The first Irish cream liqueur on the market, Baileys was created by Gilbeys of Ireland, a division of International Distillers & Vintners. No one named Bailey was involved: The name was inspired by Bailey’s Hotel in London, an elegant Victorian townhouse in South Kensington that is now owned by Millennium Hotels.

Over the years, the Original Baileys flavor had been joined by Caramel, Coffee and Mint variations. The most recent is Bailey’s Hazelnut.

Any of the flavors would make a delicious Valentine gift, or a recipe ingredient in a cold or hot drink and/or dessert. You can even add it to your chocolate truffles recipe (or use one of Baileys’ recipes).

Baileys Hazelnut Cream. Photo courtesy Gilbeys.

Grab the Johnny Walker and perk up your
marmalade. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE
NIBBLE.

RECIPES WITH BAILEYS IRISH CREAM

While you can sip away on the rocks or in a hot drink, we love Baileys on ice cream: cookies or biscotti

Check out all of the Baileys Irish Cream recipes.

FIND MORE OF OUR FAVORITE LIQUEURS, SPIRITS & COCKTAIL RECIPES IN OUR COCKTAILS SECTION.

We recently received a gift shipment of jams from Blake Hill Preserves of Grafton, Vermont, artisanal producers of chutneys, jams and marmalades.

The fruits are sourced from local farms in season, when they’re perfectly ripe. Every batch is prepared by hand in a Vermont cottage kitchen.

The four jars we received were equally delicious. The company focuses on combinations of flavors: Blackberry & Rhubarb, Blueberries & Summer Plum, Raspberry & Hibiscus Strawberry & Rhubarb. The line is certified kosher by OU.

The jams are cooked slowly in traditional French copper preserving pans to concentrate the fruit flavors. Raw cane sugar is used as a sweetener; no commercial pectin or other additives are used.

It takes eight to nine ounces of raw fruit to make every 10 ounce jar of jam or preserves. Compare that to large commercial brands, which can be 70% sugar.

Raspberry jam is enhanced with hibiscus, creating a special flavor combination. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

Blake Hill Preserves also makes what they call “Top Shelf Marmalades,” which add a splash of premium spirits:

 
While you can certainly enjoy spiked marmalade on your morning toast, they (as with all jams) can be used as a glaze for grilled fish and meats, as a cheese condiment or an ice cream/sorbet topping.

You can purchase the spirited and alcohol-free jams directly from Blake Hill Preserves. But you can also make your own.

There are two ways to do this: easier and easy. Start with already-made jam or marmalade, unless you’re up to the challenge of making it from scratch.

Be sure to use good ingredients: quality jam/marmalade/preserves and quality Scotch, Tequila or other spirit.

The Easier Way

 
The Easy Way

JAM, PRESERVES, MARMALADE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Jam, jelly, marmalade and preserves are popular types of fruit spreads, which also include chutney, curd and fruit butter.

Check out how they differ from each other in our Jam Glossary.

First up are these heart-shaped cheesecakes from Harry & David:

 
Buy the cheesecakes online at HarryAndDavid.com.
 
Or…
 
BAKE YOUR OWN HEART SHAPED CHEESECAKE

You’ll need a heart-shaped springform in the right size for your recipe:

 
> Here are our favorite cheesecake recipes.

Two 12-ounce cheesecakes make a doubly good Valentine’s treat. Photo courtesy Harry and David.

If your Valentine isn’t partial to sweets, here are five savory cheesecake recipes, which can be enjoyed with Champagne or other aperitif, as an appetizer or as a cheese course/savory dessert. The tempting flavors:

 
These savory cheesecakes are one of our favorite cocktail party foods, set out with an assortment of crackers and toasts. So even if they won’t be on your menu for Valentine’s Day, keep them in mind for other festivities.
 
 

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