With Valentine's Day around the corner, I wanted to get a head start on finding the perfect recipe for my sweetie. Looking through my cookbooks, one caught my eye as the ideal place to start — The Wine Lover's Dessert Cookbook. This book is dedicated to creating delicious desserts that accompany a variety of different wines. While I drooled over many, I decided to experiment with the triple-chocolate buttermilk loaf cake. After seeing the Bites of Love series on lilsugar, instead of baking a loaf, I divided the batter into mini muffin tins to create a dainty two-bite dessert. Chocoholics will be in heaven with the complex and rich flavor of three different types of chocolate: dark chocolate, semisweet chips, and cocoa powder. These moist bread bites would be superb with a bold red wine or ruby port. If you and your honey don't drink wine, these minicakes would be romantic at breakfast with a cup of coffee. To get started on these irresistible triple-chocolate bread bites, read more

Feeling the sting from other chains such as McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, a desperate Starbucks announced last week that it will soon be introducing value meals of its own. The chain plans to launch value pairings in all its company-owned US stores on March 3. Although regular prices for food and drink items vary by store location, Starbucks claims the pairings will provide customers with an average savings of as much as $1.20. This strategy is the latest in a slew of tactics — from creating loyalty programs to ceasing brewing of decaf after noon — that the company has tried over the past year to recover from troubling sales numbers. To see the recession-friendly $3.95 breakfast pairings, which were revealed today, read more

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Absolut vodka has released a new ad campaign, entitled "Hugs," that's all about spreading love. In the commercial, which debuted last night during the Grammys, money is replaced with acts of affection. For tickets to the movies, the buyer gives the ticket girl two kisses. To pay for a taxi, a young girl lovingly caresses the taxi driver's hand.

At a time when so many large food companies are using aggressive advertising to put down competitors, I find Absolut's ad refreshing, bold, and wonderfully optimistic. After viewing it, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to live in such an idealized world. Watch it below and let me know your thoughts!

Sandwich chain Subway isn't dropping Olympian Michael Phelps as a sponsor yet — but it has removed all semblance of the swimmer from its website, and plans to delay its first TV campaign starring the gold medalist, which was originally slated for early 2009.

This is the fast-food chain's response after a photo broke last week of the Olympian smoking a bong. Immediately following the news, Kellogg's dropped its endorsement deal with the swimmer, and we wondered whether Phelps's other food sponsor, Subway, would follow the cereal maker's footsteps. Indeed, Phelps, who was all over the company's SubwayFreshBuzz website, which highlights "fresh celebrities," is no longer featured. The restaurant chain said in an official statement:

Like most Americans, and like Michael Phelps himself, we were disappointed in his behavior. Also, like most Americans, we accept his apology. Moving forward, he remains in our plans.

Considering the backlash that followed when Kellogg's dropped Phelps (a petition to boycott all of the brand's products), it's a smooth move on Subway's part to hang onto the swimmer, but have him lay low for a while. What's your opinion of the sandwich chain's strategy? Were you surprised they didn't end his endorsement deal?

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Recently I attended the opening reception for a new bar in San Francisco. Like most bars these days, the establishment had a list of tantalizing specialty cocktails. According to the menu, the cocktail I ordered, a Bloodhound, was a mixture of Hanger One vodka, Campari, and grapefruit juice. However, when I watched the bartender mix the drink, he made it with Smirnoff! Listing out specific ingredients and making a dish with different components is not okay. Can you imagine the repercussions if a restaurant did this and served an item that caused an allergic reaction? When hosting a party of any sort, be sure to give guests exactly what is described on the menu.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? Where you asked for one thing and got something totally different? Please share your stories below!

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Tonight, I'll be using the ground beef from my last meal in a hearty, spice-tinged soup. Before you read the recipe, dispel any prior notions you might have of meatballs. This Latin version will be totally different, with bright notes of cilantro, the chunky acidity of salsa, and weighty body, courtesy of cornmeal and rice. For a different kind of meatball stew, read more

Last year I received a spatula with pretty pink hearts on it as a hostess gift. At first, I thought it was a little cheesy, but now it's my favorite kitchen tool! To encourage you to bring a little love in the kitchen and get in the Valentine's Day spirit, you headed off to market in search of heart kitchenware. You looked for tools that make heart shaped food or fun heart printed servingware. You saved your discoveries in the Heart Kitchenware.

I've fallen madly in love with this heart-shaped wooden cutting board. Brielle found the board on Etsy.

With a nice selection of cheese, it would make a great Valentine's Day gift! For more heartfelt finds, browse the extensive collection below.

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