As a hopeless romantic who happens to be alone on Valentine’s Day, my Best of the Blogs post is a touch contrarian today, featuring a beverage with the power to divide people: root beer – and a double hit of it (hello, vodka!). In my experience, there are two kinds of people: those who like root beer and those who don’t. It’s similar to black licorice, cilantro, and goat cheese, in that root beer has a strong, distinct flavor that some crave and others choose to avoid. I happen to fall in the former category; for as long as I can remember, I’ve been a huge root beer fan. It’s my favorite soda, just like black licorice is my favorite bean in the Jelly Belly box (I think the flavors are somewhat similar). But before I go all V-Day “Bah-Humbug!” on everyone with controversial flavors and booze, don’t fret – the post contains chocolate, for a happy nod to the holiday’s existence. You won’t see me sharing a luscious molten chocolate cake while staring dreamy-eyed into my Valentine’s eyes or drawing hearts on every surface imagineable today, but I’m notthatfar gone.

Jessica, author ofHow Sweet It Is, keeps a gorgeous food blog that’s heavy on rich, decadent recipes, but she also covers fitness and health, too – kind of like the blog equivalent to a squeeze of lemon juice in a luxuriously made hollandaise sauce. One of her latest posts is just the ticket for my V-Day disposition. It involves a classic dessert (an anytime edible, really): root beer floats, with the volume turned up – adding homemade fudge sauce, vanilla ice cream, and root beer flavored vodka. This is a treat I’m on board to indulge in.Check it out here– and while you’re at it, scroll through her recipe index. Her blog is relatively new, but she’s packed quite a variety of tempting treats into it so far.

With the unseasonably warm weather today, I’m already thinking of walking through the door tonight, craft root beer in hand, and having a very happy hour. And the perk of not having a Valentine? There’s no sharing necessary.