25 Best Valentine's Day Desserts

Scroll down for the link to the recipes.
I wish I could say they were mine but I do not make desserts on V Day because this is a holiday I do not celebrate.
I know what you're thinking:
"GeeGee is a freak" or "GeeGee is a single white spinster with 20 cats" or "GeeGee is bitter" but you would be wrong.
I only have 5 cats.
I am happily married.
I just don't find baking as enjoyable as cooking.
Why? Only my therapist knows for sure.
But don't let my hang-ups stop you,

http://www.midwestliving.com/food/holiday/25-best-valentines-day-dessert-recipes/

For those of you too lazy to click on the link, here is the recipe.
(You're welcome)

Dress up rice cereal hearts with frosting, pretzels, peanut butter, chocolate and other flavors for Valentine's Day treats.

ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 10 - ounce package tiny marshmallows
• 1 13 - ounce jar marshmallow creme
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 7 cups crisp rice cereal

directions

1. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over edges of pan. Lightly butter foil; set pan aside.
2. In a 6- to 8-quart heavy Dutch oven melt the 1/4 cup butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows. Cook and stir until marshmallows are melted and smooth. Stir in marshmallow creme, vanilla, and salt until combined. Remove from heat. Add cereal to marshmallow mixture, stirring gently to coat.
3. Transfer cereal mixture to the prepared baking pan. Using a buttered spatula or buttered waxed paper, press mixture firmly and evenly into pan. Let stand until set
4. Using the edges of the foil, lift uncut bars out of pan. Using a buttered long knife, cut into bars.

storage

• To Store: Wrap bars individually in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

variation

• Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallow Treats: In a small heavy saucepan cook and stir 1 1/2 cups bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces and 6 ounces chocolate-flavor candy coating over low heat until melted and smooth. Cut bars as directed. Dip half of each heart into melted chocolate mixture, letting excess drip back into saucepan. Place on waxed paper. If desired, sprinkle with desired sprinkles.

variation

• Caramel-Pretzel Mallow Treats: Carefully spread caramel-flavor ice cream topping over cereal mixture. Sprinkle with chopped pretzels.

variation

• PB&J Treats: Carefully spread creamy peanut butter over cereal mixture. Dot with strawberry or grape jelly on top of peanut butter. Using a knife or small metal spatula, swirl the jelly into the peanut butter.

variation

• Frosting 'n Sprinkle Treats: Spread canned vanilla frosting over cereal mixture. Sprinkle with multicolored jimmies.

nutrition facts

(Valentine's Day Marshmallow Treats)

Servings Per Recipe 12, Trans fatty acid (g) 0, fiber (g) 0, sugar (g) 30, pro. (g) 2, Monounsaturated fat (g) 1, Polyunsaturated fat (g) 0, vit. C (mg) 10, vit. A (IU) 1143, Riboflavin (mg) 0, Thiamin (mg) 0, Folate (µg) 94, Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) (mg) 0, Niacin (mg) 3, calcium (mg) 3, Potassium (mg) 23, sodium (mg) 208, Cobalamin (Vit. B12) (µg) 1, iron (mg) 5, Mark as Free Exchange () 0, carb. (g) 57, sat. fat (g) 3, chol. (mg) 10, Fat, total (g) 4, cal. (kcal) 272

Laughing Cow Cheese Soup

I love soups during the cold months and can eat them almost every day.
This is a really quick and easy recipe. It's also versatile in that you can use whichever vegetables you like. This one called for zucchini and onion. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ingredients: zucchini, onion, chicken stock, Laughing Cow cheese, cumin, salt, black pepper(not pictured) and dill (not pictured).

Forgive the terrible quality of the photography.
But you get the gist.
Chop onion and zucchini.


Throw veggies into two cups of chicken broth (or water with chicken boullion cube). 
Cook for 15 mins. The liquid will not cover the veggies, but that's okay. They will steam up quite nice. Taste broth before adding salt. Add pepper and cumin to taste. Add dill if you like it. You can use chervil or mint if you don't like dill. I sometimes add paprika.

Add 4 triangles of cheese. Don't tell anyone but sometimes I use more. 

When soup has slightly cooled off, you puree it in either a food processor or with a hand wand.


The finished product.

Bacon Potato Cheese Pie (AKA Heart attack in a pan)

This is true belly pleasing comfort food for an Arctic day when you've had enough of winter to fill your teeth. It's a recipe I found on the Food Channel from Canadian chef Michael Smith. Naturally, I've altered it a bit because that is what the inner mad scientist in me does from time to time.
Okay. Always.
Whatever.
Don't be judgy.
It's not polite.


Please consult with a cardiologist before attempting to eat this.


You can use less bacon, or replace with turkey bacon, although turkey bacon may cook faster.


Add potato slices and season with black pepper and spices of your choice. I used Spike seasoning, but oregano is good, too. You can add fried onions, garlic, bell peppers, whatever (which is what I did). 
Use your imagination. Let it go wild. 
A friend of mine made it with shredded potatoes.


Cover potatoes with generous heaping of sharp cheddar cheese. or whichever kind you prefer. 


Layer again with potatoes and cheese. You can make three layers. I made two cuz I didn't have the patience. If you have the patience then please forward me the name of your therapist.



Bake at 325F for 3 hours with a lid on. I took lid off for last 20 mins to crisp the bacon up. You can leave it off for longer if you want it crispier.


Cover with a lid. It doesn't have to be as big as the one I used, or as fancy...ha ha ha ha. Put pan on a cookie sheet to catch the dripping fat. Oh, if only Martha Stewart could see this. 


This is what it looks like half eaten. Oh, and don't look at me! I wasn't the glutton in this case.


My man Kevin was the guinea pig, and he squealed with pleasure. Kevin's last name should be bacon. He eats enough of it. Get it? Kevin Bacon? Bahahahahaha...er. Never mind. 



This is what Chef Michael Smith's finished product looks like. He crisped the bacon until it was crunchy and burnty on top.

My Favourite Products: Can't Live Without 'Em.

I use this in my meats and vegetables. 


My new best friends! They make my life so much easier and tastier.


I use this to make healthier mini pizzas. Just add your tomato sauce and favourite toppings and Bob's your uncle!



One of my fave seasonings...OAK GROVE FISH FRY from Smokehouse Inc. 
Makes the crispiest tastiest chicken and fish.
Check out their products online. 

For cheese lovers...here is my latest addiction: 
I put it in soups (a MUST in taco soup!), chili, salads, scrambled eggs, wraps, on burgers and sandwiches...in short, everything. It is wicked good.

Foods I Have Encountered Across the Globe

Okay. Full disclosure...I have only been to a few countries, but still. They are located in the Globe and that's good enough for me. Let it be good enough for you. Also: try not to salivate.

Best ever eclairs from the Mariposa Market, Orillia, Ontario.


The most unique and delicious breakfast in Leslieville Village, Toronto.


Complimentary breakfast for two at a swell hotel in Kosice.


Braised beef with red wine poutine, New York Fries, Toronto.



Chicken schnitzel in Mariazell.


Potato salad in Mariazell.


Sauerkraut soup with Chabai sausage, smoked ham and sour cream in the old city of Bratislava.



Pork chops in a village in Slovakia.



Spinach and cheese Phylo dish that melted in my mouth in Vienna.



Chocolate mousse with cream and raspberry sauce in Vienna.


Apple strudel type dessert in the shape of a rose in Grinzing, Austria.

Fresh baklava in Istanbul.


The fish is so good. Nothing at all like the neon green fish in our polluted lakes.



Wraps from The Meat House Restaurant in Istanbul



Traditional breakfast in Goreme, Turkey.
Don't let the fact that it's healthy put you off.


Chicken and vegetable pottery casserole in villages across Cappadochia, Turkey.
Before they break the ceramic pot in half...



And after...



Turkey (the country, not the meat) continued...beef casserole.




My aunt's open faced sandwiches in Petrzalka, Slovakia.
When my aunt invites you over for "just a coffee", be prepared to strap a feedbag on and consume a platter of these sandwiches. It is considered rude to eat only three, so you better be hungry. Do not do something stupid like eat before you go over. Just saying.


Aerial view of  pork loin wrapped in (you guessed it) more pork.
Made by my cousin in the Czech Republic.



She stuffed the inside with veggies and ham.
In the event that you were reading this with your eyes closed, the Czechs eat a lot of pork.



My cousin's homemade Moravian pastries.


Pork Leg in the Prater (Austria).



Beef and Potato in Vienna.



Gulas and dumplings in Prague.
I make a mean Gulas and will share the recipe with you someday.



Pizza and salad in Burano.



Marzipan in Venice.