GIFTS: Fine Chocolate For Your Valentine

There’s a lot of Valentine chocolate out there. Where to begin? Here are two of our favorites artisan chocolatiers, with wares just waiting for you to take a bite.     JOHN & KIRA’S John and Kira’s boutique chocolate company launched in 2002; from the beginning it has generated raves for its artisan bonbons (photos…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Red Grapefruit For Valentine’s Day

[1] Section the flesh with a serrated grapefruit knife or grapefruit spoons (photo © Budays Mart | Amazon). [2] How about a yogurt parfait for breakfast or lunch, here with some lime and mint? Here’s the recipe from Taste Of Home (photo © Taste Of Home). [3] For lunch or dinner, add red grapefruit segments…
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FOOD FUN: Valentine Tacos

If you can find Ortega’s Red Bell Pepper Taco Shells*, you can make Valentine Tacos (photo #1). Or, arrange conventional tacos in a heart shape (photo #2). In either case, top Valentine tortillas with your favorite red garnishes, such as: Bell pepper Onion Radish Tomato   Top fish tacos with rosy pink imitation crab leg…
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VALENTINE’S DAY: Magnum Ruby Ice Cream Bars (Real Pink Chocolate!)

[1] Magnum’s Ruby Mini Ice Cream Bar (photo © Magnum Ice Cream).   A few months ago we wrote about ruby chocolate, the fourth type of chocolate after dark, milk and white. Ruby is the first new chocolate in 80 years. The pink-colored chocolate gets its hue naturally, from a particular type of cacao bean.…
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VALENTINE GIFT: A Peppercorn Plant (Piper Nigrum)

Many people grow herbs at home. How about peppercorns? If your Valentine has a green thumb, a peppercorn plant is a different kind of gift. You can grow one as a houseplant (photo #1); or if you live in a semi-tropical climate, you can grow it outdoors (here’s what you need to know to grow…
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