Cooking with Karina: The Way to My Heart is through My Stomach

Karina Arnold shares these sweet, healthy Cinnamon Date Rolls to cap off a perfect Valentine's date night.

Karina Arnold is a junior at the University of Oklahoma who’s passionate about healthy cooking. She provides creative, healthy recipes and tips on clean eating.

Valentine’s Day is near and your wallet is probably drained. If your bank accounts aren't already empty from Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s or your best friend’s birthday (the week after Christmas), then Valentine’s Day will finish off your savings. This Valentine’s, save your money and give the perfect gift both you and your loved ones can enjoy.

Cooking a nice dinner or tasty treat is a great way to fill your loved one’s heart and stomach. Exemplify the rush your get from love with a sugar rush! Buzz resident Kari O’Connor shared with The Buzz her delectable Fudge Cookie recipe. Not only do these cookies taste divine, but they use oats, peanut butter and other simple ingredients you already have in your pantry. If your loved one is not a chocolate fan (which, if that is the case, I hope they have a great personality) then try these Cinnamon Date Rolls that don’t require cooking and satisfy your sweet tooth sans chocolate and artificial sugars.

Wanting to go the extra mile? Make a meal out of it! In this Cooking Buzz article “Eat Your Heart Out,” Mary Lee Hackedorn Wilkins outlines a simple dinner you can make at home. A home-cooked dinner doesn’t break the bank and avoids the Valentine’s dinner rush. You can also night-cap your five-star home dinner at these “Sweet Dessert Spots in Houston” from Haley Kurisky.

Chef or novice, delicious or disastrous, cooking a meal testifies to your thoughtfulness. You thought of food favorites, you planned the recipes, you bought the ingredients and you took the take to prepare it all. Whether you prepare a gooey mac and cheese or a complicated lasagna, your loved ones will love the time and effort spent, just remember to clean the kitchen afterwards!

Love is in the air. Now is your chance to make it smell good. What are your loved ones’ favorite foods? Comment below.