• A beer expert vs. a wine expert.
• If you ever have to roast a sucking pig, here's how to do it.
• A foodie road trip to Jamaica.
• Three outdoor escapes, in Montana, Wisconsin, and California.
• A list of what to drink this summer.
• Here are 15 simple condiments you can make, along with 12 healthy fruit desserts (including the Concord Grape Granita, above).
• This month's recipes include: Sunflower Seed Dip with Dill, Sweet and Sour Carrots, Buttermilk Chicken with Crispy Cornflakes, Grilled Mini Meat Loafs, Vietnamese Chicken Salad, Four Citrus Salsa, Hot Dogs with Grilled Coleslaw, Chocolate Fondue with Fruit and Grilled Pound Cake, and Zen Sangria.

Because I love to cook, it is easy to make any meal made at home romantic. All you need is a couple of candles on the table, well-cooked food, someone special and, to follow the meal, dessert. For the main course, I would choose something easy to make, something familiar. Dessert would be my focus, since I firmly believe that anything truly romantic should end with something sweet. These are my top four most romantic desserts:

Molten Chocolate Cake - Known sometimes as a chocolate lava cake, these individual serving sized cakes are menu must haves on Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, they are often poorly made, as people simply undercook a regular chocolate cake to "create" a molten center; all they are doing is allowing batter to run all over the plate. A real molten chocolate cake should have a ball of ganache placed in the center before baking, which will melt and deliver a delicious sauce that is more delicious than any cake batter could ever be. This recipe from Epicurious substitutes chocolate pieces for the truffle center, but the Chocolate Espresso Lava Cakes are excellent, nevertheless.

It may seem a bit early right now, but Valentine's Day is just around the corner and there is scarcely a moment to waste. If you are planning to cook for your sweetheart this year, you should really make sure your kitchen is properly outfitted for the task. What could be more romantic than heart-shaped cookware?

• A heart shaped tea kettle is a charming addition to the breakfast table or to serve tea with an afternoon snack.
• A heart-shaped Le Creuset casserole makes a beautiful cooking and serving dish.
• Heart-shaped pot holders will keep your hands safe and cool while you are cooking.
• Heart-shaped mini Belgian waffles are easy with this specially-shaped waffle iron, and just the thing for a romantic breakfast in bed.
• My favorite, however, is easily the heart-shaped fondue pot. Chocolate is a Valentine's Day necessity and few things are as romantic or fun to eat as fondue.