It has taken awhile on this season of Top Chef: Texas to rile up any real passion for the competition. Sure, it's been fun to watch, but that real sense of anticipation and nail-biting nervousness over who will beat whom hasn't been there for many viewers ... until tonight. Tonight, we finally got into it as the final four headed to British Columbia. 

Before they made it to Vancouver for the final competition, there was a pit stop in Whistler for a series of cold and challenging competitions atop the ski slopes. First up, cooking in a moving gondola.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow and you're all ready with your homemade chocolate truffles and pink frosted heart cookies and your red velvet cupcakes, right? NO?!? Yeah, me neither. I spent the weekend running errands, cleaning the bathroom, and trying to sort out our growing pile of mis-matched socks.

But it's not too late, would-be Valentiners! I've compiled here for you some fun, super-easy Valentines food treats to dazzle your hungry loved ones. Here's some breakfast ideas, dinner ideas, and a luscious dessert with just 2 ingredients.

From Adele to Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney Houston, the 2012 Grammys were packed with plenty of wow-inducing moments. There was one star, however, that no one expected to shine quite as brightly as it did -- Chipotle.

Yes, that's right; the Tex-Mex chain was the breakout performer of the night with a commercial that got rave reviews. Set to the music of Willie Nelson who covers Coldplay's "The Scientist," the two-minute animated commercial was a powerful statement not about how wonderful its burritos are, but about the ethics behind their food and the importance of sustainable farming. It put Coldplay's live performance to shame. If you missed it, check it out after the jump.

Just when the four remaining chefs on Top Chef: Texas thought they’d grabbed a coveted spot in the final four, in walked the winner of the Last Chance Kitchen Challenge to join them again. Surprisingly, it was Beverly Kim, which wasn’t a good surprise for the other chefs, especially Sarah Grueneberg and Lindsay Autry, who have seemed to have a particular dislike for her from the beginning.

Sarah won the Quickfire challenge, which presented her with a big choice – to take a brand new car and compete against the others for a spot in the final four, or forgo the car for a guaranteed spot in the final four. She chose the latter, which seemed to be sort of admitting her fear of the others, but she got her spot.

My love affair with my slow cooker, or crock pot if you will, has continued to grow since I first bought one last year. I still marvel out how I managed to get dinner on the table for all of those years without one. It's just so easy, and there are so many ways to use it. This crock pot chicken salsa is a great way to do so.

From the blog Whisk and a Prayer, it combines just a few ingredients to make a sensational meal. Served over some whole wheat pasta with a little cheese and sour cream on top, it's a zesty, savory dish perfect for any night of the week. I also like the mixture rolled up in tortillas. The best part is you don't even have to defrost the chicken breasts -- you just put them in frozen. Talk about easy.

This is about the time of year when a getaway to a tropical destination like Hawaii sounds better than ever to bust the winter blues. For most of us, such a budget-busting trip isn't a possibility (sigh), but that doesn't mean we can't dream ... and dine on some Hawaiian-inspired cuisine while we do.

This Hawaiian chicken over rice I found at Like Mother, Like Daughter - Food is made in a slower cooker so it's easy and delicious. With pineapple and a sweet and tangy sauce, the chicken is tender and tasty. Kids love it, and it's great as leftovers as well -- if there's any left. Aloha!

Last week we told you who you can call to have chicken wings delivered to your door on Super Bowl Sunday. But a lot of you said, Delivery?!? Honey, I make my own! Well, good for you! In fact, I think I may try making Buffalo wings for the very first time myself. Here's a recipe that looks like it delivers the tart and the flames I want out of my hot wings.

This recipe is based on the wings at Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. How's that for authentic? Then turn on your ovens, Super Bowl Fans, cause these wings are HOT!

This week Top Chef: Texas opened with the always annoying Pee-wee Herman as a guest judge. Why, I have no clue, but it didn't work for me at all, and I could feel the chefs straining to stop from rolling their eyes at all of his ridiculous comments. The chefs cooked up whimsical pancakes for him in the Quickfire Challenge, and he was predictably annoying in his judging of them, declaring each one the best pancake he’d ever eaten.

Edward Lee won, and I was hoping that was the end of Pee-wee ... unfortunately, it wasn’t. Instead, the chefs were tasked with creating a family-style lunch at the Alamo for Pee-wee and the judges. They also had to do everything on a bicycle with $100 and find a restaurant to cook it in.

Pressure was high as this was the last challenge before the final four. And really, no one wanted to say that they got cut because they didn’t cook well enough for Pee-wee Herman. But someone had to go ...