Fondue is a sensual, shared romantic meal for two. It's creative enough to impress while still being simple enough for the dilettante chef to create. You can relax about the food, which leaves you plenty of time to worry about the rest of your evening's *ahem!* activities. And, if you're a dilettante in the bedroom as well as in the kitchen, well, maybe Bonny over about About.com's dating site can give you a few pointers!

• Vegan Chocolate Fondue This vegan chocolate fondue recipe is so rich, no one will even suspect that its vegan. Just be sure the chocolate you use doesn't contain any dairy products.
• Basic 3 Ingredient Chocolate Fondue Best to use your sweetheart's favorite liquer in this recipe - just about any flavor will do. Try it with Kahlua or Grand Marnier.
• Vegan Chocolate Mocha Fondue If you or yours like your morning cuppa joe, you'll enjoy this classy yet simple vegan chocolate mocha fondue recipe. Try using thickly sliced bananas as a dipper for this recipe.
• Spicy Southwestern Fondue If you're looking for a simple appetizer fondue recipe, rather than a dessert fondue, this is a good one to try. It's a bit different from most classic French-fondues in that it calls for salsa and chilies to give it a kick. (pictured, above, right)
• Vegan Cheese Fondue A vegan version of traditional French fondues. Try it - you might be surprised at just how good it is!
• Vegan Mushroom Fondue This mushroom fondue has a cheesy flavor and is perfect for a romantic meal for two. Some dipper suggestions: whole mushrooms, broccoli, bread, cooked and halved baby potatoes, flavored tofu, Tofurkey vegetarian sausage slices.
• Low Fat, Sugar-free Chocolate Fondue Recipe I'm not personally a big fan of sugar substitutes, but if you want to enjoy a chocolate fondue without the fat or sugar, this is a good recipe to try. You can use different flavored extracts if you want an extra flavor. I'd try using a mint extract.

  See also:
  Fondue Pots
  More Vegan Dessert Recipes

If you're panicking for what to give your special someone for a Valentine's Day gift, I suggest a homemade gourmet cheesecake, two forks and a bottle of wine. German Riesling has been one of my favorite wines lately, and, it just so happens to go well with cheesecake. A homemade vegan cheesecake, prepared with love, is much better than a silly teddy bear, and much more creative than chocolates (not that there's anything wrong with some vegan chocolates for Valentine's Day!). Here's a few of the best gourmet cheesecake recipes to try, for any occasion:

Basic vegan cheesecake recipe

Mini cheesecakes with citrus strawberry glaze

Vegan key lime cheesecake

Banana maple rum cheesecake (pictured)

Five-Star gluten-free cheesecake recipe

Subscribe to the weekly vegetarian newsletter
Follow me on Twitter!

Browse through this collection of gourmet vegetarian recipes to get inspired to cook up a gourmet meal for your significant other this Valentine's Day. Might I suggest a sun-dried tomato crusted vegetarian "chicken" (pictured below, right) served with a spinach and basil puree. And, of course, something chocolate or at least incredibly elegant for dessert. Perhaps a minted chocolate mousse, all paired, of course, with your partner's favorite wine.

Subscribe to the weekly vegetarian newsletter
Follow me on Twitter!
Champagne glasses photo courtesy of stock.xchng/fangol

Ah, there's nothing better on a cold winter night than a bowl of piping hot homemade soup, hot off the stove. Tomato vegetable soup might not be the most exciting, gourmet soup recipe you'll want for fancy dinner parties, but this tomato barley soup recipe will fill you up, warm you up and keep your tummy happy when it's blustery outside.

Of course, if you are looking for some gourmet soup ideas, you'll find some in this collection of gourmet vegetarian recipes.

Subscribe to the weekly vegetarian newsletter
All vegetarian recipes
Follow me on Twitter!