The quickest way to a person’s heart is their stomach (note: not cheesy home-spun limericks like the title of this post). But, perhaps an easier way to manage this is simply by supplying your beloved or child with a few love-struck kitchen things. Since February 14th is quickly approaching, this little list of heart-day goodies could be your ticket to true love, or at least a quick peck on the cheek from your unruly teenage daughter. Group all the ideas below into one giant Valentine’s Day-gift-spectacular (consider absurdly large red bow as finishing piece) or pick out a few and pair with a sweet homemade card.

Homemade Heart Shaped Valentine’s Pot Holders: 

Image credit: MarthaStewart.com

An upgrade from the endearing macaroni necklace you gave your mom in kindergarten, these homemade pot holders are easy to make and sure to please. Of course, you can always gift them to a number of other people, including, but not limited to, your grandmother, kitchen savvy significant other, or even a budding child chef. Pair these with a couple of packages of New England Country Soup and wrap with red and white kitchen twine for a little bundle of warmth and love.

Follow Martha Stewart’s easy directions and pick out your own favorite fabric for this nifty little Valentine’s craft.

Soldering Creme Brulee Torch: 

Last year my fiance gave me a gift that completely and undoubtedly showed his love for me (and, no, I’m not referring to the rock on my finger). Wrapped in plain red kraft paper was a gift beyond my culinary dreams: a creme brulee torch. But, not just any dinky little brulee torch. This is a true Iron Chef’s torch. This little blue beauty has 10 times the power and life span of a traditional torch, but has much more control and, to be honest, multiple other applications. Traditional torches only last one, maybe two, brulees. Whereas this soldering-turned-caramelizing-torch-of-deliciousness lasts through countless bouts of creme brulee batches as well as other sweet treats like sugar crusted bananas, toasted meringue pies, and even your traditional holiday sweet potato casserole.

Chocolove Bars:

This is, hands down, my favorite chocolate bar, ever. Made in homey Boulder, CO, these chocolate bars are wrapped in a second layer, which upon opening reveals a love letter, sonnet, or poem. For some reason, every time I purchase my favorite flavor, 55% Raspberries in Dark Chocolate, I find a fiery poem from Don Juan…and it just makes me want to eat more chocolate.  You can find this little chocolate company on most shelves now-a-days. There are over 20 different flavors to choose from, each with their own special cocoa content percentage. Hint: It’s great for sharing.

Milk Cookie Mixes from Momofuku:

Momofuku, originally just a restaurant in NYC, has now taken over the culinary world with their take on sweet treats. They combine the best of decadent, haut-cuisine desserts with a sweet taste we all remember from our childhood: cereal milk. Yes, you read right, cereal milk. This seemingly innocent offal of the breakfast table has become the newest fashionable dessert flavoring. At their famous Milk Bar, you can order desserts like cake truffles, softserve, milkshakes, coffee, pies, cakes, and cookies all concocted with their housemade cereal milk. You can now enjoy their cookies at home with these mixes from Williams-Sonoma. And while these might sound like the perfect little Valentine’s gift for the youngsters, remember that everyone, no matter what age, loves a good bowl of cereal. To learn more, check out The Chow’s article on Momofuku’s new home-kitchen empire.

Heart Shaped Cutters:

These nifty cutters work in almost any culinary medium: biscuit dough, bread slices, pancakes, deli meats and cheese, and, of course, cookies. The handle allows for better weight distribution when cutting out shapes. And if your sweetie doesn’t bake, well these just look adorable hanging on a kitchen wall too. Pair with Momofuku Milk Cookie Mixes for a well-rounded gift.

Word to the wise: these cutters make a pan of plain old cornbread or sourdough into cupid worthy croutons or dipping breads, which happen to pair perfectly with a bowl of our warm soup on cold and rainy Valentine’s Day.

Of course, any gift that comes from the heart is the perfect little something for your someone this Valentine’s Day.