An Unconventional Valentine's Day Gift

Photo by GourmetBy Lauren Salkeld, Epicurious.com

Chocolate may be the classic Valentine's Day gift, but it's not the only way to make your sweetheart swoon. It's not even the only edible option; see our ultimate guide to Valentine's Day for many more ideas, both sweet and savory.

Related: Aphrodisiacs to Sweeten Your Valentine's Day

Stephanie Pierson, author of The Brisket Book, thinks brisket, "gently cooked, with its delicious aroma and succulent taste, is both the quickest, and paradoxically, the slowest way, to someone's heart." It's a dish that's "cooked and served with love," she says. While Pierson likely has a brisket bias, she may also have a point. If someone goes to the trouble to buy a beautiful piece of meat, and devotes several hours to cooking it for you, he or she is definitely sending an amorous message, and it's one that's difficult to miss and hard not to appreciate.

If Brisket sounds like just the thing to share on Valentine's Day, we have dozens of recipes, including Beef Brisket with Merlot and Prunes; a Sephardic version from Pierson's book; and Pulled Brisket Sliders.

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