at left, and natural cocoa at right (photo courtesy Silk Road Spice…
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RECIPE: Peppadew Martini & More Ways To Use Peppadews

For Martini lovers, here’s a twist for Valentine’s Day: A peppadew stands in for a red heart on the cocktail pick, along with anything else you like. (Or, you can stack two or three peppadews on a pick.)     ADDITIONAL MARTINI GARNISHES Cocktail onion Cornichon/gherkin Cucumber chunk Lemon peel Olive Pepperoni slice Pickled garlic…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Drink Pink (& Red) For Valentine’s Day

[1] A favorite sweet treat: the Cosmopolitan. Here’s the recipe (photo courtesy Kitchen Swagger). [2] For savory palates, the Bloody Mary is spot on. Here are recipes (photo courtesy Bonefish Grill). [3] Pink sparkling: affordable and delicious (photo courtesy Martini & Rossi).   A couple of years ago, we proposed a Valentine’s Day dinner/buffet with…
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RECIPE: Potato Tot Casserole For National Tater Tot Day

February 2nd is National Tater Tot Day. First, the legal stuff: Tater Tot® (photo #1) is the registered trademark of Ore-Ida. Everything else must be called, generically, a potato tot. Here’s the history of Tater Tots: how the little nuggets came to be. Now, how about an enhancement of the original: a yummy Potato Tot…
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