I realize this topic may be a little more suited to Valentine's Day, but I think we should treat every day as Valentine's Day. Besides, I am a firm believer in the saying that food is love.

Eric over at the Jew and the Carrot was reminiscing with his parents about the home made latkes his mother used to make for his father. This led to the question, posed to readers, of how you might show your love with food. I personally like to make my special chocolate cookies for new boyfriends, and birthday cakes for family and friends. Also, every Christmas I like to make special goody packages for close relatives that live far away.

So, if food is love, how do you show your love?

With only a few days left until Valentine's, we thought that it would be fun to take a look at the role that food can play in our relationships with a little series leading into February 14th. Only one day left in the countdown, now!

If you're looking for a recipe for romance, are you more likely to plan for dinner at home, or to make a reservation at your favorite romantic restaurant? There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. Eating at home will give you control over the food and the atmosphere, both of which can be tailored to your, or your significant other's, tastes. The drawbacks are that you have to do all of the prep work yourself, as well as the cleanup, and you're limited by what you have to work with, which could mean mismatched serving pieces and no espresso after dinner.

In a restaurant, you won't get the kind of privacy that you can enjoy at home and you are limited in your menu options - especially on Valentine's Day when many places offer prix fixe dinners. On the positive side, you are free to focus all of your attention on your dining partner, rather than on cooking and cleanup.

Restaurants are a done deal, but if you do decide to dine in, there are a couple of alternatives to you doing all the cooking and serving. For example, you could consider hiring a personal chef to work for the night, effectively bringing the restaurant home. Alternatively, you could cook with your partner, which will keep you together, engaged and making a very special meal.

Not just any food can be sexy. It is a delicate balance of flavors and textures that can make a person feel sexy when they are eating, but for centuries people have believed that some foods have special properties - properties beyond their obvious flavor qualities - that stimulate the romantic and/or sexual appetite. Basically, science has discounted many (if not all) of the mythological properties of these aphrodisiacs, though it doesn't change the fact that some foods make you feel better than others and Intercourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook presents 85 luscious recipes that present them to their best advantage. It is divided up into sections according to ingredient, including chocolate, avocados, figs, oysters, basil and grapes. Whether you choose to believe that they really to have aphrodisiac qualities or they just make you feel good because of their great taste is up to you, but the recipes are lovely no matter what your beliefs are and include dishes such as Orange Blossom Panna Cotta, Grilled Vietnamese Gingered Beef Rolls, Mexican Hot Chocolate and Strawberry Avocado Salad. The recipes are followed by sections on massage oils, seduction, horoscopes and erogenous oils. Not exactly traditional cookbook fare, but perhaps not a bad way to end a Valentine's meal....

This toaster seems like it could lead to problems. Sure, the first couple of days you may get a kick out of buttering toast that says:  "I Love You." But what about Day 18? What if you're not particularly happy with your lover and you have to make them a piece of toast? And what happens if you accidentally burn the toast? Perhaps your lover will get suspicious if he or she gets a piece of blackened toast that says "I Love You."  I wouldn't touch this toaster, but I'm sure someone is ordering it right now. It's about $53 via Gadgets.co.uk.

 

 

I've been sick with a cold, and it's Valentine's Day, and so what? I've had this cold so long I'm sick of writing about remedies. I want to address some things that many have come to me about, mainly, the secrets of getting a nice dinner squeezed into life between the time you go out after work to have a few drinks or go to a party and the time you go home and go to bed.

We all know the feeling of being out on a Valentine's Day date for a few drinks, and you start to get dizzy, and the hunger is affecting your ability to be glib. You are even starting to get angry, but mentioning food on the first date of "let's meet for coffee/a drink" seems so terribly vulgar. 

This is the age of the anorexic, when needing to eat all the time is a sign of weakness. There is nothing wrong with going out to eat of course, but being the one who suggests it, right before you pass out from hunger even though you've just had three bowls of popcorn at the bar, that's not cool. Nor is saying "Hope you don't mind if I go ahead and order something," and then trying to look sexy while scarfing down a giant cheeseburger, your eyes bulging out of your head as you try and fit a bite into your mouth.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who simply do not care for chocolate. It can be too bitter or too rich for some, while others don't really like the flavor. It is possible that, while they might enjoy the occasional piece, your Valentine simply would prefer to get something other than a box of decadent dark chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day.

In the candy category, caramel is at least equal to chocolate in richness and flavor. Many caramels are sold covered in chocolate, but the Little Flower Candy Company in Los Angeles, makes unbelievably delicious (and chocolate free) Sea Salt Caramels, which would be an unusual, sweet treat for your Valentine. They also have a wide variety of marshmallows, though most would still think that they are best when paired with hot chocolate. Other candy options might include divinity or even peanut brittle, which is certainly tasty, if not particularly romantic.

If you're looking for a love potion on Valentine's Day, finding one could be a challenge. After all, so many people have different tastes. Your Valentine might prefer fruity drinks, while mine might want something truly exotic. Unless you happen to know a gypsy called Madame Rue, Love Potion Number 9 is best left to The Searchers. Alcohol is probably the next best thing and Star Chefs has accumulated a collection of love potion cocktails from the best restaurants in the country.  Slashfood's favorite potions from the list include:

• Sex and Honey, from Fat Fish in West Hollywood, CA
• Sweetheart Cocktail, from Flatiron Lounge in New York, NY
• Gingersnap, from Tabla in New York, NY
• White Chocolate Martini, from Pravda in New York, NY
• Black Cat Love Potion, from Black Cat in San Francisco, CA

Because frosting cookies, even for a special occasion like Valentine's Day, sometimes to require more of a time commitment than we are able to make, it is nice to have a simple decorating stick up your sleeve. Or in this case, in your kitchen drawer. All you need to make these heartbreakers is a heart shaped cookie cutter and a knife. After punching out the heart shape, simply use a small, sharp knife to cut a zig zag line into the cookie. Pull the edges slightly apart so the line doesn't seal itself up during baking. You can roll them in sugar, as I did here, or simple leave them plain.

On Valentine's Day, more than 30% of all Americans will eat at a restaurant, making it the second most popular holiday for dining out, after Mother's Day. When numbers are broken down by age, it is not surprising to see that for people between the ages of 25 and 34, the numbers are much higher, with 41% of people dining at a restaurant on February 14. The highest numbers are among the 18-24 year olds, with 47% percent heading out to eat. Those who dine out will spend an average of $62 dollars on dinner, while possibly spending more on gifts such as chocolates and flowers. OpenTable.com is a great way to check for reservations are some of your favorite restaurants across the country and the world.

Though dining out can be fun and romantic, for some lovebirds there is nothing as romantic as a home-cooked meal shared across a table for two. Cooking together or cooking for a loved one can be a more romantic and thoughtful gift than a box of chocolates, for those who enjoy cooking.

There is no way to say "I love you" on Valentine's Day better than saying it with chocolate. It is the number one gift for the holiday and typically, it is men giving it to women. But girls aren't the only ones who like chocolate. See's Candies makes an elegant Tuxedo Heart box of chocolate just for girls to give to their guys on Valentine's Day. The box retails for $21.35 and is filled with one pound of delicious, assorted See's candies, including Milk and Dark Chocolate Buttercreams in Chocolate and Vanilla, silky Caramels, crisp Molasses Chips, light and decadent Truffles and solid, red foil-wrapped Chocolate Hearts. And ladies, if you ask nicely, I bet he'll share a piece or two. Of course, you could always buy your own box, just in case.

See's, based in California, will ship all over the country, but place your orders early to ensure they reach your Valentine on time.

All week we'll be bringing you stories of how to win the heart of someone you long for with nothing more than a few comestibles and a way with a whisk, a chef's knife, or a hot cooktop. Everyone knows the way to anyone's heart is through the stomach. We'll show you the best, the craftiest, the sweetiest, saltiest, and spiciest ways. You can send the wedding invitations here.

My gravy has won the heart of many a man. But nothing, to my husband, says love more than this image here: me, whisking away, creating creamy salty poultrified deliciousness. Even Saveur agrees.

Always, I bring him the first taste, on my spoon procured just for the purpose. Sometimes I'll surprise him, when he thinks I'm making some mundane meal, a gratin or a soup, I'll get out the chicken stock base, I'll make a roux, and create bubbly magic. It never fails to make him fall in love with me all over again. Like Saturday night; he came home from a 12-hour day doing Army Reserve duties and I made him pork chops with gravy.

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.

Would it even be an American holiday without a special edition soda from Jones? This year Jones is introducing its limited edition "Love Potion #6" soda in a special pack that includes two bottles of the pink drink, Love Potion #6 lip balm, a CD sampler, and a coupon book full of "love coupons" to exchange with your sweetheart.

Jones Sodas are available at Target, a variety of other retailers, or online, where you can purchase the pack for $9.99 plus shipping. Jones will be sending out 10,000 Valentine's packs to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Which is all fine and dandy. But what I want to know: how does it taste? A pack is wending its way from Seattle to me, I'll give a full report in a few days...