Let's make Valentine's Day special this year with some homemade goodness. This year, it seemed to snick up on us because of the "big game" the day before... no excuses—let's do this right!
Introduction
We love Valentine's Day. Full of love and goodwill, along with great food. But I hate 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 - Step by Step
Learn to bake perfect crispy and delicious bacon in the oven with no splatter mess to clean up. Super easy, just pop it in the oven and do something else for a while—perfect bacon every time.
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How To Cook Sausage in the Oven
Learn how to cook sausage in the oven with this easy oven "fried" method. Make great breakfast sausage, but the same method works just as well for larger sausages like brats, Italian, kielbasa, and other sausages.
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Baked Blueberry Pancakes
Delicious and fluffy oven-baked blueberry pancakes make a great breakfast. No standing there flipping all morning—just mix and bake. Make them as plain baked pancakes, or add the suggested blueberries or other fruit.
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Carrot Cake Baked Pancakes
One of the best breakfast recipes ever, amazing carrot cake baked pancakes with maple cream cheese glaze. It is so time for dessert for breakfast or breakfast for any meal.
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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.
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Main Course
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 Filet Mignon on a Gas Grill
Learn how to cook filet mignon on a grill. Grill your fillet to perfection with this simple technique in about 10 minutes. You can have the best steaks at your special dinner tonight.
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Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
Learn how to cook New York strip steaks in the oven like the best steakhouses. A little pan-searing on the stovetop, then cook in the oven to your taste. The best NY strip steaks are easy with these simple step-by-step photo instructions.
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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.
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Pan Seared Filet Mignon
Learn how to cook the perfect filet mignon in the oven like the best restaurants. A little pan-searing on the stovetop, then cook in the oven for your perfect filet. Never fail results every time that is perfect for two or a crowd.
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How to Grill a T-bone or Porterhouse Steak – A Tutorial
How to grill a T-bone steak seems to be a problem for a lot of people. You can be the "grill master" too and have an excellent grilled steak in about 10 minutes every time. Learn how with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.
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Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Learn how to cook the best pork tenderloin. A short pan sear in cast iron on the stovetop, then finish cooking in the oven to perfection in less than 30 minutes. You get the best of all worlds, excellent browning with tasty and juicy meat. Plus, it's super easy—sounds like the perfect recipe.
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Mayo Parmesan Chicken AKA Melt in Your Mouth 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.
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Enhancements
The Best Steak Marinade
This easy, mouth-watering steak marinade is not only insanely good but adds tenderness to any steak in as little as 30 minutes. Using soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and a few other pantry ingredients, you can have the best juicy steak at home in less than an hour.
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Blue Cheese and Garlic Compound Butter
Make that steak or vegetables pop with this wonderful blue cheese and garlic compound butter. Add layers of butter, garlic, and blue cheese to make the meal extra special.
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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.
Roasted Baby Potatoes
One of the easiest recipes ever with only four ingredients, roasted baby potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal, including that special holiday spread. Scrub, cut, season, and bake. This recipe is a 1/10 on the skill level but a 10/10 on the useful scale.
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Green Beans with Bacon
Step up your boring side dishes with these outstanding roasted green beans with bacon with an exceptional sauce. Ultra easy from fresh or frozen beans, this will be a family staple.
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Crispy Parmesan Baked Potatoes
Super easy and super delicious, these Parmesan baked potato halves will be your new favorite side dish. Infused with butter and garlic flavor under a crisp Parmesan crust, you can't go wrong offering this to your friends and family.
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Green Beans with Toasted Almonds
Simple one pan stovetop fresh green beans with toasted almonds make a great side dish for family or a special meal. A one-pan recipe that is so easy, it will be your go-to green bean recipe.
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Old Fashion Cheesy Potato Casserole
Old fashion cheesy potato casserole is like grandma would make using raw potatoes and other fresh ingredients. One of our favorite side-dishes and is worth the little extra work for the delicious results.
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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.
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Easy Yeast Dinner Rolls in 60 Minutes
Do you need a bread course for that special meal? Whip up 60 minutes golden brown homemade dinner rolls instead with this quick and easy yeast recipe.
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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
An irresistible berry crisp for two. Perfect for making ahead of time and slide into the oven just as you start that special meal. Remove from the oven piping hot just in time for wonderful dessert for two.
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Easy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Chocolate chip cheesecake is a creamy, decadent dessert but is one of the easiest recipes to make. While it is not "cheesecake for two," it will become your signature dessert for gatherings. Just follow the easy step-by-step photos to impress your friends and family.
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Flourless Chocolate Cake
A high-end restaurant dessert, this super easy flourless chocolate cake makes the perfect dessert for a special meal or someone special. Even the beginner can bake this wonderful cake. Make this your special signature dessert.
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Easy Apple Berry Crumble
Old-fashion apple crumble is great dessert comfort food but add some berries with a crispy crumble top and you will have your new signature dessert—quick and easy.
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Candy
Some special for the ones you love. Try adding a sprinkle of candy to on 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.
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Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate peanut clusters make the perfect holiday sweet treat. With just 5 minutes of preparation time, three ingredients, and your crock pot, your delicious chocolate peanut clusters make the perfect holiday gift, a cookie exchange, or a treat for the office Christmas party.
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Easy Candied Almonds
Candied almonds are easy to make and have a delicious mouthwatering crunchy cinnamon-vanilla crust. You only need a few ingredients and minimal skill. They make the perfect holiday gift or just a snack for the party.
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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.