VALENTINE GIFTS FOR THE ONE YOU LOVE.

Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor

Make someone happy on Feb. 14.

There's nothing more special than receiving a thoughtful gift on Valentine's Day. If you need some help finding the right present for indulgent lovers of food and cooking, we've gathered a few festive ideas, some in shades of red, others in shapes of hearts - and all sure to be welcome by loved ones.

There's something for every sweetheart - bakery cookies, a cake, heart- studded champagne flutes and sparkling wine, a beautiful heart-shaped box of bonbons. Other possibilities include heart-shaped pasta, chocolate fudge coffee, a heart-shaped casserole dish, heart-shaped pot holders and a book containing heart-shaped decorations and recipes.

If you're still shopping for your sweetie, here are a few suggestions.

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(1 -- cover -- color) Champagne flutes with little red glass hearts at the base, available for $5 each at Cost Plus World Market (Woodland Hills, Glendale, Westlake Village and other locations in Southern California).

For a romantic toast, fill the glasses with ice-cold Chandon California Extra-Dry Riche Riche by Domaine Chandon, a sparkling wine with a whisper of sweetness yet a long, soft finish. Besides serving as a refreshing aperitif, the wine also goes well with spicy foods, rich foods like pate and foie gras or fruit desserts. Suggested retail is $17 per 750-milliliter bottle at wine and liquor stores.

To add a little sweetness, you can't beat a beautiful, fancy padded Red Truffle Heart box from See's Candies filled with a pound of delicious, assorted-flavor truffles cloaked in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white coating ($20). At any See's Candy Shops or order by calling [phone] or on the Web site at www.sees.com.

(2 -- color) Say ``Be My Valentine'' with Heartland Linens cotton kitchen towel sprinkled with heart designs ($2.99) and 8-by-8-inch cotton heart- shaped pot holders ($2.99 each) in an array of designs, available at HomeGoods stores, Woodland Hills and Valencia.

(3 -- color) If you want to spell out L-O-V-E and deliver hugs and kisses, do it with decorated sugar cookies ($5 for a set of four) from L.A. Bread Bakery & Cafe, 3119 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, [phone]. Other larger Valentine cookies also available.

(4 -- color) Accompany a pound of ground Cupper's Choice Hot Fudge coffee packed in a bright red metallic-looking bag ($6.99) from HomeGoods (Woodland Hills and Valencia) with a 12-ounce red coffee mug imported from Germany ($4.99) from Bed, Bath & Beyond stores (Canoga Park, Studio City and other Southern California locations).

(5 -- color) Colorful heart-shaped pastas are fun and festive for your favorite cook; we found two possibilities under different labels. Red and White Hearts Valentine Pasta ($1.99 per 17.5-ounce package) from Cost Plus World Market (Woodland Hills, Northridge, Glendale, other Southern California locations), a product of Italy, is made of durum wheat semolina, water and dehydrated tomato. Pasta d'Amore ($2.49 per 1-pound bag) includes off-white-, green- and orange-colored hearts and is available at HomeGoods stores (Woodland Hills and Valencia).(6 -- color) To help Cupid melt hearts, offer a rich, decadent custard-filled layered sponge cake, topped with fresh berries, the sides covered with toasted almonds ($20 for 7-inch cake) from L.A. Bread Bakery & Cafe, 3119 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles [phone].

(7 -- color) For those who like to express their affection with homemade gifts, decorations and novel creations from the kitchen, give a little love via the recently released book ``Holiday Hearts'' by Pamela Sheldon Johns & Jennifer Barry (Ten Speed Press; $14.95). Recipes are both sweet and savory and include creations like Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Cake With Brandied Cherries and Parmesan Braided Hearts. Look for it at local bookstores or order from www.amazon.com.

(8 -- color) For the young-at-heart, Perugina's lovable Baci Bear outfitted in a red chenile sweater sitting atop a red acrylic box filled with eight pieces (4.2 ounces) of Baci bonbons will keep Valentine thoughts and memories alive long after the holiday is gone. It's $15 at Macy's stores (Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, etc.) or can be ordered at wwww.aclassactgifts.com.

(9 -- color) Bakers will delight in making delicious cakes in a heavy- weight cast aluminum bundt pan ($24.95) with a ring of five hearts atop the tiered fluted design. It features a nonstick interior and exterior and is 9 1/2 inches in diameter and 3 1/2 inches high. Great for Valentine's Day, bridal showers, engagement parties or when you want a sweet surprise for someone special. Pick the pan up at Crate & Barrel stores (Canoga Park, Los Angeles, etc.) or order by calling [phone] or on the Web site, www.crateandbarrel.com.

(10 -- color) Children will adore and be tempted by a Kitty & Puppy candy heart box filled with 9 ounces of Bordeaux, Chocolate Butter, Scotchmallow, Patties, Buttercream, Butterchew and Chocolate Red Foil Hearts ($9) available at See's Candy Shops, by calling [phone] or at www.sees.com.

(11 -- color) For cooks on your list who enjoy making casseroles and entrees, give a bright red Chantal 2 1/2-quart heart-shaped deep ceramic casserole with lid ($40). Other red ceramic heart-shaped items - including a 2-quart cake or pie dish ($20), individual (1 1/4-cup) fluted heart quiches ($8 each) and a 2 1/2-cup heart mold ($15) - are also available. These dishes offer lots of options - baking pies, cakes, crisps, cobblers, quiches or filling and serving with fresh strawberries, sour cream and brown sugar or serving sauces, fruits, ice cream, etc. Also available in crimson and white. To order, call [phone].

Photos by Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer