Don't let that big game on Sunday distract you, Valentine's Day is coming fast, and you must get your plan in place. Not doing it is like missing your anniversary—no excuses. Get planning today with some of these easy and delicious recipes.
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We love Valentine's Day. Full of love and goodwill, along with great food. But I wouldn't say I like crowded restaurants. We can do much better at home. Let's review some of my top recipes that are easy to make.
Breakfast
We all need a great start to the day. We always go with the baked sausage and blueberry pancake. So good.
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven—Quick and Easy
Oven baked bacon is the easiest way to cook bacon with no mess and no splatter while you do something else—perfect crispy bacon every time from your convection oven on an aluminum foil covered tray.
How To Cook Sausage in the Oven
Cooking sausage in the oven is the best and easiest way to cook any sausage, like breakfast sausage patties or links, smoked sausage, Kielbasa, Italian sausage, or even brats—perfectly moist and tender results.
Baked Blueberry Pancakes
Delicious and fluffy oven-baked blueberry pancakes make a great breakfast. No standing there flipping all morning—mix and bake.
Oven Baked Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cream Cheese Glaze
One of the best breakfast recipes is this amazing Oven Baked Carrot Cake Pancake with cream cheese glaze. It is time for dessert for breakfast or breakfast for any meal.
Small Cinnamon Roll Cake
Cinnamon Roll Cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. All the wonderful taste of gooey Cinnabon rolls and topped with a drizzle of vanilla icing. This easy smaller recipe is ideal for a small household or quickly doubled to full size.
Steak, Steak, and More Steak
For us, an extraordinary meal starts with beef, but we are flexible. Although pork and chicken are great, and I love Italian and Mexican, here are my top beef recipes, plus a chicken and pork if you must. I also include a couple of enhancements.
How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
Learn How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill that is tender and juicy with these easy step-by-step photo instructions. You can be the grill master, too.
How to Grill Filet Mignon
Learn How to Grill Filet Mignon to perfection in about 10 minutes. With these simple step-by-step photo instructions, you can easily cook the best grilled filet mignon.
Pan Seared Filet Mignon
The perfect Filet Mignon Recipe uses the tried and true sear and oven bake method to get the best filet mignon every time—moist, tender, and flavorful.
Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
Quick and easy, this New York Strip Steak Recipe uses the tried and true sear and oven bake method to get the best steaks every time. Your steaks will be moist, tender, and flavorful.
How to Grill Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
Learn to grill your New York strip steaks to perfection on your grill. The best juice and tender strip steaks are easy with this never-fail recipe that will serve you well for many years.
How to Grill a T-bone or Porterhouse Steak – A Tutorial
Grilled T-bone and Porterhouse steaks are easy with just a few steps. Start with a great steak, season simply, and cook over high heat. Get perfect grilled steaks every time.
Steak Enhancements
The Best Steak Marinade
This easy, mouth-watering Steak Marinade adds delicious flavors and tenderness to any steak in as little as 30 minutes—perfect for strip steaks.
Blue Cheese Compound Butter
Blue Cheese Compound Butter makes steaks and vegetables pop with flavor. Add layers of flavor to make your meal extra special with this easy recipe.
Easy Italian
I'm always up for great Italian and double points if it's easy.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Delicious Crock Pot Baked Zit has delicious meat sauce, three kinds of cheese, plus uncooked pasta baked in the slow cooker. You can have the best Italian pasta for dinner tonight.
Healthy Chicken Parmesan—Oven Baked
This Healthy Chicken Parmesan can be made at home in about an hour. Make it for two or make it for a crowd with better-than-restaurant results.
Mayo Parmesan Chicken
You can't have enough great chicken recipes, and this quick and easy recipe uses only a few ingredients and goes in the oven in about 10 minutes. Also known as Melt in Your Mouth Chicken (MIYM), it makes a moist and delicious easy dinner.
Soups
Soups are good as the main dish or an additional course. All are easy and can be made ahead.
Easy Crock Pot French Onion Soup—Long and Slow
Classic French Onion Soup features beefy broth loaded with caramelized onions. Cooked all day in your crock pot, then topped with crusty bread and melted cheese.
Quick and Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
This quick and easy Broccoli Cheese Soup uses fresh or frozen broccoli and cheddar, Velveeta, or other cheeses. Make it a copycat of Panera's Broccoli Cheese Soup or one of the other variations.
Easy Pasta e Fagioli Soup—Stovetop or Crock Pot
Pasta e Fagioli soup is thick and hardy with beans, pasta, vegetables, a spicy tomato sauce, and optional meat. You can easily make this Olive Garden copycat at home on the stovetop or in your crock pot.
Veggies and other side dishes
Side dishes make or break the meal. Here are some of our favorites—a little of this and a little of that.
Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes
Quick and easy Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes make the perfect side dish for any meal—great garlic-tasting crisp potatoes on the outside with a tender inside.
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Baked Green Beans with Bacon are the perfect side dish with any meal—an easy green bean recipe with brown sugar, garlic, bacon, and tender green beans.
Parmesan Baked Potatoes
Quick and easy Parmesan Baked Potatoes halves have a creamy center and a crispy Parmesan cheese crust with butter and garlic.
Green Beans with Almonds—Quick & Easy
Delicious Green Beans with Almonds are the perfect side dish for any meal. A simplified version of green bean Almondine only takes 20 minutes with fresh ingredients.
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
This caramelized Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe will become your favorite way to cook cauliflower. Using fresh or frozen, it makes a great hot baked side dish.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
Cheesy potatoes with real potatoes from scratch, like grandma would make With no soup and no frozen potatoes, it is loaded with tasty creamy real potatoes.
Quick and Easy Yeast Dinner Rolls
These Quick and Easy Yeast Dinner Rolls are golden brown with a buttery crust and tender inside. Perfect for holiday meals or your family dinner.
Desserts
Sweet endings are a must for a great meal but are especially important on Valentine's Day. I would skip everything for one of these.
Berry Crisp for Two or More
An irresistible berry crisp for two that's easy to adjust up or down to fit your needs. Use fresh or frozen berries, then follow the easy step-by-step photo instructions.
Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache Glaze
It's easy to make this classic, eloquent dessert by following simple step-by-step instructions. Finish with a chocolate ganache glaze, and you have the perfect decadent ending to any special dinner.
Philadelphia Cheesecake Recipe—Vanilla or Chocolate Chip
Philadelphia Cheesecake Recipe is a creamy, decadent dessert but is an easy recipe to make as classic vanilla or with mini chocolate chips—it will become your signature dessert.
Apple Berry Crumble—Quick & Easy
A quick and easy version of an old-fashion apple crumble even the beginner can make. Go the easy route with frozen berries and pie filling, or use fresh berries and apples. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect company dessert or a family favorite.
Candy
Something special for the ones you love. Add red sprinkle candies to the nut clusters to make them special for the holiday.
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate peanut clusters are the best candy treat and are super easy to make at home in your crock pot. Lightly salted peanuts covered with sweet chocolate coating make the perfect gift, or keep them all for yourself—you can always make more with this smaller recipe.Only a few ingredients.
Candied Almonds or Other Candied Nuts
This easy roasted candied almonds recipe makes the perfect holiday gift and a great crunchy party snack. Or make some delicious candied mixed nuts or other nuts with only a few ingredients and minimal skill.
Don't forget the dog treats.
Low-Fat Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Delicious
Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect low-calorie treat for your dog. With only five ingredients, your dog will love the peanut butter and pumpkin taste. Much healthier than commercial treats—any veterinarian would approve.
Editor's Note: Originally Published February 11, 2017, and updated yearly with new recommendations.
Jane
Your Flourless Chocolate Cake is a favourite in this Canadian household. The only debate is to whether the Ganache tastes better made with cream or sour cream. Thank you for your sensible achievable recipes.