What to make in February
A February meal plan + 9 decadent ways to spoil someone you love
Welcome to Let’s Get Lost! I’m Rebecca, a recipe developer, food photographer, passionate people watcher, and chaser of new experiences. You might know me from my recipe websites, Of Batter and Dough and A Little and A Lot.
My husband and I are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. I write recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.
Well, here we are at the end of January and 2026 is certainly not going to be a year of quiet subtlety, is it?
I’ve had to exercise some self-parenting tactics and impose some restrictions on my news consumption, narrowing my focus to a few trusted sources and the experiences of real people. Because I just can’t hold it all. None of us can.
So, here are two recommendations:
#1: I read Letters from an American almost every day, as I know many of you do too. If you don’t, I urge you to subscribe.
#2. If you’re not already following Stephanie Hansen, I urge you to do so. Stephanie is a broadcaster with an Emmy Award Winning Show, a 2X cookbook author, podcaster, and a friend of mine who lives in Minnesota. She’s been writing about what life is like in her state and highlighting accounts from other real people who live there and organizations that need our help. If you want the real story of a place, get it from the people who live there.
I said it last week and want to say it again: The people of Minnesota are restoring my faith in humanity and showing us what it’s like to actually love and care for one another, not just pay it lip service.
What to cook (and eat!) in February
On a much more pleasant note, some of my recipes are included in this February meal plan from the incomparable Betty Williams. What an absolute honor.
Betty’s meal plans are fantastic. Each week includes an hour of weekend prep, 4 dinner recipes, plus some weekend extras. Every week is easy to follow (she’s thought of everything), and will have you eating SO GOOD! It’s a dinner roadmap with all the planning done for you. How great is that?
Here’s where you’ll find the full February meal plan:
What To Make in February: 9 Delicious Labors of Love
I’m sure I’ll get on my soapbox about this in a future issue (lucky you!), but Valentine’s Day is my least favorite holiday. What I DO love is any reason to set aside all the other tasks clambering for my attention and focus an entire afternoon on making something delicious for someone I love.
I love a good cheap and easy recipe as much as anyone, but sometimes I want to pull out all the stops and invest some real time and resources in something special.
That’s what this list of recipes are… labors of love for people you love. Not like a martyr, not out of obligation, but because it’s an enjoyable and tangible way to show someone that you care.
(And yes, we are still in Colorado.)
xo
Mushroom Ravioli in Garlic Butter Cream Sauce: Homemade mushroom ravioli blanketed in creamy garlic butter sauce is a labor of love in the truest sense.
Skillet Vegetable Lasagna with White Sauce: This is cozy, nourishing, and all kinds of comforting. And, I want to put your fears about soggy, watery vegetables to rest right now. If you're used to meaty lasagna, I promise you won't find this vegetable lasagna lacking in any way.
Shredded Pork Tacos with Pico de Gallo: These are so freaking delicious there's exactly zero chance of anyone at your table walking away feeling like they didn't just eat the best tacos of their life. Seriously. So good.
Homemade Italian Meatballs in Marinara: This recipe is pure comfort food and the result of years of tweaking and testing, until the meatballs were tender, juicy, and packed with Italian flavor. And the sauce is one of the most popular recipes I’ve ever published. Try it and I think you’ll understand why.
Beer Battered Fried Fish: My mom says this recipe is better than anything she’s ever eaten in any restaurant ever. And we all know that mom’s are always right.
Chocolate Truffle Cake: If ever there was a cake for chocolate lovers, this is it. Two layers of dark chocolate fudge cake that blur the line between cake and brownie + creamy milk chocolate buttercream that tastes just like the inside of a chocolate truffle + dark chocolate ganache.
Coconut Cream Cake: Abandon all notions of thin, neat slices or the idea that you'll just have a bite or two. That's not how this cake works. This is the kind of cake you serve in generous portions on days when restraint is not the thing most important to you. Everything in moderation, including moderation.
New York Cheesecake: I've made this cheesecake countless times over the years, including for a few weddings. One bride told me recently that even though she's been married for over 14 years, people still bring up her wedding cake as the best cheesecake they've ever eaten.
Chocolate Cream Pie: This is what happens when you take really good pastry cream, add copious amounts of bittersweet chocolate, spread all that rich, chocolate dreaminess into a crispy toasted almond crust, and then top it with a mile-high layer of whipped cream. It’s absolutely luscious.
This newsletter would not exist if not for the members of The Lost Supper Club, who show their support with a paid subscription thus ensuring that the vast majority of readers can keep reading this newsletter for free. As a thank you, I try to provide those paid subscribers with some cool stuff, including three free cookbooks! Find out more about becoming a member of the Lost Supper Club.
The February Cooking Club!
These are once-a-month cooking class over Zoom that’s just for members of the Lost Supper Club (paid subscribers) - YOU!
The January Cooking Club was last week and we had so much fun! We made chimichurri steak fries and apple cobbler but my favorite part was getting to talk to the participants while we cooked. Check out this note from Sandra Serrano who was one of those who joined us!
I’ll be joined by the fabulous Betty Williams for the February Cooking Club and I hope you’ll join us! Look for menu information next week, but if cooking with friends from across the country (and the world!) sounds like your idea of a good time, put this date on your calendar…
The February Cooking club with Betty and Rebecca
Wednesday, February 25 at 5pm Pacific Standard Time
(Registration link coming soon!)
Healthy-ish Cookies
In the wake of the labor intensive and decadent recipes above I thought I’d share one of my favorite treats that’s the exact opposite of all that. These super easy little cookies contain no flour or additional sugar besides what’s in the ingredients themselves.
The first time I made them I took a bite and thought they were ok… then I ate four in short order and had to stop myself from grabbing another. Make of that what you will but my husband did the same thing so when I say they are surprisingly addictive I think that’s actually exactly true.
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I want to eat cake exclusively for the entire week now. My word those cakes all appeal to me. Now which one to make is my next quandry.
The cooking class was so much fun! What a perk! That apple cobbler was devoured by my husband and son. In fact, I’m making another one today! All your recipes are *almost* as amazing as you, Rebecca! 💖