Snow and ice has brought my city to a stand-still, and YIKES! Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and there won’t be any last-minute trips to the store for cards, flowers, or candy. Buses, trains, streetcars, Uber and Lyft, all shut down. Driving would be crazy. Stores within walking snowshoeing distance are all closed.

The thing to do, of course, is bake. Make something really special by hand, with love. Perhaps I’m not the only person wanting to come up with a meaningful Valentine at the last minute, and though you may not all be hampered by the weather, cooking for your Valentine can still be a great way to demonstrate the lengths to which you are willing to go to bring them the good things in life.

So! In case you want to join me in stirring up something special, I’ve pulled together some podcasts that feature chocolate, because for many of us, Valentine’s Day and chocolate go hand in hand. (I’ve also included something not chocolate, for you non-conformers out there. Or if you just want to serve an elegant but easy pasta before presenting the chocolate.)

Just click on the recipe to hear the podcast. These are easy to make, you may already have the ingredients on hand, and I promise they will be appreciated.

Happy cooking, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Fast ‘n’ Gooey Double-Chocolate Brownies

Almond Addiction

Chocolate Orange Cookies

Fudge Crackles

Pasta with Fried Garlic & Toasted Nuts (“Pistachio Pasta”)