Two West

Everyone needs a go-to neighborhood pizza shop for those Friday nights when you just don’t feel like cooking. If you haven’t already cemented your loyalty to another Italian eatery, you should definitely consider awarding Zazas Pizzeria the honor. It’s earned dozens of five-star reviews for its classic New York-style pizza and friendly service, despite only opening last year.

The pizza artists always enlist fresh ingredients to make their pies, so you can count on a gourmet experience whether you dine in or do takeout. Try the signature Gold Medal Pie, a surprisingly complex take on the classic Margherita. Its crust bears tomato crudo and basi with a mix of fresh whole-milk mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano, all drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Looking for something with some spice? The hot soppressata pie incorporates Mike’s hot honey, chili flakes, and fennel oil into an otherwise unassuming cheese pizza. Meanwhile, the vodka pie shirks tradition in favor of a pizza smothered with vodka sauce, pecorino cheese, and fennel sausage, and the truffle mushroom pie elevates your slice with shiitake mushrooms, garlic truffle cream, and goat cheese.

Want to treat your sweetie to something sweet? Let the pros at The Fudge Pot craft the perfect gift. The team here has been honing their craft for more than 50 years—it opened its doors in 1963—so you can expect that the recipes and candy-making techniques are practically perfect.

In fact, one fan raves that the English butter toffees are the “best in the world.” Order a half-pound of dark or milk chocolate toffees for your sweet-toothed Valentine. If you’re looking for something a little more romantic, grab a half-dozen chocolate-covered strawberries to pair with champagne or your favorite bottle of wine. You can also design a delicious assortment of fudge squares featuring classics like the chocolate-walnut fudge and the vanilla fudge alongside creative standouts, like the specialty cinnamon roll and the maple-walnut fudge. From chocolate “toodles” (sweet-salty nut clusters) to chocolate-covered orange peels, artisan truffles, and chocolate bark, The Fudge Pot has a confection to suit just about every taste. Browse its menu on Yelp and place an order for pickup, or stop at the shop to see the collection in person.

There’s no better way to end a cold winter’s day than by slipping into some comfy PJs to savor a piping-hot plateful of your favorite comfort food—especially when it’s made from scratch and simple to prepare. Requiring minimal ingredients and time spent in the kitchen, here are three deliciously easy recipes that guarantee to warm you up this winter, even on the busiest weeknights.

Creole Jambalaya [Delish] While the ingredients list of this jambalaya recipe is on the longer side, putting the dish together is decidedly straightforward: Just cook onion and green pepper in a skillet, toss in some diced chicken and uncooked rice, then simmer the mixture with chicken stock and seasonings for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.

Saucy Skillet Lasagna [Taste of Home] Because this recipe enlists no-cook lasagna noodles, it cuts down on prep time. Better still, it can go from start to finish in the same pan! The recipe starts with cooked ground beef, which is combined with diced tomatoes then layered in a pan with lasagna noodles, a ricotta-egg mixture, and marinara sauce. Once assembled, allow the lasagna to simmer on the stovetop for 17 minutes, then serve!

The Ultimate Mug Cake [A Couple Cooks] Dutch process cocoa powder is the secret ingredient in this five-minute dessert, which is made right in the microwave! Mix the cocoa powder with flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, milk, oil, and chocolate chips, then zap it for about 90 seconds. Finish your mug cake with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.