Ingredients:

1 package of instant chocolate pudding mix
½ cup sugar (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 12 oz. can of evaporated milk
1 cup of milk
1 cup of your favorite coffee

Makes approx. 10 – 12 pops (using a standard pop mold)

Steps:

1. Using your kitchen mixer with the whisk attachment (or in a large mixing bowl, using a whisk), stir together pudding mix and evaporated milk, adding the evaporated milk slowly to avoid clumps. Once combined, stir in remaining ingredients until smooth.
2. Pour into ice pop molds or Dixie cups and freeze at least 4 hours. If using Dixie cups, insert a popsicle stick when the pops are firm but not yet completely frozen.

The evaporated milk gives the pops creaminess, meaning they will stay a little soft and chewy after they freeze. Release them from your molds by running them under warm water for a few seconds and wiggle them out of place gently, being careful not to pull the sticks out. Happy Easter!

— Story and photo by Elizabeth Piseczny

While we feel particularly drawn to heart-shaped food around February 14th, it’s adorable any time of the year! Brunch treats lend themselves particularly well. You could choose to forgo a rehearsal dinner for a rehearsal brunch with these heart-shaped pancakes, waffles, and muffins. Serve with fresh strawberries and some garnish, and you’ll have a meal almost too beautiful to eat. For dessert, consider serving these gorgeous mini-cheesecakes, or offer a dessert table filled with heart-themed cookies and pastries.

Whether your wedding is Valentine’s Day-themed, or just based around love, consider incorporating edible representations of romance. With a premise as sweet and fun as “the day of love,” it’s hard to go wrong. What are your ideas for a Valentine’s Day Adirondack wedding? Please share in the comment below!

— Story by Elizabeth R. Davidson

Inexpensive & Romantic

1. Make sure date nights are a must year-round by buying a calendar you and your partner would like and filling it in with dates each month when you are both free! Remind your love that summer is (eventually) coming with this 2016 Secret Garden Wall Calendar. In addition, there are large boxes for filling in multiple engagements in a single day on this adorable Lang Love of Cats Wall Calendar.

2. Breakfast in bed is a classic option for surprising your sweetie, especially when you’re looking for a gift idea that won’t break the bank. But instead of doing the regular pancakes-and-bacon thing, use a love theme for their breakfast. Make them toast and use this heart-shaped cookie cutter set to cut a heart shape out of the bread. Then, pop it into a greased frying pan turned on medium-high heat and crack an egg into the heart-shaped hole. The result? A breakfast perfect for Valentine’s Day. Serve it up with some fruit and mimosas, and your partner will be thrilled.

3. Avoid overpriced movie tickets and concessions and have a special V-Day movie night at home. Redbox rentals are only a dollar, and this Orville Redenbacher movie theatre-style buttered popcorn is (nearly) as good as the theater’s! Lindt Valentine Lindor Truffles are also sure to satisfy your valentine’s sweet tooth.

4. Jewelry is a pretty standard gift when it comes to Valentine’s Day, and for good reason! Head to one of our favorite local jewelers to check out their selection. Perhaps you’ll find something like these lovely Heart-Shaped Amethyst Stud Earrings, which are perfect for Valentine’s Day because amethyst (a pretty purple hue) is February’s birthstone!

5. Toss on an apron and have some fun in the kitchen! Bake cupcakes for your valentine and decorate them by dying your frosting pink or red and adding these cute jumbo hearts sprinkles.

Sweet & Amorous

1. Want a romantic night at home? This Yankee Candle will do the trick. Turn the lights down low, draw a bath for two, and enjoy the scent of flowers as you wind down with your loved one.

2. Romantic scents your valentine can wear are sure to spark some Valentine’s Day closeness. Try this Pink Sugar by Aquolina Eau De Toilette Spray for your lady or this Burberry men’s Eau de Toilette for your man.

3. Gifts for the techie lover can be tricky since most electronics are constantly going up in price. Try getting your gadget-loving sweetheart an accessory for their current device or upgrade their existing model. This 32GB memory card is perfect for the photography lover on your Valentine’s Day list!

4. Pick up your valentine’s favorite bottle of champagne and enjoy a glass or two with them in these 2 red heart champagne flutes. Make a romantic toast to them and include a back massage after, and they are sure to “be yours” forever!

5. The sounds of love are in the air! Give your sweetie a CD of romantic tunes by an artist they like. John Legend’s album Love In The Future is sure to set an amorous tone for the night as well as Tony Bennett’s Duets II album.

Finding that special something for your special someone can be tricky, but we hope our list has helped inspire you. If you have further ideas, feel free to list them in the comments below. Best of luck in your shopping adventure!

— Story by Anne Rathe

Recipe yields 12 servings

Ingredients

• 8 egg yolks
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 pinches salt
• 4 cups of milk
• ¼ Cup rum
• 2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 pinches ground nutmeg
• 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In the top of a double boiler, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and salt.
2. Add milk and mix well. Stir frequently and cook over hot water until mixture thickens to coat a metal spoon.
3. Mix in rum and chill in the refrigerator
4. Beat whipping cream until it thickens slightly. Add 1 tsp of vanilla and sugar to taste, then beat until stiff peaks form.
5. Once chilled, pour the eggnog into a glass of your choice. Top with whipped cream, freshly grated nutmeg, and cinnamon.

For an easier option, you can always go with store-bought eggnog and whipped cream. And add alcohol to your taste, garnish, and serve. This sweet seasonal beverage will surely bring back special memories of past holidays as you create wonderful new holiday memories with your special someone.

— Story by Anne Rathe

Recipe yields 24-36 fudge-topped brownies/Santa hats

Ingredients for the fudge-topped brownies:

• 1 Cup (2 sticks) of butter or margarine, melted
• 1 Cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ Cup milk
• 1 Cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
• 2 Cups sugar
• 2/3 Cup cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract (divide each teaspoon separately)
• 2 Cups (or 12-oz. package) of dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Ingredients for the Santa hat:

• 24-36 (amount of brownies you have) strawberries
• 2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions for the fudge topped brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan.
3. Stir together butter, sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, eggs, milk, and 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract in large mixing bowl; beat well. Stir in nuts, if using.
4. Spread batter in prepared pan.
5. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Just before brownies are done, in heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and remaining 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract.
6. Immediately spread hot fudge over warm brownies. Cool in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate and then cut into squares.

Directions for the Santa Hat:

1. Clean strawberries and cut off leafy stems with a knife.
2. Place strawberries upside down on brownies.
3. Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler and transfer into a piping bag.
4. Pipe a ring around the base and a small dot on top (work quickly, the white chocolate can dry fast and clog up your tip!).

Nothing says “holiday season” like baking sweet desserts with your loved ones. Make them for a Christmas-themed wedding, or simply as an after-dinner treat for two. Light some seasonally-scented candles, put on your favorite Christmas album, and enjoy!

— Story by Anne Rathe

DIY & Special Touches

1. Commemorate moments in your life together by penning a detailed memory book of your relationship. Buy a monogrammed journal such as this one and hand write memories of special times in the life that you’ve shared. Add more to the journal as your relationship grows.

2. Buy your betrothed their dream house! Wait, too expensive? Then perhaps try a house made of gingerbread, customized to look like the home you hope to one day share. Add personal touches, like your partner’s favorite candy, to make it really special. Bake your own or try out a kit, such as this Minions gingerbread house or this gingerbread cottage.

3. Decorate a simple red cardboard gift box with glitter, stickers, text, or photos and tuck a personalized coupon inside, perhaps redeemable for a kiss under the mistletoe or your beloved’s favorite homemade dinner.

4. If your sweetie spends way too much time at his desktop computer (who doesn’t these days?), try custom designing your own mouse pad by decorating a blank white mouse pad with a photo transfer — ideally, a photo of the two of you!

Classic Gifts

1. If jewelry is a must for your lovely lady, try a pair of sophisticated studs like these relatively inexpensive sterling silver gemstone earrings. For the man in your life, consider a watch, like this classic stainless steel option.

2. A custom ornament is the perfect traditional, inexpensive gift for your beloved. Make it a keepsake by choosing one imprinted with the year. Did you get married in 2015? Frame your favorite wedding photo in this personalized wedding ornament.

3. A tailored gift basket to suit your love’s taste is sure to delight them. Make your own by putting together their favorite things, perhaps including this Crabtree & Evelyn body lotion and a quilted reversible throw blanket, or pick an already-assembled basket of goodies, such as this chocolate sampler gift basket.

4. Comfortable sheets make all the difference when you’re relaxing in bed with your special someone. This affordable navy blue silky satin sheet set is an elegant favorite.

5. Is that love in the air? Candles are an easy way to make an otherwise ordinary day romantic. Try this Christmas cookie scented Yankee Candle, which has the added bonus of making your home smell like the holiday season.

Leisure, Camping, & Travel Gifts

1. If your sweetie is an outdoorsy, Adirondack-loving camper type, try this High Sierra backpack, or this Coleman Palmetto cool weather sleeping bag. This cute purple women’s hydration pack is sure to inspire her adventurous spirit.

2. Do you travel a lot? If so, consider this adorable and inexpensive luggage tag to give your sweetie an easy way to recognize her luggage.

3. Surprise your beloved by booking an engagement or anniversary photo session with a local photographer. Browse through our fantastic roster of photographers in the photography section of our online vendor directory.

4. The hustle & bustle of the holiday season can cause both of you to stress out. Give your special someone a gift certificate for a spa date at the The Spa at Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid. Pick a pampering treatment and relax and unwind together.

5. For your music-crazed partner, buy tickets to a local concert. Whether it’s a band you’ve both loved for years or a rising local artist, live performances are an exciting way to spice up regular date nights. Do you love live music but hate crowds? Then purchase a live concert DVD and watch it together at home.

“Extended Release” Gifts

1. The best gifts keep on giving months beyond the holidays. Try a season pass to a ski resort or season tickets to your sweetie’s favorite sporting event.

2. “Of the month” subscription gifts usually range anywhere from 3 months to a year, depending on your preference. Consider, for instance, this 6-month K-cup Coffee of the Month Club. You can put together monthly deliveries of anything you’d like using a program such as Amazon’s Subscribe & Save. From monthly beauty products to pet care, you are bound to discover something that will keep your sweetie cheerful all-year long.

3. Guarantee a date night every month by jotting ideas down on a 2016 calendar of your choosing. We adore this 2016 Adirondacks Wall Calendar. There are thousands of options, from the 2016 Star Wars The Force Awakens Wall Calendar to the 2016 Hello Love Wall Calendar.

4. Memberships and renewals are both perfect and practical for anything your partner takes interest in. If gaming, try this Xbox Live 12-Month Gold Membership Card, and if it’s fitness, try a gym membership. If you are drawing a blank, renew a currently expired membership.

5. To cater to your betrothed’s unique interests, try a magazine subscription. There’s a magazine for almost everything! Is he crazy about cats? Try I Love Cats. Is she a tattoo lover? Try Inked. And on the topic of magazines, we have one final suggestion …

Wedding planning

1. Last but not least, if you don’t yet have all three copies of Adirondack Weddings Magazine, you can still order in time for Christmas! Like last year, we’ll ship out copies same or next business day on all orders received this month. Packages go out by USPS Priority Mail. While we can’t control how long the postal service will take to deliver the goods, we can promise we’ll do our part in getting orders out the door.

And there you have it! Need more ideas? Scroll through last year’s holiday gift guide here: 15 Romantic & Fun Holiday Gift Ideas.

As the weather grows colder and Christmas nears, treasure the moments spent with your significant other, family, and friends. Here’s to a happy holiday season!

— Story by Anne Rathe

{Need some seasonal party planning ideas? Check out Holiday party tips for seasonal celebrations!}

A decadent river of warm chocolate is encased in this fragrant chocolate-raspberry cake, which is sure to impress at any gathering. If you’re not a fan of raspberries, however, no need to miss out — just omit them and follow the rest of the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 6 (1-ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate
• 2 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
• 10 Tablespoons (1 ¼ stick) butter (unsalted)
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup frozen raspberries
• ½ Tablespoon raspberry syrup (or raspberry liquor if you wish)

Recipe yields six cakes.

To make the cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Grease 6 (6-ounce) custard cups.
3. Melt the chocolates and butter in the microwave, or in a double boiler.
4. Add the flour and sugar to the chocolate mixture. Stir in the eggs and yolk slowly until mixture is smooth.
5. Stir in the vanilla extract.
6. Place the batter evenly among the custard cups.
7. Make a well in the center and fill with raspberry lava (add about a Tablespoon to each custard cup).
8. Place in the oven and bake for 14-18 minutes. The edges should be firm, but the center will be runny. Run a knife around the edges to loosen and invert onto dessert plates.

To make the Raspberry Lava:

1. Combine frozen raspberries and raspberry syrup/liquor in a bowl.
2. Microwave for 15 seconds and mix. It’s okay if the mixture is still frosty, as long as it’s malleable.

Want an easier alternative? Make one cake.

Alternatively, you can grease and then pour batter into a soufflé pan and bake for 17 minutes if you want a bigger portion to serve with.

Whether you prefer your cake rich or fruity, this dish is sure to please. With its smooth combination of raspberries and chocolate, it’s the best of both worlds!

— Story by Anne Rathe