Valentine’s Day Cookbooks and Kitchen Items of Love

A Cookbook for Lovers (1970) by Ernest Carteris with Abby Gail Kirsch and Cynthia Parker

Expect 221 pages (including the recipe index) in this flirty book from Hearthside Press, Inc. Although not a new title, “A Cookbook for Lovers” is a great choice for any 1970s fan.

What a unique cookbook. It is over-the-top cheesy and, at times, tongue-in-cheek. It’s funny and a joy to read. No images, but illustrations pep things up on occasion.

Part of doing your own thing is cooking — especially cooking for a lover.

This book is for you if you are a bachelor or a single girl who likes to prepare meals é deux — with someone who knows just where your wine glasses are kept and which skillet you like best.

It is for you if you are young, or if you think young.

It might even be for you if you have passed your silver anniversary and still like to hold hands by the hearth.

Ernest Carteris, “A Cookbook for Lovers,” Introduction: Page 10.

Chapters inside “A Cookbook for Lovers” include:

• Introduction
• Love Is Not Enough
• Cheese and Eggs: Instant Seduction for Two
• Fish for a Sensuous Pair
• Chicken for Two Avid Appetites
• Mats for Lusty Lovers
• Table-Top Temptations a Deux
• Cooking for Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice And . . .
• Love Potions
• Index

Here’s a sample of an Italian-themed menu: This One Sparkles Like a Roman Candle: Onion Soup Italienne, Bistecca Veneto, Gnocchi Romana, Mushroom and Garlic Salad, Cherries in Red Wine, and a wine suggestion: Bardolino.

The title of this menu cracks me up: Love is a Hot Dish on a Cold Night. Recipes include Chicken Mollina, April Peas, Croissants, Strawberry Rum Flamé, with Pinot Chardonnay as the wine suggestion.

Cooking for Two: Perfect Meals for Pairs (2009) by Jessica Strand

What a pretty 120-page, 7.5 x 0.63 x 8.25-inch cookbook by Chronicle Books. Each chapter begins with a list of the recipes and page numbers inside (along with suggested drinks). The beautiful images will light your fire.

There’s something very special about a quiet, intimate dinner with another person, whether it be your spouse, a date, or a friend.

Unlike at a gathering, where you engage with a number of people in many levels of conversation and not everything you serve is specific to each person’s palate, when you’re with just one person both the level of connection and specificity come fully into play.

Suddenly, you’re really talking, and there’s no way to escape into another conversation.

The intimacy you experience is singular and the meal is often what shapes this time together.

Jessica Strand, “Cooking for Two,” Introduction: Page 8.

Chapters inside “Cooking for Two” include:

• Introduction
• Eight Tips for Cooking Together
• Simple, Fast, Easy Suppers
• One-Pot Dinners
• Romantic Meals
• Duo Desserts
• Index
• Table of Equivalents

This adorable cookbook offers a nice range of recipes. Sweet Potato Cakes with Cherry Tomato, Arugula, and Red Onion Salad with a Tangy Balsamic Dressing or Chunky Chicken Potpies with Root Vegetables? Spaghetti Carbonara with a Poached Egg on Top or Pan-Seared, Herb-Rubbed Porch Chops with Port-Glazed Apples?

That’s a small selection from the first chapter. I’m serious, this book is a keeper. Her recipe for Onion Soup with Loads of Thyme and Giant Gruyere Crostini is the stuff dreams are made of.

A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together (2024) by Sonja Overhiser and Alex Overhiser

Back in 2012, I interviewed A Couple Cooks on my first website, Little Indiana. It is so nice to see their website not only take off, but become a success.

Flip through the 352-page, 8.05 x 1.06 x 11.4-inch cookbook from Chronicle Books and prepare to be inspired with over 100 recipes . Decide who is “Chef” and who is “Sous Chef” and let the fun begin — this couple will show you how.

Our first attempts at meals were embarrassingly cute — just thinking about them feels like looking at a photo of your teenage self with braces.

There was a blasé rendition of butternut squash soup in a bland same-colored bowl, served with a not-quite-right-caprese salad with brown dried basil flakes instead of the bright green fresh herb.

There were loads of recipes that didn’t work out, but also an occasional win, like a French dinner of lamb and frisée salad cooked from a Julia Child cookbook.

Whatever the result, we didn’t care. We were having fun, and that was all that mattered.

A few years in, cooking was becoming what we did in our free time, what gave us joy, what made us feel creative. The food tasted more authentic and life-giving than we ever imagined.

The best part? It gave true fuel to our relationship. It taught us to listen, to compromise, and to disagree respectfully. . . .

Sonja and Alex Overhiser, “A Couple Cooks,” Our Story.

Chapters in “A Couple Cooks” include:

• Note From the Authors
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Everyday Dinners
• Chapter 2: Just for Two
• Chapter 3: Gatherings
• Chapter 4: Mornings
• Chapter 5: Sides
• Chapter 6: Bakes
• Chapter 7: Appetizers and Snacks
• Chapter 8: Sweets
• Chapter 9: Drinks
• Essential Kitchen Gear
• Sample Menus
• Acknowledgments
• Index

Choose from desserts ranging from Chocolate Ganache Tart for Two, Molten Brownie Batter Pudding, Nectarine and Blueberry Crumble, or Tiramisu Sundaes.

Okay, here’s an idea of what to expect from the “Just for Two” chapter: Truffle Pasta with Mixed Mushrooms and Goat Cheese, Grilled Eggplant Parmesan with Burrata, Pecorino Shrimp and Grits, and Sweet Heat Salmon.

The Date Night Cookbook (2021) by Ned Fulmer and Ariel Fulmer

It’s a 224-page, 8.4 x 0.9 x 10.4-inch ode to love in all its stages, from dating to long-term commitment, and more. With 100 beautiful images, plus commentary above each recipe, it’s a love fest for the eyes and stomach.

I like how they include a section of homemade items in a section at the end of the book, so you can easily bypass any ready-made products.

Whether you’re single AF or so married you have a standing Wednesday date night, these recipes are for you.

From first dates to moving in and meeting the parents, we want these recipes to take you through every stage of a relationship, with all its ups and downs.

Our hope is that you find inspiration in these pages to put down the Postmates, dust off your oven, and open up your heart and kitchen to find love through cooking.

Ned and Ariel Fulmer, “The Date Night Cookbook,” Introduction: Page 9.

Chapters in “The Date Night Cookbook” include:

• Introduction
• Notes on Organization and Equipment
• Chapter 1. Attraction
• Chapter 2. Dating
• Chapter 3. Disappointment
• Chapter 4. Stability
• Chapter 5. Commitment
• Afterword
• Appendix From-Scratch Basics
• Acknowledgments
• Recipes by Type
• Index

Every chapter heading includes subheadings featuring the recipes and the page number. Some of the recipes include clever names, such as “Third Date Pizza,” “Blind Date Teriyaki Salmon,” or “Morning After Avocado Toast” in Chapter 1. Attraction.

Date Night Cookbook and Activities for Couples: Recipes and Games for a Romantic Night In (2022) by Crystal Schwanke

One of you plays “Chef” and the other plays the role of “Sous Chef.” It’s a nice way to get you and yours in the kitchen, working as a team. It’s way more fun that way.

Recipes include a meaty paragraph above offering a tip or advice. Some images, but a well-done book overall. Nice formatting and easy-to-read font make it a handy way to get started cookin’ together.

Sometimes “getting away from it all” with your significant other doesn’t mean going on a fancy vacation or out for a night on the town.

It’s tuning out the voices of other people so you can hear only each other and skipping the exciting visuals of a movie to create a magical evening together — just the two of you.

There’s no cacophony of voices or clinking glasses and silverware, no scheduling stress tied to reservations or babysitters.

Conversations can flow, uninterrupted, and there’s no need to “hold that thought” until a server leaves your table or until the credits roll on a movie that held you captive and mostly silent for two hours, other than the occasional whispered, “Want more popcorn?”

Crystal Schwanke, “Date Night Cookbook,” Introduction.

Chapter’s in “Date Night Cookbook and Activities for Couples” include:

• Introduction
• Chapter One: A Table for Two
  Chapter Two: Date Night Every Night
  • Meatless Monday Menu
  • Taco Tuesday Menu
  • Better than Take Out Wednesday Menu
  • Game Night Thursday Menu
  • Pizza Night Friday Menu
  • Cozy Saturday Menu
  • Sunday Brunch Menu
• Chapter Three: Special Occasions
  • Anniversary Steakhouse Dinner Menu
  • Intimate Valentine’s Dinner Menu
  • Birthday Bistro Menu
  • Big News, Big Flavor

Each of the chapter headings are following by recipe titles and page numbers plus an activity.

The Cozy Saturday Menu, for example, includes Boiled Lobster Macaroni and Cheese, Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Mug Brownie a la Mode, with the activity: Pay Extra Attention.

The Date Night Cookbook: Romantic Recipes & Easy Ideas to Inspire from Dawn till Dusk (2017) by Rebecca Warbis

Originally published in the U.K., this 128-page, 6.75 x 0.7 x 7.5-inch cookbook uses metric measurements. If that’s a dealbreaker, turn to one of the many other titles on this list.

Otherwise, you’re in for a cute little treat of a book from Skyhorse Publishing. Seriously, it is adorable.

• Chapter One
  • Indoor Tent Night
• Chapter Two
  • Breakfast in Bed
• Chapter Three
  • Picnic Date
• Chapter Four
  • Dusk Beach Date
• Chapter Five
  • Afternoon Tea
• Chapter Six
  • All Dressed Up, Nowhere to Go
• Chapter Seven
  • Dining in Paris
• Chapter Eight
  • Movie Marathon
• Chapter Nine
  • Under the Stars
• Date Notes
• Acknowledgments

These recipes are mostly basic, making this a potentially good book to pull double-duty as a fun book for you and your partner and another copy of the cookbook to gift newlyweds (it is really pretty).

The menu for Chapter Two, Breakfast in Bed, includes Lazy Breakfast Smoothie, English Breakfast in Bed, and Under-the-Covers Pancakes.

One of the last chapters, Date Notes, is a series of lined pages so you can make notes. While I prefer to write on a recipe (I write in my cookbooks), if you haven’t been bold enough, this is a good way to get used to the whole idea.

Date Night In: More than 120 Recipes to Nourish Your Relationship (2014) by Ashley Rodriguez

Not every recipe includes an image in this 8.38 x 1.25 x 10.38 inch, 288-page cookbook, but the images it offers are lovely. Let it help you begin your kitchen date night extravaganza.

Recipes are arranged by season and menu, with shopping lists and a timeline for prep. Isn’t that handy? I love menus so much.

. . . but our relationship really ignited when I was in college, living and studying in Italy. Gabe and I were engaged in Italy; he gave me a ring and I introduced him to carbonara.

Eventually, I went on to train as a professional pastry chef at Spago Beverly Hills and worked in kitchens such as the Essential Baking Company, Ciao Thyme Kitchen and Catering, and Delancey, as well as running my own wedding cake and dessert catering business.

Ashley Rodriguez, “Date Night In,” Introduction: Page 7.

Chapters in “Date Night In” include:

• Introduction
• Basics
• Spring
  • Feasting on Spring
  • My Birthday
  • A Touch of Thai
  • His Birthday
  • Somewhere in Italy
  • Take It Outside
• Summer
  • A Soup for Summer
  • By the Fire
  • Too Hot to Cook
  • It Gets Him
  • A Taste of Home
  • A Sort-Of Fairy Tale
  • Our Burger
• Fall
  • Eat with Your Hands
  • Wooed by Fried Chicken
  • Breakfast for Dinner
  • An Elegant Classic
  • Fall Comfort
  • A Roman Engagement
• Winter
  • A Winter BBQ
  • All Over the Mediterranean
  • Dinner and a Movie
  • A Flemish Feast
  • A Little French
  • Renewal

Every date night idea includes a grocery list. The beginning of the book contains pantry items you’ll want to double-check and gather together ahead of time.

Make Grandma’s Apple Cake with Maple Cream; Roast Beef Tenderloin Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions, Horseradish Mayonnaise and Arugula; Fried Chicken Sandwiches on Black Pepper Biscuits; or Salad of Apples, Grapes, and Blue Cheese on Endive.

Here’s a sample menu idea from Ashley. This menu is “Feasting on Spring” and includes a Rhubarb Sour, Spring Green Salad with Creamy Shallow Vinaigrette, Herb-Butter Roasted Chicken with Tarragon Aioli, Maple Coriander Roasted Carrots, and Strawberry Shortcake Trifle.

Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook (2012) by F.L. Fowler

Chuckle over 160 pages of this humorous, naughty twist on “50 Shades of Gray” in this 7.33 x 0.65 x 9.3-inch cookbook from Clarkson Potter.

There are 50 chicken recipes in this book or, as the cover proclaims, “50 Chicken Recipes Bound to Be Delicious.” Clever and disturbing all in one.

How have I gotten myself into this? I glance around the spotless, meticulously organized kitchen: trussing twine, skewers, mallets — is that a clever? Holy crap.

I don’t even fit in. I share a shelf in the fridge with a ham so enormous I have to huddle up against the door, even though it’s a double-wide Sub-Zero.

The other shelves are stuffed with bags of leafy greens, neatly wrapped paper parcels of what might be fish or fancy cheese, and uniform rows of carefully labeled condiment jars.

Down in a crisper all by itself is a radish, aloof and flaunting its freshness.

Then there’s me, mundane, scrawny, and shrink-wrapped.

F.L. Fowler, “Fifty Shades of Chicken,” Introduction: Page 8.

Chapters in “Fifty Shades of Chicken” include:

• Introduction
• Chapter One: The Novice Bird
• Chapter Two: Falling to Pieces — Chicken Parts and Bits
• Chapter Three: Birds Gone Wild — Advanced Techniques
• Epilogue
• Acknowledgments
• Index

The images aren’t your usual images. Although Instagram-worthy, they typically feature a shirtless, fit man preparing the recipe.

This is not only a funny book for your humor-loving Valentine, but it would make a stupendous White Elephant, Secret Santa, or bridal shower cookbook gift, too.

Bacon-Bound Wings, Chicken Fricassee with Prosciutto, Tomatoes, and Sweet Peppers, Chicken Sliders with Thai Flavors and Sriracha Mayonnaise, and Skillet-Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Golden Onions might wet your whistle.

Gourmet Cooking for Two (1970) by Beatrice A. Ojakangas

It’s 252 pages of elevated recipes for two from Crown Publishers, Inc. I believe this may have been Beatrice’s second cookbook (her first was “The Finnish Cookbook“). How amazing is that?

It’s a good idea to use some of the “lonesome” articles in your collection of dishes, for these odds and ends can add variety to your table settings.

I have a pair of abalone shells that I delight in using for main-dish salads.

One day I picked up a couple of old-fashioned, extremely heavy glass sundae-dishes from a close-out at the local hotel and restaurant supply store.

I’ve used them to serve hilled soup and salads as well as dessert sundaes. When we have guests, I use them as holders for celery sticks, nuts, or candy.

Beatric A. Ojakangas, “Gourmet Cooking for Two,” The Art of Cooking for Two: Page 2.

Chapters inside “Gourmet Cooking for Two” include:

• Introduction
  • The Art of Cooking for Two
  • A Bit About Utensils and Things
• Menus for Two
  • Picnic Ideas
  • Breakfasts and Brunches for Two
  • Lunches, Suppers, and Midnight Suppers
  • Dinner by Candlelight
• Great Soups
• Eggs, Cheese, and Little Main Dishes
• Fish and Shellfish
• Meats
• Poultry
• Rice, Wild Rice, Bulgur Wheat, Pasta
• Vegetables
• Salads and Salad Dressings
• Vegetable and Meat Sauces
• Desserts and Dessert Sauces
• Breads and Basic Pastry
• Index

Grand Marnier Soufflé, Strawberries with Quick Custard Cream, Cream Scones, Classic Yeast Bread, and Cheese Tarts — I like the fancy feel of this variety of recipes from an author I trust.

Graze: Inspiration for Small Plates and Meandering Meals: A Charcuterie Cookbook (2017) by Suzanne Lenzer

Although this 240-page, 7.88 x 0.94 x 9.38-inch cookbook from Rodale Books isn’t necessarily for couples, I thought “Graze” would make a great addition to this list with its simple to modify recipes.

I find the notion of grazing to be liberation; it frees us as cooks from the pressure of a main course, alleviates the expectations of what comes first, second, and what goes on the side.

Just imagine a plate of figs, some spiced baby lamb chops, and a few pieces of roasted Delicata squash on a crisp fall day; a shooter of spiced tomato bisque alongside a toasted Brie crostini and a smattering of cured meat as a late-winter lunch; a platter of grilled sardines served with slabs of toasted bread, blistered cherry tomatoes, and pickled fennel, followed by a spoonful of milky panna cotta on a blazing hot day by the sea; a slice of buttery toast and a cup of potato-leek soup supped while standing at the counter with a friend.

Each of these is a medley of little dishes pulled together to create something collectively more delicious.

Something that embraces the notion of the seasons, that’s inspired by what’s ripe and most flavorful at that particular moment.

And while it may sound effortful, the truth is, grazing is as much about the shopping as the cooking; if you plan well, you’ll find that you actually spend less time in front of the stove.

Suzanne Lenzer, “Graze,” Introduction: Page x-xi.

Chapters inside “Graze” include:

• Introduction
• The Grazer’s Larder Stocking the Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer
• The Essential Stuff
• Grazing Menus (From Simple Spread to Full-On Soirées)
• Just Shopping
• Mostly Chopping
• A Bit of Cooking
• Worth the Effort
• Last Bites, Small and Sweet
• The Grazing Breakfast (For Guests or Not)
• A Few Signature Sips
• Acknowledgments
• Index

Here’s the fun thing: Suzanne’s menu ideas include the items you might want to include plus recipes (and their page number) to help you create a well-rounded grazing table.

I could easily see a couple putting together some of these menus and then hanging out in front of a fireplace talking or watching a movie.

Lunch After a Brisk Winter Hike includes Curried Carrot and Coconut Soup (with recipe), Farmers’ Market Gratin (with recipe), a Wedge of Cheese (Soft or Hard), and Whatever-You-Fancy Fruit Crumble (with recipe).

Katherine Wants Randy Cooks: The Ultimate Date Night Cookbook (2025) by Randy Feltis and Katherine Feltis

Released in early February 2025, the 264-page, 8.06 x 0.7 x 9.98-inch cookbook from Victory Belt Publishing promises 100 recipes for any occasion.

Our love story began at a little restaurant called Oscar’s. Randy was the chef/owner and Katherine was a bartender.

For our first date, we went to Randy’s condo for a movie night. He had a bottle of Veuve, M&M’s, shrimp cocktail, and oysters, and he put on Fight Club. Let’s just say we didn’t watch Fight Club until we got back together much later.

It was flirtatious, hot, and spicy, but it didn’t last very long because honestly, we were young and dumb. That’s okay because as they say, what’s meant to be will be.

Fast-forward fifteen years. We were both freshly divorced, living down the street from each other, and Katherine thought, I need to jump on this fast. So that’s exactly what she did. She threw caution to the wind and slid into Randy’s DMs on Instagram, asking him where in town he had his Range Rover serviced.

It was, of course, a thinly veiled excuse to bet back in contact, and luckily, it worked. He sent her the contact and asked if she needed a ride.

We didn’t want this opportunity to pass us by again; we were both ready and wanted the same thing. Just like that, our old flame rekindled hotter and stronger than ever.

Randy Feltis and Katherine Feltis, “Katherine Wants, Randy Cooks;” Our Love Story: Page 6.

Chapters in “Katherine Wants and Randy Cooks” include:

• Introduction
• Our Love Story
• About This Book
• Some Tips Before You Begin
• Secret Sauce: Our Recipe for a Successful Relationship
• Kitchen and Pantry Date Night Staples
• Break the Ice
• First Date
• Morning Glory
• Quickies
• Meet the Parents
• Going Steady
• Marry Me Salads
• Growing Old Together
• Get Out of Jail Free Card
• By Your Side
• Happy Endings
• Recipe Index
• General Index

Cocktails? This book has them. Choose among Frozen Peach Bellini, Frozen Avocado Margarita, or a Limoncello Mint Spritz.

Lovers Dining (1970) by Irena Kirshman

This 48-page book published by Potpourri Press, features wonderful illustrations. I’m writing a selection of the menus below because that’s what each chapter is (and I don’t want to write down all 11 of them).

Chapters in “Lovers Dining” include:

• Introduction
• Menu 1
  • Veal with Lemon and Brandy
  • Fettuccini
  • Caramel Custard
• Menu 2
  • Oysters with Skewers
  • Ham with Kumquats or Mandarin Oranges
  • Cherry Whip
• Menu 3
  • Vichyssoise
  • Pork Chops with Red Cabbage
  • Baked Rum Peaches
• Menu 4
  • Fried Scallops with Tomatoes
  • Beef Stew with Beer
  • Grand Marnier Souffle
• Menu 5
  • Avocado Halves with Crabmeat
  • Chicken in Red Wine
  • Apple Pudding and Whipped Cream
• Menu 6
• Menu 7
• Menu 8
• Menu 9
• Menu 10
• Menu 11
• Biography of Author

It is my impression that most people spend most of their time cooking for two; either there are no parents or no children, or only one roommate is home tonight.

So here you are, alone at last; and to the accompaniment of soft music and candlelight, eat drink, and be merry; for tomorrow there might be three!

Irena Kirshman, “Lovers Dining,” Dining for Lovers: Page 3.

There are cookbooks you own because they are Useful and Good and there are cookbooks you own because they are so quirky and unique, you love them upon first sight — it doesn’t hurt that the recipes in Lovers Dining are also great.

Movie Night Menus: Dinner and Drink Recipes Inspired by the Films We Love (2016) by Tenaya Darlington and André Darlington

Thirty movies, 248 pages of recipes, and fun facts in this 6.63 x 0.88 x 8.5-inch cookbook published by Running Press. Really, this is a great cookbook for movie fans and for cooks.

This book highlights some of the greatest dining and drinking scenes to appear onscreen from the 1930s to the mid-1980s.

We watched hundreds of films in order to curate this list, and there were many we were sorry to leave out.

For a title to make it into these pages, it needed to have rousing food and drink scenes. And we had to love it — we had to imagine ourselves making it the centerpiece of an entire meal to share with friends.

From there, we created a menu inspired by each movie.

by Tenaya Darlington and André Darlington, “Movie Night Menus,” INtroduction: Page 7.

Chapters inside “Movie Night Menus” include:

• Take One: Introduction
  • How To Throw a Movie Party
  • Shake and Stir Like a Star
• Take Two: Movie Menus
  • The Divorcée (1930)
    • Menu: Dessert with Friends
  • Grand Hotel (1932)
    • Menu: Dining and Dancing
  • Female (1933)
    • Menu: A Seductive Evening
  • The Thin Man (1934)
    • Menu: Murder Mystery Dinner
  • Chained (1934)
    • Menu: Farm-to-Table Lunch
  • Dodsworth (1936)
    • Menu: An Evening at the Villa
  • Stagecoach (1939)
    • Menu: A Chuckwagon Supper
  • The Philadelphia Story (1940)
    • Menu: Lunch on the Main Line
  • Casablanca (1942)
    • Menu: A Moroccan Farewell
  • The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
    • Menu: Asia Meets the Mexican Riviera
  • Rope (1948)
    • Menu: A Murder and Canapé
  • Adam’s Rib (1949)
    • Menu: Curry for Two
  • Sunset Boulevard (1950)
    • Menu: Old Hollywood
  • An American in Paris (1951)
    • Menu: French Picnic
  • Roman Holiday (1953)
    • Menu: A Café in the Piazza
  • Guys and Dolls (1955)
    • Menu: Dinner in Havana
  • Giant (1956)
    • Menu: A Texas Welcome
  • Some Like It Hot (1959)
    • Menu: Dinner with a Millionaire
  • The Apartment (1960)
    • Menu: Holiday Hospitality
  • Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
    • Menu: Diamond Brunch
  • Blue Hawaii (1961)
    • Menu: Dinner on the Beach
  • Dr. No (1962)
    • Menu: A Spy Party
  • The Graduate (1967)
    • Menu: Swingin’ California Pool Party
  • Funny Girl (1968)
    • Menu: Before Broadway Paté Board
  • The Sting (1973)
    • Menu: Mobster Night
  • American Graffiti (1973)
    • Menu: A Night at the Drive-In
  • Rocky (1976)
    • Menu: South Philly Supper
  • Annie Hall (1977)
    • Menu: New York Deli
  • The Big Chill (1983)
    • Menu: Chilling with BFFs
  • Moonstruck (1987)
    • Menu: Lovestruck Brunch
• Take Three: Special Occasions and Resources
  • Acknowledgments
  • Index

Since I’m outside Philadelphia, here’s the menu for Rocky: The Philadelphia Special, Italian Stallion Hoagie, and Chocolate Turtles suggested for dessert.

The Philadelphia Story (one of my all-time favorite movies) includes a Stinger, Upscale Cheesesteak with Truffle Brie, and Mints or Chocolates. Note: Philly folks would not appreciate a twist on the cheesesteak. There are strong emotions around that one, lemme tell you what.

This is a fun cookbook. From interesting tidbits about the movie stars and films to recipes you may not know (classic drinks named for celebrities of the day), it’s an entertaining read.

The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook (2007) by Marsha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge

Check out 208 pages in this 10th-anniversary edition of the popular original title in this 9.25 x 0.85 x 9.25-inch book from Terrace Publishing (the authors’ publishing house). Sexy images throughout (Randall married the asparagus woman).

In January 1996, Randall and I were two and a half years out of college. We had spent four years as close friends at Baylor University, living next door to each other in a vintage apartment named Terrace Gardens in Waco, Texas.

After college, I moved back home to Memphis with a degree, a high GPA a, and an assumption that life would be good, in fact, real life was a little more real than I had anticipated.

I substitute taught, temped, and worked retail at Dillard’s for two years. I finally got a “real” job, only to be fired after my first day.

Randall eventually tired of my complaining and suggested we publish a book. With nothing left to lose, I said, “Sure!”

Martha Hopkins, “The New InterCourses,” Preface: Page 7.

The chapters inside “The New InterCourses” include:

• Thanks
• Preface
• Introduction
• Aphrodisiac Recipes
  • Chocolate
  • Asparagus
  • Chiles
  • Coffee
  • Basil
  • Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Artichokes
  • Ginger
  • Black Beans
  • Oysters
  • Rosemary
  • Edible Flowers
  • Seafood
  • Pine Nuts
  • Avocado
  • Figs
• Resources
• Massage Oils
• Aphrodisiac Usage Guide
• Works Consulted
• Index

This is not a complicated cookbook. Some of the items begin with packaged goods, such as the Chocolate-Stuffed Crescent Rolls, so some recipes are super simple.

Each of the chapters include recipes using the item. Try Grilled Vietnamese Gingered Beef Rolls, French Toast Baked in Honey-Pecan Sauce, or Baked Artichoke and Crab Dip.

The Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations for Lovers (2004) by Diane Brown

No images, but I don’t think you’ll pine for them. This 142-page, 6 x 0.39 x 9-inch book includes a sentence description above each recipe for a little something to read.

It was the umpteenth time we were compelled to leave the dining room table before I had served dessert. Groping, kissing, and undressing each other, it seemed the humble feast I’d prepared had inspired us.

“What is it about eating together that gets us so excited?” I wondered, as a finger full of whipped from from our forgotten dessert was offered to my lips, then kissed away.

Eating together is one of the most bonding experiences humans can share. Studies of aromas and arousal show that the scent of food provokes the steamiest respond, the theory being that our distant ancestors congregated right after the hunt, where the chances were increased of finding a mate and procreating successfully.

The visual beauty of food, with its shapes and colors, induce many other senses to react. Tastes that stimulate our palates also cause physical responses.

The ritual of dining evokes romance.

But without scientifically or culturally analyzing the body’s response to food, I have found the repeated outcome: When I prepare a sumptuous meal for my significant other, we find ourselves making wild, passionate love to one another.

Diane Brown, “The Seduction Cookbook,” Foreword: Page ix.

Chapters inside “The Seduction Cookbook” include:

• Foreword: The Seduction Cookbook
• Introduction: What Is Seduction Cooking?
• Write a Sexy Invitation to Dine
• Seductive Starters: Getting Warmed Up
• The Main Event: Seduction Dinners
• Seduction on the Side
• Sweet Seduction: Desserts for Debauchery
• Late Night Seduction Snacks
• The Morning After” Breakfasts to Rekindle the Passion
• Seduction Scenarios: Menus to Make the Mood
• Appendix I: Seduction Staples
• Appendix II: Grown an Erotic Herb Garden
• About the Author
• Recipe Index

Chile Lime Shrimp, Roasted Garlic Hummus, or Mussels Ménage a Trois may tempt your appetite. For the main course, enjoy Pork Tenderloin with Chinese Five-Spice Rub and Mustard Sherry Sauce, Scallops with Asparagus and Ginger Beurre Blanc, or Horseradish and Pecan Crusted Chicken.

I love the idea of Individual Gingerbread Cakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting. Okay, and the Cappuccino Tiramisu, as Diane wrote, “Translated from Italian as as “a little pick me up,” this ethereal dessert will make your lover tireless.” Sounds good to me.

Table for Two: Recipes for the Ones You Love (2023) by Bre Graham

This 7.69 x 0.81 x 10-inch cookbook includes 80 recipes and six essays on cooking for people you love. Published by DK Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, this book offers images and illustrations.

Chapters include the following:

• Part One: Easy to Impress
• Part Two: Just to Delight

Both chapter headings include a rundown of the recipes with the page number for easy flipping. Recipes use grams or ounces so you have a choice.

I like the fun menu titles, such as “A Holiday When the Sky is Gray.” The recipes include Burrata with Honey-Roasted Fennel, Olives, and Rosemary; Bitter Leaves with Blood Orange and Crispy Crumbs; and Seafood Spaghetti.

Not every recipe is “out there.” Cherry and Apricot Tart, Breakfast Buckle Cake, Truffle Tagliatelle, and Sunday Night Soup are more on the “fits a wider variety of taste buds” scale.

Some recipes offer relevant substitutions (such as swapping out a particular fruit).

As you might have figured out, this isn’t necessarily a simple cookbook (I’d use the term “elevated” here). It also isn’t a “just for romantic couples” book either. It’s for all of your two-person loving relationships: friends, family, or your partner.

If you’re looking for a beautiful cookbook, with an image accompanying most recipes, this could be your new BFF.

Taste of Home Cooking for Two: Save Money & Time with Over 130 Meals for Two (2017) by the Editors of TOH

Browse reader-submitted recipes to serve two in over 320 pages in the 8.06 x 0.7 x 9-inch cookbook. Photos galore, nutritional facts, preparation and cooking timelines, plus clear directions help newbie cooks get their bearings.

Experienced cooks who enjoy the TOH format (and the easy-to-read font) will consider this cookbook another worthy addition.

Chapters inside “TOH Cooking for Two” include:

• Introduction
• Breakfast for Two
• Appetizers for Two
• Soups, Stews & Chili for Two
• Sandwiches & Wraps for Two
• Sides, Salads & Breads for Two
• Beef & Ground Beef for Two
• Chicken & Turkey for Two
• Pork, Ham & Sausage for Two
• Fish & Seafood for Two
• Meatless Choices for Two
• Desserts for Two
• Recipe Index

Will you try Warm Pineapple Sundaes with Rum Sauce, Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler, or Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake?

As with all TOH cookbooks, some recipes are scratch-made, while other recipes use convenience foods. This isn’t the most romantic book on this list, but it is one of the more accessible, which is why I decided to include it.

JBL Clip 5 Waterproof & Dustproof Bluetooth Speaker

LEGO Art Love Collectible Building Set

Momofuku Chili Crunch Variety 3-Pack by David Chang

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler with Handle & Straw

Pfalztgraff Pink Heart-Shaped Plate

Pink Champagne Glasses

Godiva Chocolatier Valentine’s Day Heart Chocolate Gift Box

Capri Blue Mercury Iridescent in Volcano

Pink Glossy Mug (18 Ounce)

Pink Coffee Station Organizer with Removable Dividers

Le Creuset Stoneware French Press

Pink Dessert Spoons 18/10 Stainless Steel

Empire Red KitchenAid® 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

Set of 6 Red 4-Ounce Ramekins

Pink 9″ Ceramic Pie Pan Microwave, Oven, and Dishwasher safe

Red Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven

Wilton Valentine Sprinkles Dessert Decorating

Red KitchenAid® Corded Hand Blender

Vintage-Looking Sundae Glasses

Red 1950s Style Smeg Electric Kettle