St Valentine Day 14 th

Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Also called: Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine

Observed for: 1,527 years

Significance: Feast day of Saint Valentine; the celebration of love and affection

What is the real story of Valentine’s day?

Turns out, it was a pretty common name during Late Antiquity. As far as anyone can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine’s Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14th 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day

What is the real story of Valentine’s day?

Turns out, it was a pretty common name during Late Antiquity. As far as anyone can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine’s Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14th 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day.

Who was St. Valentine and what did he do?

Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave.

Why do we celebrate Valentine’s day with hearts?

This Saint Valentine wore a ring with a Cupid on it—a symbol of love—that helped soldiers recognize him. And, in a precursor to greeting cards, he handed out paper hearts to remind Christians of their love for God. Because of this legend, Saint Valentine became known as the patron saint of love

Why is St. Valentine’s day about love?

Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love.

What is the meaning of Valentine?

a sweetheart

val·​en·​tine ˈva-lən-ˌtīn. : a sweetheart chosen or complimented on Valentine’s Day. : a gift or greeting sent or given especially to a sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. especially : a greeting card sent on this day. : something (such as a movie or piece of writing) expressing uncritical praise or affection : tribute.

What was St. Valentine’s miracle?

One Saint Valentine was supposedly a Roman priest who performed secret weddings against the wishes of the authorities in the third century. Imprisoned in the home of a noble, he healed his captor’s blind daughter, causing the whole household to convert to Christianity and sealing his fate.

Who can wish Valentines Day?

A friend, significant other, parent, grand-parent or a pet. Since Valentine’s Day is almost here, we share some wishes and messages that you could use to send to your loved ones to wish them on this joyous occasion and express your love for them. 1. Cupid is here with love, romance, laughter, and lots of wholesomeness.

Is Valentine’s Day a rare birthday?

Valentine’s Day is the most popular birth date between January 1 and July 1, according to The Daily Viz, and it could very well be because more people simply choose to have their baby on that day. The average number of births on Valentine’s Day (taken over the course of two decades of birth data) is 11,636.

Did St Valentine fall in love?

During his time in jail, Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter, who visited him in prison. Before he was put to death, Valentine sent a letter to the girl signed “from Your Valentine”, the basic expression we still use every year during this holiday. Valentine was executed on February 14, 270 AD.

Do Catholics believe in Valentines Day?

It is widely celebrated by the name of “Valentine’s Day,” referring to the Catholic saint, Valentine. However, in the liturgy, most Roman Catholics don’t actually celebrate St. Valentine on February 14.

What is the soul symbol for February?

Phoenix

February- Phoenix

A little more sensitive to the world around you than those who were born before you, those of you born in February may be overthrown by the evils of the world, it won’t hold you back.

Is Valentine a sin in the Bible?

Therefore, Christians do not celebrate it in a carnal or selfish manner, but base the celebration on sacrificial way by putting others first.It is not the sinful way the world celebrates it in the name of boyfriend and girlfriend, committing immorality by way of ungodly love, which from the Biblical point of view i

What is the dark side of Valentine’s Day?

Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the third century. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.

What are 4 countries that banned Valentine’s Day?

6 Countries Where Valentine’s Day Celebration Used To Be or Still Is Banned

• Saudi Arabia.
• Uzbekistan.
• Indonesia.
• Iran.
• Pakistan.
• Malaysia.

Is it OK to be single on Valentines?

In fact, Valentine’s Day can be a great opportunity to indulge in fun activities, whether it’s a solo dinner or some self-care. Just because you don’t have a significant other doesn’t mean you can’t commemorate this holiday with some self-l

Do animals celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Animals don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, but when it comes to love, attraction and finding a partner, we humans can learn a lot from our furry, scaled and winged companions.

hat does the name Valentine means?

strong and healthy

Valentine is a masculine given name, feminine given name, and a surname, derived from the Roman family name Valentinus, which was derived from the Latin word valens, which means “strong and healthy.” Valentine can be considered an English translation or adaptation of the names Valentinus or Valentinian.

What does a black heart mean on Valentine’s Day?

Black Heart

Often, this heart is used to symbolise sorrow, sadness, or an accessory to anything morbid. The black emoji is also often used when following dark or black humour, not a great valentine’s trait we are sure you’ll agree

Why are valentines red?

Red means love, symbolic of the heart, and the red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Red and white, make pink

St. Valentine, (died 3rd century, Rome; feast day February 14), name of one or two legendary Christian martyrs whose lives seem to be historically based. Although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognize St. Valentine as a saint of the church, he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the lack of reliable information about him. He is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers.

By some accounts, St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave. Other narratives identify him as the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was martyred, apparently also in Rome, and whose relics were later taken to Terni. It is possible these are different versions of the same original account and refer to only one person.

According to legend, St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness. Another common legend states that he defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war

traditional valentine’s day food

What is traditionally eaten on Valentine’s Day?

Honey – Bees are traditionally a symbol of love because of the sweetness of honey and the bitterness of their sting. It’s no wonder that honey is also used to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Strawberries – Their read color and heart shape make strawberries a perfect fruit to celebrate love

What foods make you feel in love?

What foods are known aphrodisiacs?

• artichokes.
• asparagus.
• chocolate.
• figs.
• oysters.
• spicy chili peppers.
• strawberries.
• watermelon.

What was the staple food of the romance?

It was the Victorians who definitively established chocolate as the food of romance, especially for Valentine’s Day

What fruit is a symbol of love?

The history of the strawberry dates back to Ancient Rome where the fruit was considered the symbol of Venus, the goddess of love, because of its bright red color and enticing taste.

What does every girl want for Valentines Day?

Results revealed that women would like their Valentine’s Day to include eating a romantic dinner (67 percent), having sex (49 percent) and being intimate (47 percent). This is in addition to receiving flowers (47 percent) and chocolates (43 percent).

Which color flower is the biggest seller on Valentines Day?

The rose, specifically the red rose, is the most popular flower for the February holiday. The red rose symbolizes love, romance, passion and beauty, which is why the iconic flower is such a hit on Valentine’s Day, not to mention birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations

What are the top 5 candies purchased for Valentines Day?

Valentine’s Day is upon us, which means love is in the air and candy is in my stomach.
…
Valentine’s Day Candy, Ranked

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts.
2. Heart-Shaped Ding Dongs.
3. Ferrero Rocher
4. 4. Box of Chocolate (Small)
5. Box of Chocolates (Big)
6. Sour Patch Kids Hearts.

Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas You Can Make At Home

​What is a good Valentine’s Day dinner?

A good Valentine’s Day dinner is anything that is delicious and romantic, and that will change for every couple (or if you’re alone!). V Day is always a good excuse to cook up a steak if you and your partner eat meat, but pasta or seafood are also great ideas.

What is the Valentine’s Day menu?

What to make for a romantic dinner at home?

Here are some popular Valentine’s Day foods you can consider making:

• Steak
• Seafood
• Chocolate
• Pasta
• Sushi
• Wine
• Fish
• Crème brûlée
• Strawberries

Apple-Onion Pork Chops And Cheesy Crushed Potatoes

Ingredients + Equipment:

• 12 oz. Yukon Potatoes
• 12 oz. Boneless Pork Chops
• 1 Gala Apple
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 1 oz. Sour Cream
• 1 oz. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• ⅘ oz. Honey Butter
• 1 Apple Cider Vinegar
• 6 Chive Sprigs
• 2 tsp. Savory Seasoning
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cooking Spray
• 1 Baking Sheet
• 1 Medium Pot
• 1 Medium Non-Stick Pan
• 1 Colander

Prep:

• If using any fresh produce, thoroughly rinse and pat dry
• Turn oven on to 425 degrees. Let preheat, at least 10 minutes
• Prepare a baking sheet with foil and generously coat with cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Start the potatoes: Place whole potatoes in a medium pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, add 2 tsp. salt and stir. Cook uncovered until potatoes are tender, 14-16 minutes.You should be able to easily insert the tip of a knife into the potatoes. Check smaller potatoes for doneness sooner. Drain potatoes in a colander and set aside to cool, at least 10 minutes. Reserve pot; no need to wipe clean. While potatoes boil, continue recipe.
2. Prepare the ingredients: Cut apple into 1/4-inch slices. Peel before cutting, if desired. Mince chives. Halve and peel onion. Thinly slice. Pat pork chops dry, and season both sides with savory seasoning, 1/4 tsp. salt, and a pinch of pepper.
3. Finish the potatoes: Once cool enough to handle, transfer potatoes to prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Lightly smash each potato with the palm of your hand or a flat object (the bottom of a glass works) into a 1/2-inch disc. Drizzle all over with 2 tsp. olive oil and season both sides with 1/4 tsp. salt and a pinch of pepper. Top evenly with cheese. Roast in hot oven until crispy, 16-18 minutes. While potatoes roast, continue recipe.
4. Cook the onion and apple: Return pot used to cook potatoes to medium-high heat. Add 2 tsp. olive oil, onion, and 1/4 tsp. salt to hot pot. Stir occasionally until browned, 10-12 minutes. If pan becomes dry, add water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, as needed. Add apples, 2 Tbsp. water, vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally until apple starts to soften and brown, 4-6 minutes. Stir in butter until combined. Remove from burner. While onions and apples cook, continue recipe.
5. Cook pork chops and finish dish: Place a medium nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tsp. olive oil and pork chops to hot pan. Cook until pork chops reach a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees, 3-5 minutes per side. Pork thickness can vary; if you receive a thinner chop, we recommend checking for doneness sooner. Remove from burner. Rest, 3 minutes. Plate dish as pictured on front of card, topping pork chops with apple-onion mixture and garnishing potatoes with sour cream and chives. Buon appetito!

Air Fryer Salmon

Set the fryer to 400 degrees and cook for around 10 minutes.

Spices For Your Salmon:

• Parsley
• Dill
• Basil
• Sage
• Rosemary

Sides For Your Salmon:

• Potatoes
• Salad
• Pasta
• Green beans

 Go for a rosemary lemon finish with buttered potatoes or cut the flavor of a low-key salmon with garlic green beans.

Red Sauce Rigatoni Recipe

• 1 pound sausage
• 28 ounces canned tomatoes, crushed, pureed, whatever you like
• 8 ounces rigatoni, or your pasta of choice

The ingredient list is simple and so are the instructions.

Brown your sausage over medium heat. You want it to cook fairly slow here so the fat starts to render and you get it nice and golden brown on both sides. After your sausage is nicely browned, add in your tomatoes. If using whole canned tomatoes like I did, squeeze em to break them up a bit.

Let your sausage and tomatoes simmer for 20 minutes. Check for salt. I typically don’t need to add any since the sausage is usually salty enough. But you make the call here.

Then toss with your pasta, top with cheese and eat up.

Steak Au Poivre

Yields:2 serving(s)Total Time:40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 12-ounce strip steak (about 1 1/2 inches thick)
• 1 tbsp. black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
• Kosher salt
• 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. cognac
• 1/3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 c. crème fraîche
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• Rosemary Roasted Carrot Salad and baked potatoes, for serving

Directions

SAVE RECIPE

1. Step 1Heat oven to 425°F. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high. Season steak with crushed peppercorns and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until well browned on each side, about 4 minutes. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and roast until instant-read thermometer registers 125°F for medium-rare, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.
2. Step 2Meanwhile, pour off any fat from skillet. Add butter, shallot, and any peppercorns left over from seasoning and sauté on medium until shallot is tender, about 2 minutes.
3. Step 3Add cognac and cook, stirring, until reduced, about 1 minute. Add chicken broth and simmer 1 minute. Whisk in crème fraîche and mustard and simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt if desired. Serve sliced steak with carrot salad and baked potatoes. Spoon sauce over steak.

Rosemary Roasted Carrot Salad

Ingredients

• 3 sprigs rosemary, plus a few to serve
• 400g medium carrots, scrubbed, trimmed and halved lengthways
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 unpeeled garlic cloves, bashed
• 1 tsp juniper berries (optional)
• 2 tsp maple syrup (or honey)

1. Heat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, gas 6. Roughly strip the rosemary needles from the stalks and put the whole lot into a large roasting tin. Add the carrots, olive oil, garlic, juniper (if using) and a generous pinch of sea salt flakes and black pepper.
2. Get your hands involved and toss everything together to coat the carrots. Roast for 25-35 minutes (depending on the thickness of your carrots) in the top of the oven, until lightly golden and tender when pierced with a fork.
3. Give everything a shake half way through and for the last 3 minutes, drizzle over the maple syrup and toss together. Keep a close eye on the carrots so the syrup doesn’t burn, but you want them lovely and sticky. Serve with fresh rosemary stalks for decoration if you like.

Heart-Shaped Lasagna Bundt

• Level: Easy

• Total: 2 hr 25 min (includes resting time)
• Active: 1 hr

• Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

Deselect All

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

One 16-ounce box lasagna noodles

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

One 6-ounce can tomato paste

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

2 teaspoons sugar

12 ounces ricotta 

8 ounces shredded mozzarella (2 cups)

2 large eggs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 

Special equipment:

 a 10-cup heart-shaped Bundt pan

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles to al dente according to the package directions. Line a baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Drain the noodles and spread them flat on the baking sheet to dry them completely (you may need to create 2 to 3 layers to fit all of the noodles; put paper towels between each layer). 
3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and oregano and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of black pepper, and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon and stirring occasionally, until the beef is just cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until well incorporated and heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes, sugar, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of black pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. 
4. Meanwhile, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, eggs, Parmesan, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. 
5. Cut six noodles in half crosswise. 
6. Line the bottom of a 10-cup heart-shaped Bundt pan with 4 of the half noodles (2 along the straight lines of the heart and 2 along the arches). Lay 12 whole noodles in the bottom of the pan, slightly overlapping and directly on top of the half noodles, making sure that one side of each noodle hangs 2 to 3 inches over the edge of the pan and the other side of the noodle runs up the center of the pan.  
7. Pour 1 cup meat sauce on top of the noodles, then spread 1 cup of the ricotta mixture over the sauce. Top with 4 noodle halves. Repeat the layering 1 more time. Pour 1 cup meat sauce and spread the remaining ricotta mixture over the top (the ricotta mixture will be less than the 1 cup used in previous layers). 
8. Fold the edges of the overhanging lasagna noodles the lasagna towards the center, covering the filling and the hole in the center completely. Bake until the noodles on top are turning golden brown and are starting to crisp up, 45 to 50 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes. Invert the pan onto a cutting board. Reheat the remaining sauce if necessary and pour into the center of the heart. Slice and serve immediately. 

Steakhouse Sheet Pan Dinner for Two

• Level: Easy

• Total: 1 hr 15 min
• Active: 30 min
• Yield: 2 servings

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the sheet pan

4 tail-on jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

3 small cloves garlic, minced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

2/3 cup heavy cream

1 pound Yukon gold potatoes (about 6), sliced into 1/8-inch rounds

2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

One 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed completely dry

2/3 cup shredded Gruyère (about 5 ounces)

Two 8-ounce New York strip steaks (1 to 1 1/2 inches thick)

Special equipment:

 two 4-ounce ramekins

1. Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a third of an 18-by-13-inch sheet pan with butter.
2. Toss the shrimp with the melted butter, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, a third of the minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until well coated; set aside.
3. Mix the Parmesan, 1/3 cup of the heavy cream, remaining 1 teaspoon thyme, half the remaining garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl.
4. Arrange half of the potato slices in a single, overlapping layer on the buttered part of the sheet pan and pour the heavy cream mixture over the top. Top with the remaining potato slices. Cover the potatoes with foil and bake until tender when pierced with a fork, 15 to 17 minutes.
5. Whisk together the cream cheese, remaining 1/3 cup heavy cream, remaining garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Fold in the spinach until well coated. Divide the mixture between two 4-inch ramekins and press the spinach down so that it is flat and the cream mixture is pooling a bit on top.
6. Remove the pan from the oven, remove the foil and sprinkle the potatoes with the Gruyère. Put the steaks down the middle of the pan and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Put the ramekins on one end of the empty third of the pan so that they are side by side.
7. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of the steak registers 95 degrees F, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and turn on the broiler. Create 2 hearts with the shrimp on the pan beside the ramekins by connecting the tails. Broil until the steaks start to turn brown in some spots, an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of the steak reaches 125 degrees F (for medium rare), the shrimp are opaque and the cheese on the potatoes turns golden and starts to crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Slice and serve the steak on plates alongside the shrimp, potatoes and creamed spinach.

Paella

• Level: Easy

• Total: 1 hr 35 min
• Active: 1 hr 5 min
• Yield: 6 servings

4 cups chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon saffron threads

Olive oil, for cooking

1/2 pound andouille sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces

1 chicken breast, medium diced

Kosher salt

1/2 Spanish onion, small diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon pimenton

1 green bell pepper, small diced

1 red bell pepper, small diced

2 cups Bomba rice

One 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas

6 large shrimp (size U10), shells and tails on

12 mussels, cleaned

1/2 bunch fresh parsley, roughly chopped

1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

Special equipment:

 a 16-inch paella pan

1. Heat chicken broth in a small pot.
2. Add saffron to a small bowl and pour in about 3 tablespoons of the warm chicken broth. Allow to steep until ready to use.
3. Heat a 16-inch paella pan over medium heat. Add olive oil to coat. Add andouille sausage and sear until golden brown on all sides, then remove from the pan and set aside. Add the chicken and sprinkle with salt. Sear on all sides until golden brown (chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through; it will continue to cook later). Remove chicken and set aside. Add the onions to the pan and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and pimenton and cook until just translucent and soft, about 2 minutes. Add the bell peppers and saute until they begin to soften, a few minutes. Add the saffron broth and stir to combine. Add the rice and stir to combine. Add the tomatoes and white wine, then bring to a boil. Add the remaining hot broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and allow rice to cook and liquid to be absorbed, about 20 minutes.
4. Stir in the peas, chicken and sausage. Sprinkle with salt. At this point it is important to stop stirring and allow the bottom to crisp up. That’s the best part! Arrange the shrimp and mussels on top and cook; turn shrimp after 7 minutes. Continue to cook until shrimp have turned pink and mussels have opened, about 3 minutes more. Remove paella from the stove and garnish with parsley and lemon wedges. Serve out of the paella pan and share with friends!

Linguine with Shrimp and Garlic Cream Sauce

• Level: Easy

• Total: 30 min
• Active: 30 min

• Yield: 2 servings

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces fresh linguine

12 large shrimp, peeled

8 cloves garlic, unpeeled

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for serving

1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender and al dente, 1 to 3 minutes (or according to package directions). Drain well and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan.
3. Using a small paring knife, remove the vein along the back of each shrimp and rinse under running water. Add the garlic to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Add the shrimp to the water with the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the shrimp and garlic. Peel and finely chop the garlic.
4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cream begins to thicken. Stir in the Parmesan, parsley and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Pour the sauce over the linguine in a large bowl and toss to coat. Garnish with more Parmesan and parsley.

The Ultimate Beef Wellington

• Level: Intermediate
• Total: 7 hr

• Prep: 1 hr
• Cook: 6 hr
• Yield: 6 to 8 servings

For the Duxelles:

3 pints (1 1/2 pounds) white button mushrooms

2 shallots, peeled and roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Beef:

One 3-pound center cut beef tenderloin (filet mignon), trimmed

Extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

12 thin slices prosciutto

6 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves only

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Flour, for rolling out puff pastry

1 pound puff pastry, thawed if using frozen

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Minced chives, for garnish

Green Peppercorn Sauce, recipe follows

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Herbs and Garlic, recipe follows

Warm Wilted Winter Greens, recipe follows

Green Peppercorn Sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 shallots, sliced

2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only

1 cup brandy

1 box beef stock

2 cups cream

2 tablespoons grainy mustard

1/2 cup green peppercorns in brine, drained, brine reserved

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Herbs and Garlic:

2 pints fingerling potatoes

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

2 to 3 sprigs fresh sage

3 sprigs fresh thyme

6 cloves garlic, left unpeeled

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus for sheet pan

Salt and pepper

Warm Wilted Winter Greens:

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 pint walnuts, for garnish

3 bunches assorted winter greens (such as Swiss chard, radicchio, or escarole), washed, stemmed, and torn into pieces

1 tablespoon grainy mustard

Extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, for garnish

Parmesan shavings, for garnish

1 shallot, chopped, for garnish

1. For the Duxelles:
2. To make the Duxelles: Add mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and thyme to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add butter and olive oil to a large saute pan and set over medium heat. Add the shallot and mushroom mixture and saute for 8 to 10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.
3. For the Beef:
4. To prepare the beef: Tie the tenderloin in 4 places so it holds its cylindrical shape while cooking. Drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper and sear all over, including the ends, in a hot, heavy-based skillet lightly coated with olive oil – about 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile set out your prosciutto on a sheet of plastic wrap (plastic needs to be about a foot and a half in length so you can wrap and tie the roast up in it) on top of your cutting board. Shingle the prosciutto so it forms a rectangle that is big enough to encompass the entire filet of beef. Using a rubber spatula cover evenly with a thin layer of duxelles. Season the surface of the duxelles with salt and pepper and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves. When the beef is seared, remove from heat, cut off twine and smear lightly all over with Dijon mustard. Allow to cool slightly, then roll up in the duxelles covered prosciutto using the plastic wrap to tie it up nice and tight. Tuck in the ends of the prosciutto as you roll to completely encompass the beef. Roll it up tightly in plastic wrap and twist the ends to seal it completely and hold it in a nice log shape. Set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to ensure it maintains its shape.
5. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry out to about a 1/4-inch thickness. Depending on the size of your sheets you may have to overlap 2 sheets and press them together. Remove beef from refrigerator and cut off plastic. Set the beef in the center of the pastry and fold over the longer sides, brushing with egg wash to seal. Trim ends if necessary then brush with egg wash and fold over to completely seal the beef – saving ends to use as a decoration on top if desired. Top with coarse sea salt. Place the beef seam side down on a baking sheet.
7. Brush the top of the pastry with egg wash then make a couple of slits in the top of the pastry using the tip of a paring knife ¿ this creates vents that will allow the steam to escape when cooking. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until pastry is golden brown and beef registers 125 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from oven and rest before cutting into thick slices. Garnish with minced chives, and serve with Green Peppercorn Sauce, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Herbs and Garlic, and Warm Wilted Winter Greens.

Green Peppercorn Sauce:

1. Add olive oil to pan after removing beef. Add shallots, garlic, and thyme; saute for 1 to 2 minutes, then, off heat, add brandy and flambe using a long kitchen match. After flame dies down, return to the heat, add stock and reduce by about half. Strain out solids, then add 2 cups cream and mustard. Reduce by half again, then shut off heat and add green peppercorns.

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Herbs and Garlic:

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F and place a baking sheet inside to heat.
2. Add potatoes, rosemary, sage, thyme, and garlic to a medium bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Remove sheet pan from oven, lightly coat with olive oil, and pour potatoes onto pan. Place potatoes in oven and reduce heat to 425 degrees F. Roast for 20 minutes, or until crispy on outside and tender on inside.

Warm Wilted Winter Greens:

1. Cook honey and balsamic together over medium-high heat in a large saute pan, about 5 minutes. Toast walnuts in a small skillet; set aside to cool.
2. Pile greens on a platter. Stir mustard into balsamic-honey dressing, then whisk in about 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil; pour over greens. Season greens with salt and pepper and garnish with walnuts, pomegranate seeds, shavings of Parmesan, and shallot.

 Valentine’s Day Breakfasts Your Sweetheart Will Adore

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

• Level: Easy

• Total: 25 min
• Active: 25 min
• Yield: 8 pancakes

Raspberry Syrup:

2 cups raspberries

1 cup maple syrup 

2 lemons, zested and juiced (reserve the zest for the pancakes)

Pancakes:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

1/4 cup sugar 

2 teaspoons poppy seeds 

1 heaping teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon lemon extract 

1/4 teaspoon yellow food coloring 

2 large eggs, lightly beaten 

2 tablespoon salted butter, melted, plus more for serving 

Serving:

Canned whipped cream, for topping 1/2 cup raspberries 

Directions

1. For the raspberry syrup: Combine the raspberries, maple syrup and lemon juice in a small pot and place over medium-low heat. Using the back of a fork, lightly mash the raspberries. Allow to heat through while you prepare the pancakes.
2. For the pancakes: Stir the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. In a separate large bowl, mix the sour cream, lemon extract, food coloring, eggs and lemon zest until well combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined.
3. Heat a griddle over medium-low heat. Smear the griddle with the butter. Drop the batter in 1/4-cup portions onto the griddle. Cook on the first side until bubbles start to form on the surface and the edges are starting to brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until set in the middle, an additional minute or two. Remove the pancakes from the griddle and repeat with the remaining batter.
4. Strain the raspberries from the syrup and discard the pulp.
5. For serving: Serve the pancakes topped with additional butter, the raspberry syrup, canned whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

Lemon Raspberry Fizz

• Level: Easy
• Total: 5 min
• Prep: 5 min
• Yield: 2 servings

1 cup Champagne or sparkling water

1/4 cup limoncello liqueur

Crushed ice

2 tablespoons fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries, thawed

Directions

1. In a small pitcher, combine the Champagne and limoncello. Place a spoonful of crushed ice into each of 2 Champagne glasses and top with raspberries. Pour the Champagne mixture over the ice and raspberries. Serve immediately.

Red Velvet Strawberry Cake

• Level: Intermediate

• Total: 6 hr (includes cooling and chilling times)
• Active: 1 hr
• Yield: 10 servings

Cake:

Nonstick cooking spray

1/4 cup hot coffee

2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons red gel food coloring

3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

Filling:

One 1/4-ounce package unflavored gelatin

20 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup sour cream

24 ounces strawberries

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cut two 22-by-3 1/2-inch strips of parchment paper. Spray a 7-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Line the bottom with parchment and fit one of the strips of parchment around the inside of the pan, so that the parchment sticks up above the edge. Spray again with nonstick spray.
2. Whisk together the coffee and cocoa powder in a small heatproof bowl until the cocoa has dissolved. Set aside to cool.
3. Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the granulated sugar and vegetable oil on medium speed. Add the eggs, vanilla and food coloring and mix until well combined. Mix in the cocoa mixture. Mixing on low speed, add the a third of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
4. Add half the buttermilk. Add another third of the dry ingredients, mix until combined, and then add the remaining buttermilk.
5. Stop the mixer. Stir the baking soda and vinegar together in a small bowl (it will bubble up). Immediately add it to the batter along with the remaining dry ingredients and mix for 15 seconds.
6. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, set the pan on a baking sheet tray and bake until the top springs back when gently pressed and a toothpick comes out clean, 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 20 minutes, then remove the sides and slide the cake off the bottom to cool completely on the rack.
7. Once completely cool, use a large serrated knife or a cake knife or cake leveler to trim off any doming on top of the cake. Slice the cake horizontally into 2 even layers.
8. For the filling: Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Set aside to bloom for 5 minutes.
9. Mix the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high until creamy and smooth. Transfer 3/4 cup of the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and set aside in the refrigerator. Microwave the bloomed gelatin until melted, about 20 seconds. Beat the gelatin into the remaining cream cheese along with the sour cream. Mix until smooth.
10. Set aside 5 of the prettiest strawberries for decorating the top of the cake. Remove the green tops from the rest of the strawberries. Trim the berries if necessary so that they are similar in height when standing up on the trimmed end.
11. To assemble the cake, set one layer of cake on a cake board or flat serving platter. Unlock the clean ring of the springform pan and place it around the cake layer. Take the second strip of parchment and wrap around the cake inside the ring so that it is standing up, then lock the cake ring so that it hugs the parchment against the cake.
12. Spread 1/3 cup of the cream cheese filling over the cake layer. Slice a strawberry in half vertically and press the cut halves up against the parchment so that they touch at the bottom. Repeat until you have a ring of berries around the inside of the parchment. Take the remaining whole berries and fill in the interior of the ring, trimmed side down (you may not use all the berries, depending on their size).
13. Spread the rest of the filling over the berries, making sure that it fills in the gaps between them.
14. Gently tap the cake on the counter to eliminate any air pockets. Place the second cake layer on top, making sure the parchment is around the sides, and gently press down. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate until the filling is chilled through and set, at least 3 hours and up to 8 hours.
15. When ready to serve, unlock the springform ring and lift it off the cake. Peel off the parchment strip, being careful not to pull it straight out but rather peel it gently away from the sides of the cake. With the reserved frosting, pipe 14 stars in a circle around the top edge of the cake, then pipe 10 stars in a smaller circle, and then 2 large rosettes in the center. Cut the reserved 5 strawberries in half vertically, leaving the green tops on, and place 7 strawberry halves in every other gap between the 14 piped stars. Arrange the remaining 3 strawberry halves on the rosettes in the center of the cake. Slice and enjoy!

Chocolate Caramel-Creme Candy Cake

• Level: Intermediate

• Total: 4 hr 55 min (includes cooling and chilling time)
• Active: 35 min
• Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Chocolate Cake:

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, plus more for the pan

1 cup all-purpose flour (see Cook’s Note), plus more for the pan

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 large egg, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Caramel Creme Filling:

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (about 1/2 of one 1/4-ounce packet)

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

Chocolate Ganache:

8 ounces milk chocolate chips or bars, finely chopped

3/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch square cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out excess.
2. Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the melted butter, buttermilk, egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup water together in another bowl until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through cooking, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
3. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Discard the parchment paper and flip the cakes right side up again. Let the cakes cool completely.
4. Make the caramel creme: Heat 1/2 cup sugar in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until it turns dark amber in color, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the heavy cream (mixture will bubble up). When the bubbles subside, add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the salt and stir until both dissolve in the caramel. Scrape the caramel into the bowl of a food processor and let cool completely.
5. Combine the gelatin with 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Heat the gelatin in the microwave until it melts completely, about 10 seconds, stirring to dissolve. Add the gelatin mixture, cream cheese and sour cream to the food processor and process until smooth. Scrape the caramel creme filling into a bowl and refrigerate, checking every 5 minutes, until it is just thick enough to spread, 5 to 15 minutes. (Do not let the filling firm up too much.) Before layering the cake, give the mixture a good whisking to aerate it slightly. This will make for a lighter texture.
6. Place one cake on a cake stand and pile the caramel filling in the center, spreading it in a thick layer almost to the edge. Top with the remaining cake, aligning the layers directly on top of each other so the cake does not lean. Refrigerate the assembled cake for 1 hour.
7. Meanwhile, make the chocolate ganache: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate, shaking the pan gently to submerge it. Allow the pan to stand, off the heat, for 3 minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk the ganache until smooth, then refrigerate until it is just thick enough to spread (like mayonnaise), about 15 minutes. (Do not let the ganache harden too much.)
8. Stir the ganache again and scoop it on top of the cake, spreading it over the top and sides. Refrigerate the cake until the ganache is set, at least 2 hours or overnight.

Valentine Book To Read

Love Counts by Jo Parker

Whether it’s sharing cookies with neighbors, sending a letter to a loved one, or giving thanks to the people who keep the world going ’round, this is the perfect book to read aloud with children to teach them that love counts.

Letters of Note: LoveCompiled by Shaun Usher

ABOUT LETTERS OF NOTE: LOVE

From Napoléon Bonaparte and Frida Kahlo to Nelson Mandela and Ayn Rand glimpse the ardors of artists, painters, writers, and more in this touching volume of beautiful missives, from the author of the bestselling Letters of Note collections

Beethoven yearns to see his famously unknown Immortal Beloved. A Victorian farmer proposes marriage to a woman he’s never met. Zora Neale Hurston gives her ex-husband relationship advice. Mildred Loving asks the ACLU for help challenging the racist marriage laws of the Jim Crow South. Revealing deep, eternal truths from the heart, this intimate collection of 30 letters traces all of love’s incarnations, from first blush and mutual enchantment to unrequited feelings and the ache of passions past. It offers a rare, passionate, and timeless look at what it means to love and be loved.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

From the author of The Night Circus comes a timeless love story set in a secret underground world—a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

“Felix Ever After”

Kacen Callender (2020)

Kacen Callender brings a revelatory young adult novel that is overflowing with self-reflection and vulnerability. Felix Love is embroiled in the social politics of being a teenage boy in a private high school. Aside from the normal woes of being a teen, Felix yearns for a love of his own, but the yearning boils alongside a deep fear. Although proud of his identity, Felix fears being queer, Black and transgender might be a roadblock to finding love for the first time. This fear is magnified when Felix is named in a malicious pre-transition gallery of photos followed by transphobic messages.

10 Things I Love About You! Danielle McLean, illus. by Grace Habib.

How does a child love a parent? This sunny touch-and-feel board book follows one kid who counts the ways. Via rhyming stanzas, a light-brown-skinned child sporting curly pigtails tells their parent the reasons why “I love you bigger than the world.” Coming in at number two, “I love that you know all the games!/ What will we do today?/ I’ll dress up as a doctor/ and make boo-boos go away,” as Habib’s cheerful, gently rounded artwork shows the pair playing dress up and giving some stuffies a proper checkup. And reason number four, “I love the way you’re there for me;/ you never let me down,” accompanies a scene of the on-the-spot parent applying a bandage after a scooter dustup. A tender and joy-filled volume that provides affirmations around parental care. Ages 2–5. 

The Catalogue of Hugs

The father and son authors of this picture book survey hug types gentle, rambunctious, and in-between, humorously detailing variations of the embrace for an array of situations. In each spread, the name of a particular hug style appears alongside one of Lilly’s wispy, sketch-lined images of adults and children demonstrating the interaction. Using ample white space, blocks of color pop in the depictions of people with a range of abilities and skin tones wearing brightly accented clothing or accessories. Hug type “the Frontpack” accompanies an image of an adult who uses a prosthetic leg holding a child to their front; “the Flying Squirrel” envisages a collision about to occur; and “the Necklace” attends an image of a child hanging from an adult’s neck. A final spread invites readers to experiment with a bonus list of hug styles, including “the Hot Cocoa,” “the Tuba” and “the Puppy Hug.” 

Cozy in Love

Brett returns to the world of Cozy for this tale about the woolly musk ox character finding love in the Arctic tundra. Despite his best head-bashing effort, Cozy is bested by another musk ox bull and fails to win the attention of “lovely Lofti,” a musk ox cow with “a sparkle in her eye that set her apart.” But before Cozy can feel too sorry for himself, Puffin corrals him for an urgent mission: to help their beluga friend Bella escape Teardrop Inlet before it completely freezes over as winter fast approaches. Cozy uses his head—literally—and some “simple science” to raise the water level so Bella can swim away, all while Lofti admiringly looks on. Embracing her signature style, Brett frames each watercolor and gouache image with a rustic border. Side panels of spot art on each page work to foreshadow plot elements and introduce details of the expansive Alaskan setting—accurately drawn puffins, seaweed, starfish, and, fittingly, heart-shaped stones. Ages 4–8

I Love You Little, I Love You Lots Douglas Wood, illus. by G. Brian Karas. 

By any measure—but especially by the quantifiable examples exchanged—a dog and cat show their immense love for one another in this tender picture book. The cat backs up an initial declaration, “I love you lots,” with a more precise accounting: “My love for you would fill 10 pots/ 15 buckets and 16 cans/ 3 teacups and 4 cakepans,” all depicted by Karas as filled with marshmallow-topped hot cocoa. The dog counters with “I love you very// And more than that// I love you more than/ my fishing hat/ My torn blue jeans/ And my untied shoes.” Wood’s can-you-top-this dialogue continues, relayed entirely in speech bubbles featuring a hand-lettering-based font that gives the exchange a personal feel. Via warm, relaxed pencil and digitally rendered images, Karas whisks readers into a number of activities that elicit affectionate calculations literal and metaphorical. Ages 3–5.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

The novel focuses on the marriage of a middle-class African-American couple, Celestial and Roy, who live in Atlanta, Georgia. Their lives are torn apart when Roy is wrongfully convicted of a rape he did not commit.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

At its core, Pride and Prejudice tells the love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, both of whom have to overcome their biases in order to end up together. Throughout the novel, both characters learn to unlearn their pride and prejudice so that they can come to accept the other’s goodness of characte

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

 In 1946, after WW II, a young Englishwoman named Claire Beauchamp Randall goes to the Scottish Highlands with her husband, Frank. She’s an ex-combat nurse, he’s been in the army as […]

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

 The story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents’ cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. Each is unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, when, during the restless summer weeks, unrelenting currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion and test the charged ground between them. Recklessly, the two verge toward the one thing both fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy. It is an instant classic and one of the great love stories of our time.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

According to the legend, Romeo and Juliet met at a masquerade ball, fell in love and decided to get married in secret, against the will of their two rival families. But a cruel fate seemed to be plotting against their happiness. Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, during a street brawl kills Romeo’s best friend Mercutio.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

 It is a love story about Henry, a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and about Clare, his wife, an artist who has to cope with his frequent absences. 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

It’s the story of Heathcliff, an orphan who falls in love with a girl above his class, loses her, and devotes the rest of his life to wreaking revenge on her family

Anna Karenina Novel by Leo Tolstoy

Married to a powerful government minister, Anna Karenina is a beautiful woman who falls deeply in love with a wealthy army officer, the elegant Count Vronsky. Desperate to find truth and meaning in her life, she rashly defies the conventions of Russian society and leaves her husband and son to live with her lover. Condemned and ostracized by her peers and prone to fits of jealousy that alienate Vronsky, Anna finds herself unable to escape an increasingly hopeless situation.

Set against this tragic affair is the story of Konstantin Levin, a melancholy landowner whom Tolstoy based largely on himself. While Anna looks for happiness through love, Levin embarks on his own search for spiritual fulfillment through marriage, family, and hard work. Surrounding these two central plot threads are dozens of characters whom Tolstoy seamlessly weaves together, creating a breathtaking tapestry of nineteenth-century Russian society.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell  The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era.

“Seven Days in June” by Tia Williams

When they were teenagers, Eva and Shane spent one week together madly in love, so when they meet by chance at a literary event 20 years later, their immediate chemistry is no surprise. In this warm and emotional romance, Eva and Shane reconnect over seven days in Brooklyn, exploring the spark between them while addressing the questions left lingering after all this time. 

A Lady for a Duke, by Alexis Hall

After being presumed to be dead, Viola decides to live her life as she’s always wanted to. But as she reconnects with an old friend, memories and desires flare up again in unexpected ways.

A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

Sex and Vanity, by Kevin Kwan

On her very first morning on the jewel-like island of Capri, Lucie Churchill sets eyes on George Zao and she instantly can’t stand him. She can’t stand it when he gallantly offers to trade hotel rooms with her so that she can have a view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, she can’t stand that he knows more about Casa Malaparte than she does, and she really can’t stand it when he kisses her in the darkness of the ancient ruins of a Roman villa and they are caught by her snobbish, disapproving cousin Charlotte.

The daughter of an American-born Chinese mother and a blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always sublimated the Asian side of herself in favor of the white side, and she adamantly denies having feelings for George. But several years later, when George unexpectedly appears in East Hampton, where Lucie is weekending with her new fiancé, Lucie finds herself drawn to George again. Soon, Lucie is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment building, and, ultimately, herself as she tries mightily to deny George entry into her world—and her heart. 

If Beale Street Could Talk, by James Baldwin
Told through the eyes of Tish, a nineteen-year-old girl, in love with Fonny, a young sculptor who is the father of her child, Baldwin’s story mixes the sweet and the sad. Tish and Fonny have pledged to get married, but Fonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime and imprisoned. Their families set out to clear his name, and as they face an uncertain future, the young lovers experience a kaleidoscope of emotions—affection, despair, and hope. In a love story that evokes the blues, where passion and sadness are inevitably intertwined, Baldwin has created two characters so alive and profoundly realized that they are unforgettably ingrained in the American psyche

The Duke and I,by Julia Quinn

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister—the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it’s all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it’s hard to remember that their courtship is a sham. Maybe it’s his devilish smile, certainly it’s the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her . . . but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke . . . for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love.

The Thorn Birds,by Colleen McCullough

The Thorn Birds is a chronicle of three generations of Clearys—an indomitable clan of ranchers carving lives from a beautiful, hard land while contending with the bitterness, frailty, and secrets that penetrate their family. It is a poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit. Most of all, it is the story of the Clearys’ only daughter, Meggie, and the haunted priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart—and the intense joining of two hearts and souls over a lifetime, a relationship that dangerously oversteps sacred boundaries of ethics and dogma.

Forever…, by Judy Blume

Katherine and Michael are in love, and Katherine knows it’s forever—especially after she loses her virginity to him. But when they’re separated for the summer, she begins to have feelings for another boy. What does this say about her love for Michael? And what does “forever” mean, anyway? Is this the love of a lifetime, or the very beginning of a lifetime of love?

Story of O, by Pauline Réage

The notorious novel of dark obsession
 
How far will a woman go to express her love? In this exquisite novel of passion and desire, the answer emerges through a daring exploration of the deepest bonds of sensual domination. “O” is a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer, determined to understand and prove her consuming devotion to her lover, René, through complete submission to his every whim, his every desire.
 
It is a journey of forbidden, dangerous choices that sweeps her through the secret gardens of the sexual underground. From the inner sanctum of a private club where willing women are schooled in the art of subjugation to the excruciating embraces of René’s friend Sir Stephen, O tests the outermost limits of pleasure. For as O discovers, true freedom lies in her pure and complete willingness to do anything for love.

Between Lovers, by Eric Jerome Dickey

Nicole made a bold move by dumping her fiance at the altar. From there, she’s built a successful career, relocated north to Oakland, and fallen in love all over again—this time with a woman. But Nicole’s still not entirely happy. Don’t get her wrong—she likes what she has. It’s just that she misses what she had. The question is, can she have it all? As she brings her ex back into her life and tests the boundaries between lovers, you’d better believe that the anger, jealousy, excitement, and passion of this triangle are going to run hot….

Nicole is playing with fire, not to mention the feelings of the two people who love her most in the world. How these three fascinating people handle this unusual and complex relationship makes for one of Dickey’s most provocative and unforgettable novels.

Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes

Louisa Clark becomes the care assistant for quadriplegic Will Traynor, whose life was altered by a motorcycle accident. An unlikely pair, they become totally entangled in each other’s worlds as they try to stave off their growing feelings. 

Fifty Shades Trilogy Bundle: Fifty Shades of Grey; Fifty Shades Darker; Fifty Shades Freed by E L James

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: When college student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly Ana realizes she wants this man, and Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian’s secrets and explores her own desires.

FIFTY SHADES DARKER: Daunted by Christian’s dark secrets and singular tastes, Ana has broken off their relationship to start a new career. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and while Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Ana is forced to make the most important decision of her life.

FIFTY SHADES FREED: Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to turn Ana’s deepest fears into reality.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Fifty Shades as Told by Christian (3 book series)

E L James revisits the world of Fifty Shades with a deeper and darker take on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the globe.

“I’ve never felt this desire, this . . . hunger before. It’s a new feeling, new and shiny. I want so much from her: her trust, her obedience, her submission. I want her to be mine, but right now . . . I’m hers.”

Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

“Please don’t bite your lip, Anastasia.” My voice is low, full of longing. Will I always want her like this? I want to kiss her, press her into the elevator wall like I did during our first kiss. I want to make her mine again.

Their scorching, sensual affair ended in heartbreak and recrimination, but Christian Grey cannot get Anastasia Steele out of his mind, or his blood. Determined to win her back, he tries to suppress his darkest desires and his need for complete control, and to love Ana on her own terms.

But the horrors of his childhood still haunt him, and Ana’s scheming boss, Jack Hyde, clearly wants her for himself. Can Christian’s confidant and therapist, Dr. Flynn, help him face down his demons? Or will the possessiveness of Elena, his seducer, and the deranged devotion of Leila, his former submissive, drag Christian down into the past?

And if Christian does win Ana back, can a man so dark and damaged ever hope to keep her?

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the decade, when Christian Grey will make Anastasia Steele his wife. But is he really husband material? His dad is unsure, his brother wants to organize one helluva bachelor party, and his fiancée won’t vow to obey…

And marriage brings its own challenges. Their passion for each other burns hotter and deeper than ever, but Ana’s defiant spirit continues to stir Christian’s darkest fears and tests his need for control. As old rivalries and resentments endanger them both, one misjudgment threatens to tear them apart.

Can Christian overcome the nightmares of his childhood and the torments of his youth, and save himself? And once he’s discovered the truth of his origins, can he find forgiveness and accept Ana’s unconditional love?

Can Christian finally be freed?

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, by A.N. Roquelaure

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty: A Novel (Sleeping Beauty Trilogy Book 1)

In the traditional folktale of “Sleeping Beauty,” the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind’s unconscious. In the first book of the trilogy, Anne Rice (author of Beauty’s Kingdom), writing as A.N. Roquelaure, retells the Beauty story and probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince awakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty’s complete and total enslavement to him . . . as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience. Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey will indulge in Rice’s deft storytelling and imaginative eroticism, a sure-to-be classic for years to come.

Beauty’s Punishment: A Novel (Sleeping Beauty Trilogy Book 2)

This sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, the first of Anne Rice’s (writing as A.N. Roquelaure) elegantly written volumes of erotica, continues her explicit, teasing exploration of the psychology of human desire. Now Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away from the Satyricon-like world of the Castle. Sold at auction, she will soon experience the tantalizing punishments of “the village,” as her education in love, cruelty, dominance, submission, and tenderness is turned over to the brazenly handsome Captain of the Guard. And once again Rice’s fabulous tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart. Preceding the visceral eroticism of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey and Sylvia Day’s Bared to You, and even more haunting than her own novel Belinda, this second installment is not to be missed.

Beauty’s Release: A Novel (Sleeping Beauty Trilogy Book 3)

Before E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey and Sylvia Day’s Bared to You,, there was Anne Rice’s provocative take on the timeless fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty. “ In the final volume of Anne Rice’s deliciously tantalizing erotic trilogy, Beauty’s adventures on the dark side of sexuality make her the bound captive of an Eastern Sultan and a prisoner in the exotic confines of the harem. As this voluptuous adult fairy tale moves toward conclusion, all Beauty’s encounters with the myriad variations of sexual fantasy are presented in a sensuous, rich prose that intensifies this exquisite rendition of Love’s secret world, and makes the Beauty series and incomparable study of erotica. In it, Anne Rice, writing as A.N. Roquelaure, makes the forbidden side of passion a doorway into the hidden regions of the psyche and the heart.

Beauty’s Kingdom: A Novel (A Sleeping Beauty Novel Book 4)

Mega-bestselling author Anne Rice, writing as A. N. Roquelaure, returns to the mysterious kingdom of Queen Eleanor in this new chapter of her Sleeping Beauty series. When the great queen is reported dead, Beauty and Laurent return to the kingdom they left twenty years before. Beauty agrees to take the throne, but she insists that all erotic servitude be voluntary. Countless eager princes, princesses, lords, ladies, and commoners journey to Beauty’s realm, where she and her husband usher in a new era of desire, longing, and ecstasy. Provocative and stirring, Rice’s imaginative retelling of the Sleeping Beauty myth will be adored by her longtime fans and new readers of erotica just discovering the novels.

The Fault in Our Stars,by John Green

. Hazel Grace Lancaster, diagnosed with terminal cancer and clinical depression, learns how to embrace the beauty of life through Augustus Waters, a carefree and kindhearted cancer survivor.

Sense and Sensibility,by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously; By A Lady appears on the title page where the author’s name might have been. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (age 19) and Marianne (age 16 1/2) as they come of age. They have an older, stingy half-brother, John, and a younger sister, Margaret,

Written on the Body,by Jeannette Winterson

The most beguilingly seductive novel to date from the author of The Passion and Sexing the Cherry. Winterson chronicles the consuming affair between the narrator, who is given neither name nor gender, and the beloved, a complex and confused married woman.

The Mister

The #1 New York Times bestseller—a thrilling and seductive Cinderella love story from E L James, author of the phenomenal bestselling Fifty Shades Trilogy.

Clasping her plait at the base of her neck, I tug lightly, bringing her lips up to mine. “Alessia,” I breathe, and kiss her again, softly, slowly. She stills in my arms, then brings her hands up to clutch my biceps, closing her eyes as she accepts me. I deepen the kiss, my tongue teasing her lips, and she opens her mouth. She tastes of warmth and grace and sweet seduction.

London, present day. Life has always been easy for Maxim Trevelyan, the “spare” to the earldom of Trevethick. With his good looks, aristocratic connections, and money, he’s never had to work, and he’s rarely slept alone. But all that changes when tragedy strikes and Maxim inherits his family’s title, wealth, and estates, and the responsibility that entails. It’s a role he’s not prepared for and one he struggles to face.

But his biggest challenge is fighting his desire for an unexpected, enigmatic young woman who’s recently joined his staff. Reticent, beautiful, and musically gifted, she’s an alluring mystery, possessing little more than a dangerous and troublesome past. As Maxim’s longing for her deepens into a passion he’s never experienced and dares not name, he’s left to wonder just who is Alessia Demachi? And can he protect her from the malevolence that threatens her?

From the heart of London through wild, rural Cornwall to the bleak, forbidding beauty of the Albanian Balkans, The Mister combines the sensuality of a modern Regency romance with the danger, desire, and adventure of E L James’s captivating storytelling, leaving the reader breathless to the very last page.