With less than a week until Valentine’s Day, I hope you have your shopping done and menus planned! But, if you don’t I have compiled a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for the home, for the kitchen, for him, and for her. I also included a great roasted red pepper soup that will kick off your meal with some spice!
FOR THE HOME:
Macaron Pillow
$24
Sacre-Coeur Sparkle Heart Wall Vase
Love Star
$185
Available: http://www.lovestar.com.au/product/all-that-glitters
Lavender Lovage Candle
Jo Malone
$65
Available:
http://www.jomalone.com/product/3560/29550/For-the-Home/Home-Candles/Lavender-Lovage-Home-Candle
Everyone Says I Love You Book
There’s no better way to say “I love you” than saying it in different languages. The “Everyone Says I Love You” pop-up book, illustrated by Beegee Tolpa, features iconic elements from each location; for example, the Statue of Liberty in the U.S., a gondola in Italy and an African safari.
$12.99
Available: Papyrus Store Locations
Find your closest: http://www.papyrusonline.com/store-directory
Man Candy and Cupcakes
Add some sizzle and spice to your romantic life this Valentine’s Day by making your sweetheart some delicious treats from the brand new cookbook Man Candy and Cupcakes. Babe Scott’s new book features 40 of the most seductive and mouth-watering cupcake recipes paired alongside 4 simply irresistible and shirtless, hunky bakers who really know how to heat things up in the kitchen.
Get down on one knee and pop the question with the Six-Carat Cupcake – it’s a delectable carrot cake recipe with an edible ring on top. Or tell your sweetie how much he means to you with the I’m Nuts for You cupcake with Reese’s peanut butter cups mixed in. For the lonely hearts this Valentine’s Day, don’t be sad, just indulge yourself with the Lonesome Cowboy Cupcake – this salted caramel cupcake is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. These recipes and so many more are featured in the book.
Even if you’re not that handy in the kitchen, follow the step-by-step recipe instructions and your Valentine will absolutely melt.
$19.95
Available: http://babescott.com/
The Love List: A Guide to Getting Who You Want
Elena Murzello cannot imagine going to the grocery store without a list. As she strolls through the aisles, she relies on her list to make sure she gets her must-haves and to help keep her from grabbing items she does not need. It was with this theory in mind that, at age twenty-one, she created a list of characteristics for a potential lifelong mate that still guides her love choices to this day.
In The Love List, Elena shares her real- life experiences as well as information gathered from more than a hundred single, divorced, and married men and women about the qualities they look for in a life partner. Abstracting details from her interviews she created a process that anyone can use to create his or her own lists. Along with introspective questions to ponder, Elena includes sample lists of characteristics, the top three traits both men and women seek in a partner, an exploration of different types of relationships, and ways to diversify a portfolio of suitors.
The Love List provides practical tips and personal stories to encourage single people to look deep within, take risks, and learn to rely on their own unique lists while searching for the perfect mate.
$11.66 (paperback)
Available: http://www.amazon.com/The-Love-List-Guide-Getting/dp/1491700726
Chalkboard Napkin Rings
Mark and Graham
$15
Available: http://www.markandgraham.com/products/chalkboard-napkin-rings/?cm_src=PIPRecentView
FOR THE KITCHEN:
Be Mine Spatula
Williams-Sonoma
$12.95
Heart Ice Molds
Williams-Sonoma
$7.95
Macaron Mug
Sur la Table
$5.95
Available: http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-1770320/Macaron+Espresso+Mug
Heart Cocotte
Le Creuset
$200
Available: http://www.lecreuset.com/valentines-day-gifts/heart-cocotte
FOR HIM:
1 lb Classic Red Heart with Milk Chocolates
Sees
$23.70
Available: http://www.sees.com/prod.cfm/valentines_day_gifts/classic_red_heart_with_milk_chocolates
Bacon Roses with Vase
Ditzy Blondes
$41.39
Available: http://ditzyblondes.com/Bacon-Roses-Deluxe-in-a-vase-12-count-DBBRV.htm
Beats Pill Portable Speakers
Beats
$199.95
Available: http://www.beatsbydre.com/speakers/pill-2.0/red/900-00091.html
Sandalwood Full Size Kit with Pure Brush
The Art of Shaving
$120
American Hops Beer Soap–Made with Budweiser American Lager
The Beer Soap Company
$6.75
Available: http://www.thebeersoapcompany.com/thebeersoap/alesbockslagers/budweiser.html
Black Leather Watch Box
Personal Creations
$44.99
Available: http://gifts.personalcreations.com/gifts/black-leather-watch-box-30021059
FOR HER:
Heartbreaker Crossbody
Ora Delphine
$295
Available: http://oradelphine.com/collections/hearts-collection-2015/products/heartbreaker-crossbody-garnet
CHEERS Necklace
Nissa Jewelry
$138
Available: http://www.nissajewelry.com/cheers-necklace-limited-edition/
Champagne Charm
My Jet Set Candy
$158
Available: http://www.myjetsetcandy.com/index.php/champagne-charm-498.html?
Floppy Brim Fedora
Rag and Bone
$195
Available: http://www.rag-bone.com/floppy-brim-fedora/d/7787C17097
Textured Silk Top
Rebecca Taylor
$250
Ruthie Top and Corey Shorts in Candy
Morgan Lane
$258 (top), $128 (shorts)
Available: http://morgan-lane.com/
Diamond Sexy Necklace
La Soula
$200
Available: http://www.lasoula.com/collections/necklaces/products/sexy-diamond-necklace
Monica Sexy Satin Tee
Yasmin Joseph Lingerie
$60
Available: http://yasminjosephlingerie.com/collections/smooth-me/products/monica-sexy-satin-tee-red-1
Rocsi Hearts on Fire Top
Rails
$138
Available: http://www.railsclothing.com/collections/all-products/products/rocsi-hearts-on-fire
14k Yellow Gold and Pearl Supearlstar Earrings
Mckenzie Liautaud
$485
Available: http://www.mckenzieliautaud.com/collections/valentines-day-specials/products/supearlstar-14k-2
ROASTED RED PEPPER SOUP:
For roasting peppers:
6 Peppers (I obviously used a few red and yellow ones below!)
Method 1:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees
Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper or tin foil
Place peppers on cookie sheet
Roast in oven for 30-40 minutes or until skins of peppers are charred
While you roast them, turn the peppers once or twice during cooking
Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover it tightly with aluminum foil
Set aside for 30 minutes, or until the peppers are cool enough to handle
Remove the stem from each pepper and cut them in quarters
Remove the peels and seeds and place the peppers in a bowl along with any juices that have collected
Discard the stems, peels, and seeds.
Method 2:
Since my fire alarm couldn’t go 2 minutes without going off, I had to improvise by making my peppers on the stove
Coat the bottom of a pan lightly with olive oil (you don’t want too much as you need the char on the peppers!)
Starting to Roast the Red Peppers
Cook the peppers until the skins are charred, turning them twice during roasting
Follow the same method as above to cool, destem, and remove peppers seeds
Roasting the Red Peppers
Red pepper ingredients:
Roasted Red Peppers
1 Cup Onions
Chicken Broth
Thyme, Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Ancho Chili Powder
Roasted Red Pepper Soup Ingredients
Place all ingredients in blender (minus spices)
Ingredients in blender
Blend ingredients until smooth
Blended Red Pepper Soup Ingredients
Pour soup into crock pot and add spices (about 1 TSP each)
In the crock pot ready to be warmed
Let soup warm in crock pot on medium or low for a few hours
As it warms, taste and add spices as needed
Soup warming!
Serve in a bowl topped with sour cream, or Greek yogurt!
Red Pepper Soup!
Stay hungry…
