Fat loss, muscle build: advice needed

[Piker]

I wasn't sure where to post it so I posted it here.
Oh yeah and I'm new here so "Hi everyone! I'm a and I'm 29 years old!"

Anyways, I hope I can get some quality advice here about something that is really confusing me. I've searched the net for this info and I keep reading articles that literally contradict each other.
Here is the thing: I've been working out for about 12 months. Mainly compound excercices (pullups, dips, squats, etc) to gain muscle mass. I dont need to look like Arnold in his peak days, but just fitter and bigger than average.
And it helped. The ectomorph I am gained about 10 kilo (approx 22lbs) in 10 months time. Believe me, that's a lot for me and lotsa people, who didn't even know I worked out, told me they noticed I gained muscle when I wear a t-shirt.
I see it too in the mirror. not spectacular, but enough to notice a change.

Unfortunately, I have some fat too and the dreaded love-handles. I want to get rid of that stuff.
diet is now mainly focussed on gaining mass: lotsa protein (fish mainly), brown bread, brown rice and stuff like that.
However, I'd like to include some cardio to that to do away with the fat. Here starts the conflict...
Some articles tell me that cardio is bad bad bad and I should just "accept" the fat.
Some articles tell me I should do cardio before the workout, some say it should be done right after, some say it should be on days off.
Some say I should do long low intensity cardio, others say I should do short high intensity.

So what's the deal? Is it ok to do cardio while gaining muscle mass? I want to make sure I don't start to burn muscle. I dont mind if the muscle gains go a little slower if it means losing fat at the same time. I just dont want to actually lose muscle mass I worked damn hard for. I want to make sure it burns fat.
But to gain muscle your calorie intake should be higher than your basic need. To lose fat, it should be vice versa.
Plus, doing cardio makes me feel better overall. Mentally and physically. And these love handles piss me off anyways.
What would you suggest? Is cardio ok? if so, when is best? High intensity or low? What excercices do you recommend? I like running and rope skipping. is that ok?

Sorry for the tsunami of questions I throw over you but I really don't know what to believe any more...
Thanks!

[Boss Man]

Best options for Cardio, ranked in order of preferance.

1. The next day after weights.

2. Later in the day, several hours after weights.

3. Straight after Weights.

4. Before weights.

Also could you be a little more specific about eating patterns. I.E. what meals you eat and what times do you eat?

Kind of a typical days eating. Thanks .