Floral and delicately fragrant lavender balanced by the distinct sweet-tart flavour of blueberry liqueur make up this elegant coupe cocktail.

Wouldn't it be nice to surprise your Valentine with breakfast in bed? But what if Valentine's Day falls on a Wednesday and it's another chaotic morning getting everyone out the door on time and getting the dog walked and you're running late for work and the dishwasher breaks and you can't find your other shoe let alone recite a love poem to someone? That's the perfect time to slip your other half a homemade pop tart and blow them a kiss. Life's busy.

Note: You will need a 5-inch heart-shaped cutter, a tiny heart-shaped cutter (optional), 1 (11-x-17-inch) rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

This is my go-to pancake recipe, which also happens to turn into excellent waffles. It’s sweet but not sugary and has just the slightest hint of buttery flavor from the coconut oil. The pancakes are delicious as is, and when served with maple syrup or fruit compote, but if you’re looking to switch things up, try the variations that follow the recipe.

While you may think that having fresh-from-the-oven yeast rolls before noon is out of your reach, it can be done. Just mix the dough in the evening, then roll, shape, and bake the buns in the morning. Altogether, the recipe requires only about 15 minutes of hands-on time, and baking the rolls in muffin tins with paper liners makes the process especially easy (and mess-free).

We wouldn’t dare deny the timeless perfection of apple pie. But when we find ourselves in the midst of autumn and up to our eyes in pie, this cake is a worthy option. It’s perfect for post-Thanksgiving fatigue, when we’re still in the mood for dessert but not in the mood to roll out dough or peel lots of apples. And just like apple pie, it’s delicious with a spoonful of whipped cream, a dollop of crème fraîche, or a scoop of good vanilla ice cream. As a bonus, this light, chewy cake comes together so quickly that you could even make it in time for breakfast.

Using wonton wrappers instead of pasta dough eases the preparation of this savory starter, and results in a crisp, light crust. The ravioli are also a great make-ahead option; reheat in the oven when ready to serve, as a toasty prelude to a cold-weather meal.