We don’t take Valentine’s Day too seriously around here, but I do like it for one reason: it gives you an reason to cook or bake or eat something special in what is otherwise a pretty cold and dreary month.

I’m all about any excuse for a little celebration, so bring on the Valentine’s Day snacks and easy Valentine desserts. And please make me salmon piccata for dinner first.

Now that my daughter is old enough to understand this kind of silly holiday a little better, I also wanted to do a baking activity for just me and her, and I’m sorry to report that she doesn’t appreciate the wonders of chocolate creme brulee just yet.

So, we made these rich and buttery shortbread cookies that we thumbprinted with heart shapes and then filled with jam. These heart jam cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and they also reminded us of tea time in London!

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DIY Charcuterie Cup Ideas

All the way from a Thanksgiving charcuterie board to a charcuterie chalet and many stops in between, there’s no denying that this time of year is perfect for as many fun charcuterie board ideas as you can dream up.

Whether you’re entertaining a crowd with a wine and cheese board or just having some snacks at home, this type of food is probably at its most popular during the holidays, so you can have a cranberry rosemary cocktail or grapefruit mule in one hand, and a snack in the other!

And sure, I’ve already done jarcuterie, and I know you’re thinking that this charcuterie in a cup really isn’t much different. And you’re right – it’s not! I’m just publishing these mini charcuterie cups to give you even more inspiration for single serving charcuterie this holiday season.

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I’m pretty uptight about food waste. I cringe every time I find a half full but expired condiment in the door of the fridge that needs to be thrown away.

I try to keep a list on my phone that lists the ingredients I have in the fridge, and the date that they will expire, so that when I am meal planning, I can be sure to incorporate them.

Right now, the two things staring at me begging to be used are miso and gochujang (Korean chili paste).

The miso I’m getting through pretty efficiently by making a fresh batch of miso ginger dressing almost every week.

And the gochujang I actually bought to make salad dressing for an Asian shrimp salad. But of course, the 1-1/2 tablespoons needed barely put a dent in the gocjujang tub.

One of my kitchen mottos seems to be “when in doubt, make meatballs.” I love everything from General Tso’s meatballs to Greek chicken meatballs, but the Korean meatballs I’m sharing today are my current favorite.

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If the first thing you think when you look at this apple tart is “there’s no way I can make that,” think again. Seriously, I’m SO not a baker or a “pastry person”.

I’m MUCH more comfortable with savory things like salmon pasta or lasagna recipe cottage cheese. There’s a reason 98% of the recipes on this blog are for savory foods or cocktails.

In fact, TRUE STORY: in culinary school, the pastry instructor forced me to BUY one of the cakes I made in class and take it home because it was so ugly.

Chef said my cake was so messed up that he couldn’t sell it at the school’s bake shop, so I would have to purchase it myself. Talk about embarrassing. I couldn’t wait to get out of that class and into a savory rotation.

So yeah, when I say I’m not a baker or pastry person, I mean it (although I can whip up a mean batch of Thanksgiving Rice Krispies treats). Since that experience, I’ve been on a mission to create beautiful, delicious things that are actually attainable for home cooks.

My frozen yogurt pie, cranberry curd pie and coconut creme brulee are some of my favorite examples, along with the apple rose dessert I’m sharing today.

So, stir up an apple cider mule, and let’s walk through this Apple Rose Tart with Peanut Butter Custard, element by element. We’ve got this.

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This Halloween Cheese Board is perfect for your Halloween Party

Halloween is definitely one of the most beloved holidays in our household. My husband goes all out with yard decorations, I plan our family Halloween costume months in advance, and our daughter is in it for the candy, of course.

I’ve already done an extensive post on Halloween food ideas (and Halloween deviled eggs, too!). But when you combine my love for Halloween with my love for fun charcuterie board ideas, I couldn’t resist a Halloween board dedicated to charcuterie and cheese.

And if breakfast charcuterie and charcuterie chalets are things, then a Halloween charcuterie board is also most definitely a thing.

I love a unique charcuterie board idea! Equal parts cute and creepy, let me walk you through how I built this spooky appetizer tray. And don’t forget a batch of Halloween bark or Halloween cake pops for dessert!

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Fresh strawberry season is short but sweet here in Michigan. Some years I’m able to get out and pick my own, but if not, I’m always sure to pick some up at the farmer’s market.

Aside from making my dad his favorite strawberry pie for his birthday, I’m sure to buy enough berries for salads, snacking, smoothies, and everything in between.

Everything in between meaning drinks, I guess! I love making a pitcher of strawberry ginger lemonade or honey lemonade on a June afternoon for the whole family to enjoy.

And for an adults-only gathering, nothing refreshes quite like a Moscow mule. My ultimate goal is to make a mule for all seasons!

I have a caramel apple cider mule for fall, a grapefruit mule for winter, and a bourbon mule that is perfect pretty much year ’round, and today, I’m bringing you this strawberry Moscow mule recipe perfect for any summer day. Don’t forget some spicy potato chips for snacking.

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I’m a big believer in the theory that holiday appetizers should be as simple and involve as few ingredients as possible.

After all, there’s already so much to do during the season – wrapping gifts, making a charcuterie chalet, traveling to see family, making sure everybody has a full drink (if you’re hosting), and probably getting the main course on the table at some point.

One of my favorite easy homemade appetizers (aside from jarcuterie!) is sweet and savory puff pastry pinwheels.

With just five ingredients, these Prosciutto & Cheese Pinwheels are elegant without being fussy, and trust me, everybody will love them. They’re even kind of Christmas colors!

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Did you know National Hummus Day is this coming Saturday? While you’ll almost always find a tub of hummus in my fridge (24/7/365), I figured this is a day to celebrate my love of hummus a little harder than usual.

I took the opportunity to not only celebrate hummus, but some of my favorite seasonal ingredients (and a few fun goodies), as well.

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When the spring weather finally starts to roll into Michigan, I’m usually in the mood for light and simple meals involving as little actual cooking as possible. After all, the less time spent in the kitchen means the more time there is for bike rides and dog walks.

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The post Apple, Prosciutto & Figgy Goat Cheese Tartines appeared first on Foxes Love Lemons.

I’ll be honest – making it through a long Michigan winter can be tough. Even when we have a mild winter as far as snow and brutally cold temperatures, there never seems to be much sunshine. It’s gray day after gray day, and it definitely gets me down sometimes.

But in the last few years, I’ve decided to STOP letting winter get the best of me. With the help of some extra Vitamin D, I’ve decided to show winter who’s boss.

Staying inside under a blanket, with the oven on all winter? I don’t need to do that. Stop bullying me, Mother Nature!

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