Whether you love Valentine’s Day almost as much as you love your partner or you believe it’s a fake holiday created by greeting card companies, there’s no denying that surprising your loved ones with a delicious treat is a kind thing to do. And why fight the celebration? I’m a huge proponent of taking any excuse to show my friends and my partner how much I love them, so I happily do so every February 14th. And as it turns out, many people around the globe do too. According to an Ipsos survey with participants spread across 28 countries, 55% of adults who are in a relationship like to do something special for V-Day.

When it comes to the itinerary for these love birds’ Valentine’s Days, 41% planned a romantic dinner at home, while 35% planned to go out on the town. And as far as gifts go, ones of the edible persuasion were extremely popular. 34% of people said that their partners were getting chocolate or candy, while 28% planned to give flowers, and 20% gifted fragrance or perfume. Certain countries prefer sweet valentines even more than others, though. In Japan, 75% of people who planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day reported they would be purchasing chocolate or candy, and in South Korea, 61% of people said the same.        

To learn more about the best goodies to give out for Valentine’s Day, we reached out to food blogger and the woman behind Art and the Kitchen, Laureen King. First, we wanted to know how Laureen typically celebrates February 14th. “Spending Valentine’s Day with my special sweetie, my husband of 32 years, is important,” she told Bored Panda. “We will either go out for a nice meal or prepare something extra special at home. Of course, Valentine’s is all about having an extra special dinner, an exquisite dessert, or a Valentine’s Day treat.” 

When it comes to some of Laureen’s favorite V-Day recipes, she shared, “Children love to celebrate Valentine’s Day, so I like to start the day with heart-shaped pancakes and strawberry sauce. For a special treat, I decorate heart-shaped sugar cookies. Dinner is seafood, like my scallops and carbonara, followed by decadent chocolate cake that I make in my heart-shaped cake pan.”

We also asked Laureen if she had any tips for people who might not be the greatest chefs but still want to make something special for their loved ones this Valentine’s Day. “Make a picnic basket of nibble food (cheese, cold cuts, crackers, fruit, etc.), a bottle of wine, and of course, a box of chocolates,” she told Bored Panda. “If it is too cold to enjoy outside, spread a blanket and fluffy pillows on the living room floor and light some candles.”

“If you want to cook, keep it simple,” she added. “Don’t stress by trying a complicated recipe with a ton of ingredients. Make your table setting beautiful, pull out the fine china and stemware. Light some candles, and decorate the table with flowers.”

We were also curious if Laureen thinks food can be used as a love language. “Absolutely!” she told Bored Panda. “Nothing says ‘I love you' more than taking the time to prepare something extra special.”

“Valentine’s Day is a day to tell everyone in your life how much you love them, not just your sweetheart,” she added. “Keep some heart-shaped chocolates on hand to pass out throughout your day.”

If you’d like to find some delicious recipes to prepare for your valentine, be sure to check out Laureen’s website, Art and the Kitchen, right here!   

To learn even more about the perfect foods to prepare this February 14th, we also reached out to Catherine McCord, a celebrated cookbook author and founder of both the popular website Weelicious and the family food brand One Potato. Catherine was kind enough to share with Bored Panda how she typically celebrates Valentine’s Day. “Every year, I have a Valentine’s dinner for my kids,” she says. “I decorate the table with red roses, heart decorations, boxes of chocolates, little gifts and a huge meal full of their favorite dishes like Chicken Meatballs with Mini Wheel Pasta, Winter Citrus Salad and Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes.”

Catherine also shared with us a list of 23 festive Valentine recipes that are guaranteed to get kids excited. “I make the Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts every year!” she told Bored Panda. Her list also features some adorable Puff Pastry Berry Hearts, Dried Cherry Scones, Red Beet Pancakes, Raspberry Cream Chocolate Cookies and many more mouth-watering delights. If you’re not sure which treat will satiate your loved one’s sweet tooth this V-Day, Catherine definitely has something that will be right up their alley on her website.    

Catherine was also kind enough to share some tips for people who aren’t super confident in the kitchen. “Pick recipes with few ingredients like Heart Waffle Sandwiches, Heart Pizettes or Berry Heart Parfaits,” she recommended. “Even if you’re not a whiz in the kitchen, you can cook a simple Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin and Winter Citrus Salad by grabbing a few simple ingredients. And when in doubt, order in from your favorite restaurant.”

“Food is the ultimate love language,” Catherine told Bored Panda. “We all eat, and sharing the foods that are most special to us is a beautiful way to connect. Cooking together as a family or with a loved one is a special way to spend Valentine’s and show someone you love them.”

If you’d like to learn more cooking tips or find even more delicious recipes from Catherine, be sure to check out her new cookbook Meal Prep Magic right here!   

I don’t know what’s stronger at this point: my appetite for romance or my appetite for Valentine’s Day cake. Oh, who am I kidding? Definitely cake! We hope you’re enjoying this mouth-watering list of Valentine’s Day treats, pandas. Keep upvoting the photos featuring bites that would make you swoon if your sweetie made them for you, and let us know in the comments if you have any other brilliant ideas for adorable and delicious V-Day goodies. Then, if you’re interested in gaining some inspiration for what Valentine’s Day gifts to give your loved ones, check out this Bored Panda article next!