"Mocha" is a term used for chocolate flavor.  Caffé Mocha (also called Moccachino) is a variety of coffee made of espresso and hot milk with chocolate added.  The chocolate used may be sweet cocoa powder or chocolate syrup, typically dark chocolate or milk chocolate, but I've also had wonderful white chocolate moccachino coffee drinks.  

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?  Here are some of my favorite Valentine's Day Celebration recipes and ideas for you.   Because it's all about the love today!

Oh my goodness - I don't think I've ever had so many people beg for a recipe, so I'm sharing this one again!  Spicy Maple Candied Bacon is crispy, chewy, sweet & smoky, and perfectly spicy.  Who knew that Applewood smoked bacon could be glazed so perfectly?

Last Fall I discovered Crown Maple Syrup, an artisan quality pure maple syrup from Canada that is bourbon barrel aged.  And I just KNEW that it would be the perfect thing for Spicy Maple Candied Bacon - it was like it was MADE for this!

Whether you call it maple bacon, candied bacon or caramelized bacon, this is Man Candy!  Perfect in sandwiches, meat & cheese trays, crumbled on top of soups and salads, maple & bacon donuts, and simple snacking.  Totally addicting!

For a romantic evening with your love, nothing is more fun and relaxing than a Valentine Charcuterie Board, personalized with all of your favorites!  Perfect for Valentine's Day, but also wonderful for picnics or quiet evenings in front of a roaring fireplace.  A bottle of good wine, and we're all set for a special night of snacking and quiet conversation.  Skipper loves the Spicy Maple Candied Bacon and Genoa Salame Panino, so this is a special treat for him!

And doesn't a quiet night at home sound so much better than a crazy night at a crowded restaurant with long wait times and a limited menu for Valentine's Day?

There's just something magical about Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Raspberries! So silky and velvety on the outside - and bright, juicy and bursting with flavor on the on the inside.  Not only perfect to look at, but perfect with every bite - a party in your mouth!

These are so easy to make that you'll never buy them again!  All it takes is some perfect berries, GOOD quality chocolate (dark semi-sweet, milk or white chocolate) and you're in business!  As I've said before, this really isn't so much a recipe as it is a process, but once you know the secrets, you'll be impressing your family and friends with beautiful chocolate double-dipped strawberries and raspberries too!

​Fresh spring strawberries and raspberries are starting to show up at the market now - juicy red, plump and firm, with beautiful green leaves and stems.  You'll be dipping, double-dipping, swirling and twirling, and sprinkling before you know it!  There's always lots of excitement when Double-Dipped Chocolate Berries show up - whether it's for a crowd, or just a wonderful quiet party for two...

How do you make Ultimate Rice Krispies Bars even better?  Start with the best recipe for Ultimate Rice Krispies Treats - bakery-style, super thick, soft and gooey with extra marshmallows in every bite.  Then dip them in a silky smooth chocolate topping - either chocolate-butterscotch-peanut butter or white chocolate, drizzle with colorful chocolate and sprinkled with Valentine sprinkles - the Ultimate Valentine Rice Krispies Treats!

I kid you not - I saw something similar at our local market - six tiny treats for ten dollars - and about fainted from the shock.  I can't believe anyone would pay that much for something that is so easy, so fast, and so much fun to make at home!  My little ones just LOVE helping to make these treats.  Perfect for Valentine parties big and small!

After making another batch of fresh Homemade Croissants last weekend, it was the perfect time to whip up a batch of one of our favorite sandwich fillings - Smoked Turkey & Gruyere Salad.  Whether you put this in a sandwich, scoop it onto crisp salad greens, serve in pretty little finger sandwiches for garden teas or showers, or simply eat it with a fork, this fabulous fresh Smoked Turkey Salad is loaded with tiny bites of tender smoked turkey breast, gruyere or baby Swiss cheese, craisins, juicy red grapes and slivered almonds, and ALWAYS a huge hit!

This simple Homemade Croissant recipe and easy method will have you baking flaky, buttery and deliciously authentic French Croissants like a pro!  With just a few simple and wholesome ingredients, you won't believe how satisfying it is to make these classic French pastries with your own two hands.  Incredibly rich, with a buttery taste and so many flaky layers - perfect fresh and warm from the oven, with a spoonful of your favorite jam.  Apricot, fresh strawberry or raspberry?  Every layer and bite is heavenly!

I dream of lazy sunny mornings sitting at a Parisian outdoor café and enjoying warm croissants, homemade jam, and sipping on French-pressed coffee or honest to goodness hot chocolate with my handsome Skipper.  Oh how I dream of this!  But in the meantime, I'll bake up some perfect Homemade Croissants and we'll enjoy them at home on a relaxing day.  These are the perfect French pastry to make for a special Valentine's breakfast with your honey!

My family adores Asian food, and homemade Teriyaki Chicken & Cashew Stir Fry is better than take-out!  Not only quick and easy to make, but so colorful, vibrant and rich in flavor.  Tender chicken combined with fresh and colorful sweet red peppers, sliced carrots, broccoli, snow peas, green beans, mushrooms and water chestnuts, lightly glazed with my Easy Teriyaki Sauce and tossed with cashews is one of the easiest dinners you can make.