Valentine's Day is the perfect time to make sweet treats for the ones we love, and since my love is a chocoholic, I get to try out a couple of new chocolate recipes every February. This month: a decadent Nutella pound cake that will make your sweetheart swoon. Traditionally a pound cake is exactly that: one pound each of the essential ingredients — flour, sugar, eggs, and of course, butter. Read more

This Valentine's Day, we've got you covered with recipes for every occasion, whether you're poised to create a casual night in or preparing to host a classic dinner with a special someone. From sexy, healthy aphrodisiacs to sultry chocolates, there's sure to be something to fit your bill. Here are a few of our all-time love-conducing courses. Oysters With Champagne Mignonette Engagement Read more

Although it can be enjoyed all year long, I crave pound cake during the warmer months. Thick slices are transformed into a spectacular dessert when caramelized on the grill. Thin pieces become moist when smothered with fresh berries and fluffy whipped cream. Chunks can be layered with custard and stone fruit in a trifle or simply topped with ice cream and sauce in a sundae. With classic pound Read more

Ring in Chinese New Year with a dumpling party — Saveur Learn how to master the 5 French mother sauces — KitchenDaily How to find out if that beer you're drinking is vegetarian — Vegetarian Times Sneak peek: The Layover's season finale in LA — Eater LA Must make: pound cake French toast — MyRecipes Taco Bell's launched First Meal (aka breakfast) — Grub Street SF Would you use Read more

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. Myth: Going Vegan Will Make You Lose Weight "While various research shows that vegetarians and vegans, on average, consume fewer calories and less fat than omnivores (a 2009 Oxford study found that vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than their meat-eating counterparts, and a National Cancer Institute study found Read more

Last Fall when living in Manhattan, I experienced fresh concord grapes for the first time and was dazed by the naturally jelly consistency and supersweet interior. I probably went through five pounds a week, so you can imagine my excitement when grapes started popping up at the farmers market here in San Francisco. Preserve the season's bounty by making homemade jam. A few serving suggestions: Read more

There are plenty of ways a relationship can lead you to pack on the pounds, but being in love doesn't automatically increase your jeans size. Here are some ways being attached at the hip to someone else can actually help you lose weight. You have an instant workout buddy: You both need to work out to stay healthy, and it's another way you can spend time together. Sign up for a two-for-one Read more

Whether you recently had a baby or the scale has slowly been creeping up over the years, if you have 50, 100, or more pounds to lose, the task can seem so daunting, you're tempted to give up before you even try. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you stay motivated on your big weight loss journey. Keep in mind results won't happen overnight: When you're watching your calorie intake Read more

If you do any gluten-free baking, you're fully aware that baking without regular flour requires some skill and patience in the kitchen. Thankfully, with gluten-free baking mixes, it's easy to make your favorite cookie and cake recipes without ripping your hair out in the process. Anne Byrn — aka "The Cake Mix Doctor" — is at it again with her latest cookbook, The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Read more

I love pound cake, and ever since I've been old enough to eat it, I've wondered: where did it get that name? In my childhood I speculated if it weighed a pound, or whether it would cause me to put on a pound or two. But that's actually not where the name comes from. Pound cake, which originated in Europe in the first half of the 18th century, initially weighed four pounds. That's because it Read more