For those happily coupled, the first day of February means the coming of one of the most romantic nights of the year, celebrated with rich food, low mood lighting and
soft music. For families, it’s often little cardboard Valentines sent to school entwined with red lollipops and construction paper hearts. And for the gluten-free eater, the coming of any holiday means adapting some traditions and reading labels carefully.
In the current edition of Easy Eats magazine, we offer some truly decadent chocolate treats for Valentines Day: smooth truffles from La Maison du Chocolat, classic French macaroons from Macaron Cafe, delightful little hearts from Rescue Chocolate and many more. Head to the Treat Yourself column in the magazine to see some more
of our favorite finds that are, of course, all completely gluten free.
And in case you’re stumped on what to make for your gluten-free sweetie, here are the recipes you can find inside the issue (check out Louisa Shafia’s romantic
Valentines menu in the Lovely Day spread):
Cucumber and Pomegranate Salad
Rice with Rose Petals
Seared Chicken and Apple Stew
Red Velvet Heart Cakes
Dark Chocolate Valentine Cake Pops
Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Hazelnuts
Blood Orange and Pomegranate Hot Toddy
But what to do when chocolate isn’t enough or you have a Valentine who isn’t into sweets? Here are a few things we love, just in time for gifting to your extra special someone.
Passion #06 from 21 Drops
$29 for 7.5ml, www.21drops.com
This line of 100% natural essential oils targets the 21 most common complaints, from sleeplessness to indigestion, with aromatherapy blends that heal and support. #06- Passion – combines jasmine flower, rose, cardamom and sandalwood oils. We love how playful and sensual the blend is. Upon application you get a rich waft of jasmine, then as the scent mellows the rose and cardamom really shine. And it comes perfectly packaged for Valentines Day, and ready for rolling.
Adventures with Chocolate by Paul A. Young
www.PaulAYoung.co.uk
This book inspires the chocolate lover in all of us. Young, who’s chocolate shops have won hearts and devoted followers all over London, walks us through steps as simple as properly tempering chocolate and rolling truffles to layered recipes like Chocolate and Almond Tortellini with Blood Oranges and Pine Nuts. It’s the box of chocolates that inspires sweetness all the year through.
Tocca Candella #7
$35.60 for 10.6 fl oz., www.SkinCareRx.com
When you need a switch from traditional romantically-themed candles in pink and red, try Tocca #7. Their candles come elegantly boxed in classic pale-blue packaging reminiscent of fine lace and plush hotels, complete with a tiny set of matches in the lid. The fragrance is rich without over-concentrating, and permeates even the largest spaces for up to 60 hours. We particularly love #7′s warmth, perfect for this time of year, but their entire line is top-notch.
