Are you looking for the best Valentine's Day recipes? Valentine's Day has become a traditional holiday for romantic dinners, both out at restaurants and at home. Valentine's Day recipes can be for romantic dinners, but can also encompass breakfast foods or treats to bring to a school Valentine's Day party.

Valentine's Day recipes may include baking or making chocolate candies. Heart shaped molds and cutters are often used to make romantic cakes, cookies and even pasta. Recipes may include those with decoration included to support the holiday celebration. Slicing strawberries oblong adds a heart-shaped decorations for cakes and tarts.

There are several variations on the history of Valentine's Day and several Saint Valentines. However, the Valentine's celebrations which are observed today are believed to have originated based on events which occurred in 496 AD. At that time Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day which was observed on February 14. The day was established as a day of feast to honor Saint Valentine, a 3rd century martyr. Because the day was set to honor a saint who found for the cause of love and marriage, the current day is one of celebration for all lovers. In the 18th century, the day of celebration evolved into one of cards, gift giving, and exchanges among lovers.http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

For thousands of years, lovers have taken their foods very seriously, believing that oysters, rose petals, chocolate and even licorice all have an amorous affect on those who consume them. In the late 1980s, however, the FDA dismissed the claims that aphrodisiacs had no actual affect. Whether you want to believe in science, or thousands of years of folklore claims, there are a number of books on the market that are all about aphrodisiac cooking.

The ingredients highlighted as aphrodisiacs such as mint, chili pepper, ginger, peaches, honey, saffron, almonds, rosemary and figs are often considered when planning a Valentine's Day menu.http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/valentinesday/aphrodisiacs

Valentine's Day recipes may be common every day recipes spiced up or decorated specifically for the day of love.

1. Vanilla is believed to be a fragrance which arouses both men and women. Vanilla use in recipes is plentiful. A vanilla bean flan can be served as a Valentine's Day dessert.http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/valentinesday/aphrodisiacs/recipes/food/views/Vanilla-Bean-Flan-102956
2. Focusing on the colors of red and white used as decorations for the day, a cherry cheesecake can be added to the dessert table. Making the dessert a chocolate cherry cheesecake adds the romantic chocolate ingredient.http://www.hersheys.com/celebrate/valentines/recipes/detail.asp?id=5433&t=recipe
3. Using a common shortbread or cookie recipe, heart shaped cookies can be added to a tray of Valentine treats.http://www.joyofbaking.com/shortbreads/RaspberryWhiteChocolateShortbreads.html
4. Valentines cocktail recipes may include the Strawberry Kiss which is a Vanilla vodka, with strawberry liqueur and pineapple juice or a Remember Last Summer cocktail which uses the same ingredients but adds coconut cream.http://www.cosmopolitan.com/advice/entertaining-ideas/valentines-day-drinks