Indulge your loved one with one of these 4 Romantic Recipes for Valentine’s Day, plus find the linky for #CookBlogShare Week 6.
Can you believe we are already into week 6 of 2018? It doesn’t feel like 5 minutes since I was chatting with you last month about goal setting and already we are heading towards Valentine’s Day!
So how are you doing against your goals for 2018 / new year’s resolutions so far?
I must confess…I am in serious smug zone territory so far…I have been a VERY busy little blogger. But then, as I shared with you last time – I LOVE this time of year…I find it so motivating to have a whole year stretch ahead of me with all its possibilities. Catch me later on in the year and you may find me far less smug!!
So, what have I been up to? Well, you may have noticed a few of the changes I’ve been making… I’ve smartened up my home page – especially making the search bar easier to find on mobile phones and making my side bar less cluttered.
And I’ve got some new fancy sharing buttons (affiliate link), making it even easier to share my recipes with your favourite social platform (go on – you know you want to give them a go…and you’d make my day if you did!! 😀 )
I’ve also invested in a new style of recipe card (affiliate link), which will allow me to make my recipes even more helpful to you. You can see my new recipe card in action over on my Easy One Pot Chicken Fajita Bake recipe.
My new recipe card will allow me to share nutrition information and give you the option to convert my recipes into cups, pounds and ounces AND you can also quickly and easily change the number of servings…so whether you want to make one of my recipes for just 1 or scale it up for dinner party of 10, the recipe card will do all the hard maths for you, so you don’t have to – yay!
All my recipes will be in the new format going forward and I’ve just started on the process of converting all my old recipes into the new format. Give me a couple of months and they should all be done!
I’ve also been doing a TON of boring-but-necessary behind the scenes work. From updating my About Me and Work With Me pages, to reshooting some of my old recipes, getting a new faster whizzier computer and better photo editing software, investing in a rather fancy editorial calendar and generally having a good old tidy up on the back end of my blog.
Oh, and I’ve also been doing a bit of work on my new blog, which I am planning to launch later this year (head over to my 2018 goal setting post if you want to know more about that one.)
Just to really revel in the smug zone, I also somehow managed to do all of that whilst also doing Dry January – which given some of the many disasters along the way (no it was NOT all plain sailing, by any means – I even managed to break my whole blog at one point…don’t ask! I did something monumentally stupid!!) is some kind of minor miracle.
Honestly, I feel like I’ve achieved about a year’s worth of work in just one month – can I have the rest of 2018 off please?
Although, of course if you’ve known me for more than about 5 minutes, you’ll know that is NOT AT ALL the way I am programmed – and I have a whole heap of plans for February too.
So anyways, enough of me rambling…Let’s get on with #CookBlogShare this month, shall we?
4 Romantic Recipes for Valentine’s Day
So this time around, I knew my roundup was going to go one of two ways – Valentine’s Day or Pancake Day…but strangely last week, only 1 person linked up a pancake (big shout out to Jo’s fab Classic Pancake Tutorial – and public service announcement for the rest of you – Pancake Day is 13th February this year – yes really!!). Luckily there were plenty of Valentine’s Day recipes for me to choose from!
Are you a total romantic when it comes to Valentine’s day? Or a bit of a bah-humbug? I would put myself somewhere in between these days. Though to tell the truth, I’ve been a bit up and down about Valentine’s Day over the years – I hated it when I was single…revelled in it in my early days with Mr G…and well 14 years of marriage and 2 kids and 1 blog later, what can I say? It’s a bit lower down on the priority list!!
But it’s always nice to have an excuse to do a spot of baking and indulge in a few sweet treats (though skip to the bottom if you want the healthy option), so here are my favourite 4 Romantic Recipes for Valentine’s Day…
If you are not a #CookBlogShare regular and are wondering what an earth I am going on about, #CookBlogShare is a place for bloggers to share their recipes. If you are a blogger and have a recipe to share, you can link up your post by following the instructions below. If you are not a blogger, but love food and cooking, do check out the recipes that will be appearing below. If this week is as good as they usually are you will find some awesome recipes – the #CookBlogShare bloggers are very good at what they do!
Red Velvet Cupcakes
First off, I had to start with these fabulous Red Velvet Cupcakes from Kat at The Baking Explorer. Aren’t they just GORGEOUS?? And incredibly simple to make. Kat gives step by step instructions and photographs for every step too – perfect if you are not a regular baker. AND she shares all her secret addresses for where when gets all her equipment and ingredients from. So helpful!!
Two-Tone Shortbread Biscuits (Vegan, Dairy Free, Egg Free)
Is your loved one vegan or following a dairy free or egg free diet? Then this next recipe could be for you! Angela from Only Crumbs Remain has created these wonderful Vegan Two-Tone Shortbread Biscuits. Flavoured with strawberry and vanilla, these biscuits look fancy but are actually really easy. I’ll leave you to hop over to Angela’s fab website to discover her secret to making them two-tone.
Creamy Vegan Tiramisu Dessert (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free)
Need a Valentine’s Day recipe that is dairy free, egg free, soy free, gluten free, nut free…in fact free from all the top 14 allergens…but very much full of deliciousness? Then look no further than this fabulous Creamy Vegan Tiramisu Dessert from Midge over at The Peachicks Bakery. Midge and her feisty little Peachicks don’t let a whole raft of allergies get in the way of some properly awesome food and this tiramisu is just one in a whole long line of gorgeous free from recipes on her website. Midge is also taking part in the #FreeFromValentine challenge this year. So, if you are looking for some free from recipe inspiration for Valentine’s Day this year, head over to her blog to find out more.
Quinoa Raspberry Smoothie Bowl with Cacao (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free)
Last (but by no means least!) I HAD to include this delicious Quinoa Raspberry Smoothie Bowl with Cacao from Monika over at Everyday Healthy Recipes. All the Valentine’s Day pink-coloured deliciousness, but none of the guilt…in fact quite the opposite: this Quinoa Raspberry Smoothie Bowl is brimming with nutritious goodness from the quinoa, raspberries, cacao, chia seeds and prunes. Perfect for indulging your loved one in a healthier way this year! In this recipe Monika is also sharing a review of her Froothie Optimum VAC2 Air Vacuum Blender which she uses to make this smoothie super smooth – as a fellow Froothie Ambassador, I can really vouch for the powerfulness and effectiveness of these fab machines!!
#CookBlogShare Linky Week 6
And so we come to this week’s linky. You can link up any foodie post that you have – both old and new posts are welcome. All you need to do is:
- Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions (maximum of 4, please).
- Add a link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!) and / or add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (you can find the code below).
- Comment on one of the host’s posts and a minimum of 2 other posts linked up here, and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
If you wish, you can tweet a link to your recipe to me @easypeasyfoodie and also (if you have room on the tweet!) my co-hosts Kirsty @k_phillipson, Jacqui @jacdotbee and Monika @MonikasRecipes, using the #CookBlogShare hashtag and we will retweet them. You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.
Need some help on Instagram? You and me both…so let’s help each other! Whenever you post to Instagram, use the #CookBlogShare hashtag, then quickly hop over to the #CookBlogShare feed, liking as many as you can and commenting on any that particularly catch your eye. Not a big job at all, but if we all do it, it would make a BIG difference!!
I will comment on all the posts this week and pin them all to the Cook Blog Share Pinterest Board. I can’t wait to see what you’ve all been making!
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Just to remind you, by joining in, you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!
Pin 4 Romantic Recipes for Valentine’s Day for later
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Monika Dabrowski says
Thank you for including my smoothie bowl in this delicious collection! And thanks for including the bit in brackets – I didn’t realise myself that it was free from so many allergens! I know I’ve said this before but you are one of the hardest working bloggers I know, all these changes you are implementing must be taking so much of your time, I don’t know how you do it, I need to make some changes to my blog too but simply can’t find the time. Have a good week:)
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Monika! I was adding the free from info in for Midge and Angela’s recipe…and it just seemed logical to do it for yours too – such a great free from recipe! Haha – it is true I do work hard. But then I am in the fortunate position of being able to blog as my full time job. I also have quite a few systems, spreadsheets and lists to keep myself organised!! I’ve found the best way to get all the extra stuff done is to spend Monday and Tuesday creating and scheduling my posts for the week (and all the associated social media, email, SEO etc.!), then spend the rest of the week on the blog development stuff…and try as hard as I can to ignore everything else. I give each month one blog development focus and treat it as one big project…getting as much as I can done on the project each Wed-Fri. It’s a great system for me as I find focusing on one thing at a time far more productive than trying to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously! Eb x
Corina Blum says
Oh I love all the Valentine’s recipes you’ve picked out! I did a few last year but haven’t done anything yet this year. I’m also in the process of updating all my recipes and it takes so much time. I always admire how much you manage to do as my blog also needs an update, new theme etc which is going to be the next task after I’ve worked through more of the recipes. Have a great week! x
Eb Gargano says
No I have not had time to do a Valentine’s recipe myself this year either, so I was quite pleased to be able to do a roundup instead! A blog update is such a lovely thing to do…I mean it can be a right pain at the time, but when you’ve done it it feels so good. I am really looking forward to getting lots of my recipes updated this month…as well as fully rolling out WPRM to all my recipes. Good luck with the new theme! I can highly recommend Restored 316. Their themes are so great – loads of functionality. My top tip would be to focus on what the theme can do, rather than what it looks like. I mean sure you want it to look nice, but most themes look OK – but there are such huge differences in what they can actually do. That and prepare for your blog to look a mess for several days!! I remember when I first switched mine over…all the widgets jumped out of their widget spaces and into somewhere completely random…I think I had my archive by month in my header for example!! Eb x
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
Thank you so much for featuring my cupcakes Eb and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure Kat – they look so beautiful…and I bet they taste AMAZING!! Happy Valentine’s Day to you too 😀 Eb x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
You really have hit the ground running Eb – though to be honest I don’t know why I’m so surprised – you’re just so amazingly organised and so brilliant at getting things done! I’ve started the process of re-shooting some of my old images now that I’m (usually) happy with the images that I’m taking, and have implemented new share buttons which the floating one at the side seems to be helping a lot. I’ve got a nice long list as long as my arm of other things I need / want to do to the blog too. Though as much as I’d like it all done yesterday, I know Rome wasn’t build in a day The new recipe format with the changeable measure that you’re introducing sounds a really great investment.
I know what you mean about Valentine’s Day, I too used to hate it when I ws single, but Mr E & I do still mark it – though we’re quite practical about it and tend to treat each other to something we need rather than a cuddly teddy type of thing!
Angela x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
PS, thankyou so much for including my Two-Tone biscuits x
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure, as always!! Eb x
Eb Gargano says
Haha – you are right. I think it has been one of my most productive January’s ever – I really do seem to have the bit between my teeth this year! I am like you – I want everything done yesterday…I find it really hard to be patient. But some things just take time! Haha – you made me laugh about the teddy bear bit…we definitely don’t do that! Can you imagine? Mr G and I have been together for over 15 years…that’s a lot of teddies!!! Eb x
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
Hello, Eb. Thanks a bunch for hosting! I hope you are having an amazing week! x
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure Jhuls! Thanks for joining in 😀 Eb x
Rebecca Smith says
What a lovey round up and oh my goodness you have been busy! I was exhaused just reading all the work you’ve been up to behind the scenes..it’s all paid off though, looking great Eb xxx
Eb Gargano says
Haha – yes I have been a very busy little blogger…I was writing that section thinking…gosh, did I really do all that in one month??? But somehow I did…maybe I finally found the button that makes time stand still…oh what I would give for one of those – can you imagine?? Thanks for the kind comments. Eb x
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for hosting. I linked my Sweetheart Collection, Creamy Cheesy Enchiladas and a Gluten Free Ranch Dip for the big game. I hope you enjoy them! Have a happy week! #OverTheMoon #WWBlogHop #ThursdayFavoriteThings
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure, Marilyn. Thanks for joining in! Eb x
Donna says
You’ve done so much, and it’s always gorgeous! I really need to reshoot some old recipes too, it’s just finding the time. My plan is to wait until the weather is a little better, as our kitchen is the darkest place on earth!
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Donna! Yes, I would definitely recommend waiting until the light is better. I am quite fortunate as my house has a lot of natural light. Actually I have the opposite problem in that the place where I usually shoot has too much light (It’s a conservatory), but at least I can shoot all winter. Actually I wish I could have waited until later in the year as then I can just tie in my photo shoots with cooking dinner. But unfortunately I need to get this done NOW so I can focus on my new blog baby later in the year…so shooting at lunchtime it is!! Eb x
Patrick@looneyforfood.com says
It sounds like you have been very productive so far this year on your blog updates! I didn’t make any resolutions, I never do. Instead I focus on small goals all year around. Have a great week and thanks for hosting
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Patrick – I really have. I wrote all that kinda incredulous…did I really do all that in one month? But it’s amazing what you can get done if you really set your mind to it! (That and have a jolly good plan to actually get it all done!!) Small goals all year round sounds a very sensible way to do it. I kind of do the same on my blog…I have a special focus for each month – though last months focus could definitely not be called small!! This months is much smaller…I’m just working on updating old posts with new photos…trouble is, there are a lot of old posts with bad photos…gah!
Jo / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Wow Eb! I must say, you are a true inspiration! All that work done in the space of a month (your homepage is looking really good by the way)! I’ve got some serious work to do on my blog in the months to come as well and am slowly getting ready for it 🙂 . Fantastic and timely roundup, thanks so much for sneaking my guide on pancakes too 🙂 x
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Jo…and thanks for your kind comments about my blog. I have been a very busy blogger so far this year…I had had in mind to do this all of 2017 and so consequently my list of ‘January 2018 Jobs’ had grown longer and longer…really I should have spaced it over more time. But I needed to get all done fast so I can focus on blog #2 later in the year. It’s amazing what you can actually achieve when you put your mind to it…and when you have a really strong reason for doing it NOW and not later!! A pleasure to include your pancakes…I couldn’t believe you were the only one!! They had to have a mention 😀 Eb x
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery says
Love a good blog update – I seem to do mine every year too. Mind you I have done nothing compared to you – you have been busy lovely! Thanks for including the tiramisu too – it was SO good!
Eb Gargano says
It’s a very good feeling to have it all done, isn’t it? Really not sure how I managed to do everything I did…well other than being highly motivated and having a rock solid plan that is!! But still I was quite surprised when I cane to write that section. I really do feel like I need a lie down now though 😀 A pleasure to include your wonderful tiramisu. Such a great recipe to make free from as in its original state, it really isn’t!! And one of my favourite desserts of all time – YUM!! Eb x
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
My, my: haven’t you been the busy bee! I’ve had one of those broken blog moments recently: it was fixed easily, but those moments of panic probably took a year or two off my life. O.o
I’ve been WAY less productive than you have, although I am re-shooting some recipes and tediously converting from an outdated, unsupported recipe plugin (that most of us are probably acquainted with, LOL!) to a new one, among a few other unglamorous tasks. Thank you for hosting this week’s #cookblogshare!
Eb Gargano says
Oh I know, Michelle, I really have! My blog was partially broken for 3 whole days…and like you say, I think it took several years off my life. The stress of having a broken blog is like nothing else. I had to get my husband to repeat over and over to me that in the grand scheme of things having a broken blog really isn’t the end of the world and it will get fixed eventually. And looking back on it, 3 days is nothing…but it felt like a lifetime at the time! This month sees me do some very similar tasks to you…re-shooting old recipes and upgrading all my old recipes to WPRM…it will be so worth it when it’s done…but it’s very slow going! Your comment about unglamourous, made me smile. I had someone ask me this week, and not for the first time, “So do you just spend all your days cooking?” I guess it must appear like that to most people, but the reality is so, so different! Eb x
Mandy says
I can’t say that I used to be much of a pink, Valentine’s person but I am really enjoying the lovely V Day treats I’m seeing everywhere this year – age must be getting to me! Have just linked up a vegan pancake day post.
Eb Gargano says
Haha – yes, I’m not much into flowers and teddies, but happy to eat all the Valentine’s Day food!!! Thanks for linking up – I’m very impressed that you managed to make crepe style pancakes without egg! Eb x
Sadhna Grover says
Hi Eb,
Happy Valentine’s day and thanks for the lovely party with romantic recipe theme.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Sadhna – always a pleasure! 🙂
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist says
You are SO organised Eb. Mind you, at work I am much the same.
We managed to let Valentines Day pretty much pass us by this year. There has been too much on our plates and as we were away, it somehow seemed rather unnecessary. It’s funny coming back and catching up on all the valentines posts…… This is a lovely round up x
Eb Gargano says
Haha – true…I have to be, though or I’d never get anything done. Let’s just say I have a lot of systems, lists and spreadsheets to keep me on track. Yes, I imagine with all you’ve had going on lately, Valentines Day was probably not on your priority list. I hope life’s a bit more back to normal now. Eb x