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Recently my daughter kept getting sick (and still a bit sick) and I haven’t had the chance to squeeze in some time to make desserts for this year’s Valentine’s Day. Hopefully you will enjoy these yummy recipes from the past and I will try to add more dessert recipes for next year’s Valentine’s Day roundup! As some of you are aware, I’m still a novice baker who only bakes and makes desserts occasionally; however, these recipes are my family and friends’ favorites and I hope you enjoy making these delicious chocolate recipes....

Preparation If you love to cook, then you likely already have an array of cookware in your cabinets, from cast-iron skillets to stainless-steel saucepans. These types of pans serve different purposes, though, based on how the food you cook will react to them. This is because they fall in two separate categories: reactive and non-reactive. Before you reach for a pan to cook your next meal, it’s important to understand the difference between reactive and nonreactive pans, which will ensure you always reach for the correct pan for the task at hand....

Ingredients 1/3 cup shortening 4 to 4 cups powdered sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream Preparation Stir together shortening, 1 cup of the powdered sugar, the vanilla and salt in medium bowl. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and whipping cream with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth enough to spread. Related Video

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, start it right with this Bagel Sandwich or a bowl of Oatmeal, or a sweet breakfast like our Classic French Toast! BREAKFAST BAGEL SANDWICH- This delicious sandwich is so easy to make and makes for such a filling and hearty breakfast! Scrambled eggs, bacon, ham with melted cheese sandwiched in between toasted bagels, SO GOOD! INGREDIENTS- Bagel– You can use your favorite bagel flavor....

Ingredients 1 lb bulk breakfast pork sausage 12 eggs 1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles, drained 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz) Salt and pepper to taste 8 (12-inch) flour tortillas Preparation In 12-inch skillet, cook sausage, stirring frequently, until no longer pink. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat eggs with whisk until well blended. When sausage is thoroughly cooked, pour eggs into skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, as eggs set up....

Dear readers, Welcome to the 2nd restaurant review on Just One Cookbook (the first review here)! Before I get started on the review on Cetrella, I want to share a little story about Nami and me. Nami and I both appreciate good food but our favorite foods are actually very different. I love food so spicy that my tears come out when I am eating them and Nami cannot take any spice at all....

Ingredients 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ carrot cake mix 1 1/2 cups sliced very ripe bananas (about 3 medium) 1/3 cup sour cream 4 eggs 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup vegetable oil Preparation Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan)....

Ingredients Butter for greasing 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup cold water 1 container (1 lb) cocktail peanuts (3 cups) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon butter (do not use margarine) Preparation Generously grease large cookie sheet and wooden spoon with butter. In 2-quart nonstick saucepan, heat corn syrup, sugar and water to boiling, stirring frequently. Boil 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture reaches 230°F to 234°F on candy thermometer and forms a long thread when spoon is lifted and held above pan....

Ingredients 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated) 1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups) 1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts Preparation Grease 8-inch square baking dish with butter. In 2-quart microwavable bowl, stir condensed milk and chocolate chips; add baking chocolate. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 2 minutes longer or until chocolate is melted and mixture can be stirred smooth....

Ingredients 1 box (18.3 oz) Betty Crocker™ Fudge Brownie Mix Vegetable oil, water and eggs called for on box for cakelike brownies 1 cup mini pretzel twists, broken 1 1/2 cups (from 8-oz bag) Reese’s™ peanut butter cups minis, coarsely chopped 1 cup from 1 tub (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting 1/3 cup Reese’s™ Mini Pieces™ peanut butter candy in a crunchy shell 1 tablespoon holiday-colored candy sprinkles, if desired...

Preparation If it’s your first time at a spa, you may be unsure of what to expect when you walk through those doors. Don’t worry-we’ve got your foolproof guide on how to navigate the inside of those walls (full of relaxation!). Before you dive right in, you should get familiar with the different types of spas: What is it? Totally immersive and often all-inclusive, a destination spa is centered around wellness and aligning mind, body, and spirit through spa services, healthy meals, fun activities, informative classes, and endless opportunities to break a sweat....

Preparation Jim Parsons married his longtime partner Todd Spiewak in New York City this past May, and now the Big Bang Theory star is opening up about the celebration. Parsons talked about the couple’s decision to marry after being together for almost 15 years on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “I didn’t really think we cared that much about the act of it, to be honest,” the actor said. “I finally thought, let’s have a party, then, for the celebration, and we’ll go ahead and legalize this thing… It was so much more meaningful in the moment to me than I predicted and it’s been resonantly more meaningful to me afterward than I ever saw coming....

Preparation When the vibe of your home is equal parts stylish and shipshape, life is good. Dive into our founder’s newest book, Martha Stewart’s Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routine ($20.49, amazon.com), to find the smart storage ideas, sharp cleaning tips, and clutter-busting strategies that will refine every daily routine. (No corner of the house is left uncovered.) Trust us, you’ll never fold towels the same way again....

Ingredients 1 cup milk chocolate chips 1 cup peanut butter chips 1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts Preparation Line cookie sheet with foil. In medium saucepan, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter chips over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in peanuts. Spread to 1/4-inch thickness on foil-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. Break into pieces. Related Video

We’re kicking off July by giving away a set of ceremonial Kagoshima organic matcha from our friends at KagoshimaTea.com to 5 lucky winners! Their premium quality matcha is perfect in making beverages like matcha smoothie, iced matcha latte, and in treats like matcha ice cream and matcha basque cheesecake. You’ll enjoy the vibrant green and the earthy taste of their matcha. Enter for your chance to win now! Also, enjoy the discount code below just for JOC readers....

Preparation For the best results from a paint job, repair any flaws in your walls before painting. Kevin Sharkey’s contractor, Bob Tobin, explains how to fix a few common problems. Underneath the joint compound and paint that cover the drywall is a metal “corner bead.” Depending on the severity of the damage, the bead may need to be removed and replaced. If the damage is slight, however, you can secure the loose bead and then fill any cracks with joint compound or vinyl spackling compound as outlined in the following steps....

This Rotel Dip is a favorite Dip recipe joined by the classic Buffalo Chicken Dip and the Shrimp Ceviche. ROTEL QUESO DIP- This cheesy Rotel queso dip is loaded with flavors and so easy to make! The ground beef, Rotel, and cheeses combined then cooked give you the ultimate cheesy dip to serve anytime! We love making this dip as an appetizer when having guests, especially during game night....

Ingredients 5 cups Chocolate Toast Crunch® cereal 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup miniature marshmallows 1 cup (1/2-inch pieces) graham crackers Preparation In large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. In 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, add powdered sugar; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips and the butter uncovered on High 30 to 45 seconds; stir until smooth....

Ingredients 1/2 lb extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef 2 tablespoons finely crushed gingersnap cookies 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup) 1 egg white 2 1/2 cups uncooked egg noodles (4 oz) 1/4 cup finely crushed gingersnap cookies 2 tablespoons raisins 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 3/4 cup reduced-sodium beef broth 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar Preparation Heat oven to 400°F....

Preparation Despite your best efforts to maintain a little greenery around the house, foliage and florals can have a way of wilting, drooping, and drying out with seemingly little explanation. But before you totally renounce your green thumb, try getting to the bottom of your houseplant troubles with some simple troubleshooting. To help you out, we’ve rounded up a few of the most common problems when it comes to keeping houseplants healthy and thriving, including everything from how to spot each issue, to how to fix it....