Chef Aaron McCargo Jr. certainly knows how to spice things up for Valentine's Day.
Whether it's the hot pepper sauce in his Ultimate Chicken Salad, the chipotle chile peppers in his Spicy Beef Salad or the diced green chiles in his Pork Empanadas, McCargo's culinary creations can bring the heat.
And, it doesn't take a lot of effort to make it happen, says the star of Food Network's "Big Daddy's House" and Season 4 winner of "The Next Food Network Star," who will share some of his recipes in local appearances this weekend.
"That's why I created my cookbook," says McCargo, of his "Simply Done, Well Done" (John Wiley & Sons, $19.95) collection of easy, inexpensive recipes. "You don't have to feel intimidated with my simple dishes that aren't breaking the bank and come out with the same results as when I make them."


Read more: Food Network’s ‘Big Daddy’ says simple dishes at heart of cooking - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Food Network’s ‘Big Daddy’ says simple dishes at heart of cooking - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review