Baked with Love
Saying "I love you" with gift ideas and one of my most asked-for recipes!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
As some of you know, this isn’t an extravagant holiday for my husband and I. However, just because we don’t do elaborate gestures (I’m sure my fellow busy moms know that it’s just not realistic!) doesn’t mean that we don’t show our love and care in other ways. There’s beauty in the smaller gestures, and “small” doesn’t equal “less meaningful.” In fact, often the opposite is true. Although my family is in a busy season right now, that makes any quality time even sweeter because any use of time, energy, and effort means so much.
It’s no surprise that food is one of my favorite avenues for connection. Whether it be gifting something sweet, sharing a meal together, or the simple question of “did you eat yet?”, all of it is an expression of care. The recipes I’ve chosen below are not only highly asked for (like my Sourdough Bread), but are truly special whether you’re baking together or surprising your loved ones. To thank my newsletter subscribers, I’m giving you the recipe before any other platform!
I’m not too sure what my husband has planned for us this weekend, but I’m excited regardless! We usually try to have a nice meal together. Early on in our marriage for our second Valentine’s together, I went to the store to try to find him a good gift. I didn’t see anything I thought he’d like that he didn’t already have—he already had a nice wallet and watch—so I bought him some good socks and wrapped them in a beautiful box. Imagine his surprise when he opened all that beautiful wrapping to find a pack of socks for Valentine’s Day… To this day, he still tells that story and we still laugh about it.
Handmade things like cards and gift boxes full of photos or treats are irreplaceable, as is quality time doing an activity together. However, if you’re looking for more traditional gift recommendations, here are some of my favorites for women and some ideas for men. It’s so hard to find gifts for men, especially after you’ve run through the classic gift options. The best gifts are really just the ones that make people feel seen. Something that says, “I thought of you.” That will mean something different for everyone! So, use these recommendations as a guide to help you brainstorm.
Perfume: I’ve shared fragrances before, but Miss Dior is my favorite everyday fragrance.
Bracelet: This bracelet is very similar to one of my favorites I own.
Pajamas: Cozy pajamas are a great gift for anyone, and this brand is so unbelievably soft.
Earrings: I wear these earrings all the time! They’re my favorite.
Sunglasses: I’ve provided a couple of options (top, bottom) that I love to wear and are good quality.
Cookbook: Not only is my cookbook a great gift for a baker, but it has even more dessert recipes and baking tips for you to try.
Custom Mug: I thought these mugs were so adorable and I love that you can add a personalized touch.
Cocotte: Le Creuset’s products last a lifetime, and I always love seeing their holiday collections, especially Valentine’s Day.
I couldn’t leave the men out, so here are some gift ideas for them according to what my husband likes.
Pajamas: My husband isn’t one for Valentine’s Day colors, and opts for pajamas more like this that are still made from that soft material.
Socks: I mean, even though it made for a funny story, I still think socks are a good gift!
Watch: My husband loves his watch, and I found a similar one from a good brand that’s more affordable as well.
Sunglasses: Accessories such as sunglasses or belts are good gifts for men, too!
Wallet Gift Set: It may be basic, but this quality set is perfect if his wallet is looking beat up.
Cologne: Here are my husband’s favorite fragrances! Aventus, Green Irish Tweed, and Reflection.
Laptop Bag: My husband uses this bag all the time. It’s made of real leather and is high quality.
Of course, you know your loved one better than I do, but I hope these recommendations were helpful. You can also save these ideas for a later holiday or birthday to keep in mind.
As promised, here are some recipes that say “I love you.”
It’s been a while since I posted a Sourdough recipe, and I’ve had several people ask about it. We had an updated version written for the cookbook, but with the limited space we weren’t able to include it. However, that means that I can share that updated version here with you all!
Nothing says “I care about you” quite like a loaf of fresh bread. I will warn you that homemade Sourdough Bread is one of those things that once you make it, it will ruin store bought versions for you—so be warned. I served the bread with Raspberry Jam and Mascarpone Cheese (recipe further down), but a piece of toast with nothing but good butter and a bit of salt will always satisfy.
I try to make everything homemade when I can, and you’ll be surprised at how simple making your own Homemade Mascarpone Cheese is.
This recipe will go up on my website soon, but as my newsletter subscribers, you’re getting it—along with the sourdough recipe—early! Not only is mascarpone delicious on toast like the recipe above, but you can use it to make tiramisu, like the following recipe. This recipe yields about 1 1/2 cups.
For many, Valentine’s Day usually means some special dessert featuring chocolate. For me, the best chocolate desserts are paired with the nutty, vanilla-y flavor of pistachio.
This is a very non-traditional tiramisu, Pistachio Tiramisu, featuring pistachio cream in the mascarpone filling as well as a crackable chocolate top. It’s decadent and special as is, but if you want to take it to another level you can make the ladyfingers homemade, too.
I hope you get the chance to spend quality time with loved ones, whatever that means or looks like for you. Eat something delicious this weekend!
Ah,
Dear Miss Betul, your letter to us is just precious with your kindness, examples of love to your Husband, and your funny story! You always make me smile!
Beautiful gifts come in tiny packages~ just look at children!
Thank you so so much for sharing such lovely recipes with us! They are all amazing! You have a gift that you have worked hard to perfect!
May you and yours have a blessed and beautiful day of love set apart!
Thank you for the recipes. Have a blessed Happy Valentines day