mmmmm Hot Chocolate

My grandkids like hot Strawberry milk lots better than hot chocolate. That's o.k. because pink is so pretty for Valentines Day. So if they were closer, this is what I would make them. I'll save the Hot Chocolate for Grandpa.
On second thought, maybe I'll send them some.

Cut the marshmallows in half. Then dip the cut edge in powdered sugar. Cut a heart in the center of the marshmallow half with a very small cookie cutter or Hors d'oeuvre cutter. Then shake both pieces in powdered sugar (to cover the sticky edges), shake off the excess powdered sugar in a sieve. Serve them in Hot Chocolate of Hot Strawberry milk.

Dip a plastic spoon in chocolate or white chocolate. Then drizzle with a contrasting color of chocolate or while the chocolate is still a little gooey, dip the edges of the spoon in sprinkles.

If you are giving it away, be sure to include a card with instruction on the back.

On the front mine says:

You melt my heart,

The back says:

1. pour into a cup of warm milk

2. stir with spoon

3.remember Grandma and Grandpa love you!

Nothing say lovin' like something from the oven

I wanted to make my husband some sweetrolls for Valentines day. I hadn't quite figured out how to do it, when I came across the blog of Gourmet Mom On The Go. She has some great ideas. She makes really cute food with her kids. She had already posted Heart Shaped Sweet rolls. I made them yesterday, following her instructions. They turned out really cute. Just be sure to pinch the point at the bottom really well or they will be round at the bottom instead of pointed. When you get done looking at her sweet rolls, scroll down to see her edible crayons. They are very cute and look pretty easy. She even has downloadable labels for them. If you like to cook with your kids this is a great place to explore! But be prepared to stay awhile.

Rice Hot Packs

Rice Packs are the greatest invention ever. You can put them in the freezer and they make good ice packs or you can throw them in the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes and they make great hot packs. They are wonderful for sore muscles or cold feet. And you can use them over and over and over. You can easily make your honey one with the pattern found here or you can make up your own. You can also fill them with dry corn.
Make sure you warm it up before you give it to them.

Flemmings Chocolate Lava Cake

Flemmings Restaurant in Salt Lake apparently has Chocolate Lava Cake that is to die for. I have never been there so I don't know. But yesterday, I was watching KSL Studio 5. They had a recipe for Flemmings Chocolate Lava Cake with a demonstration on how to make it. It looked really good so I decided to try it. I made it tonight for my daughters birthday. It was delicious. It is very light but very rich. The recipe makes about 12 servings. It is very high in fat. The lady who figured out the recipe and presented it on the program, was asked how you could make it less fattening. Her response was to share it. It is definitly a special occasion dessert. So Valentine's would be the perfect opportunity. If you slice stawberries to put on top, they can even look like hearts.

Here is the recipe:

Flemings Chocolate Lava Cake
Ingredients:
1 lb. butter
1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate
8 whole eggs
8 egg yolks
1 C. sugar
2 Tbs. flour
Optional: 2 tsp. vanilla
Method:
Cut butter and chocolate into small pieces. Heat on low heat in the microwave or over a double boiler until melted, stirring occasionally. While chocolate is melting combine whole eggs and egg yolks in mixing bowl and whip until slightly thick, about 5-6 minutes. Mix flour into sugar then pour into eggs and whip for 1 minute to blend. Lightly whip the chocolate and butter until smooth. Add to egg mixture. Add vanilla if desired.
Pour into ramekins (sprayed with non-stick spray or shortening and flour) to about half an inch from the top. Chill for 2-3 hours. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. (Center will be a bit jiggly.) Remove cake from oven and cool for 1 minute or more. Place cup on serving plate, cake side down and remove ramekin. Serve with ice cream. Garnish with fresh fruit, chopped nuts or whipped cream.

I think it is better cooked a little longer (not too much, you still want it runny in the middle).

KSL Studio5 has a lot of cute ideas for Valentines. Some cute ideas are here.
There are some really cute homemade candy boxes here. They are trying to sell a tool called a ScorPal. But you can make the boxes without it. You just have to measure and score your paper without the tool. They have lots of templates and ideas on their website.
There is a cute Valentine Count Down Jar here.
I"m guessing they will probably have Valentine ideas nearly everyday between now and Valentine's Day. So you might want to watch the show if you get it where you live, or check back at the Studio 5 website often to see what is new.

Kisses

Celebrate the 14 days of Valentines with a variety of kisses.

• ICE KISS: Put an ice cube in your mouth until your mouth becomes cold. Remove the cube, track down your love and plant a kiss that will send chills!
• ELECTRIC SHOCK KISS: The two of you shuffle your feet furiously on carpet. When you both have an electric charge, lean over and slowly aim for each other's lips. With your lips about one-half inch apart, move in even slower until a spark jumps between the two of you. Instantly after this happens, kiss one another...the please us the kiss right after the shock!
• POST-IT KISS: Use 3M Post-It notes to make a trail through your house that leads to your lips. Put a lipstick print or lip symbol on each note with an arrow pointing to the next note. You, of course, are at the end of the trail with a Post-It note over your lips that says, "LIFT FOR KISS"
• MORSE CODE KISS:If you know Morse code, great, If not, this is a great way to learn. Find a Morse Code chart. Using long and short kisses, spell out a message to your love and have him or her try to decipher them.
• RENDEZVOUS KISS: With a note or phone call, tell your love to meet you at a certain place and time (e.g. park bench, street corner, ice cream stand) for a present. When your love arrives, have a bow stick to your lips.
• BATH KISS: Surprise your love with a kiss while he/she is showering or in the tub. (WARNING: Prepare to get wet)
• MACHINE GUN KISS: In rapid succession, plant 12 quick ones on your lover's lips.
• PINK PANTHER KISS: Humming the Pink Panther theme, prowl toward your partner. On the high note, pounce and pucker. Suggestion-wear only pink!
• GREAT EXPECTATIONS KISS: Inform your love one morning that he or she will soon receive a fabulous kiss. Later, call you love with a reminder. When next you see your love, pull out the stops and plant a long, hot, passionate kiss.
• GOODBYE * 2 KISS: Send off your love in the morning with a quick kiss. As your love turns to leave, pull him or her back for a second, more passionate kiss
• RIDDLE KISS: Ask your love to solve the following riddle: "I am just two and two; I am warm, I am cold; I am lawful, unlawful; A duty, a fault; I am often sold dear; Good for nothing when bought; an extraordinary boon; and a matter of course; and yielding with pleasure; When taken by force." If your love solves it, ask for a demonstration as proof. If he or she cannot show the answer, of course, the answer is a kiss.
• UNEXPECTED KISS: When the two of you are doing the usual, lean over and give your love a sweet kiss on the cheek for no good reason and whisper...I LOVE YOU!
• KNOCK-KNOCK KISS: Stage the following knock-knock joke with your love: KNOCK KNOCK Who is there? KissKiss who? Kiss who? Why me, of course!
• TOOTHPASTE KISS: Brush your teeth together. When your love's mouth is all sudsy, plant a big wet one on the lips. WARNING: MAKE SURE TOOTHBRUSHES ARE OUT OF THE WAY!

Red Dinner ideas

I was just at the grocery store and was browsing the magazines in the check out line. I was flipping through the Women's Day Magazine and they had a great idea of serving red foods for valentines that is simple and cute. They had many recipes that looked delectable, it was tempting to buy (I never buy magazines at stores) however, I thought, before I bought it, I would come home and see if they had the recipes on line. I checked, and they don't. So I might have to go buy the magazine after all. However, I did come across, in my looking, a valentines essentials in the Women's Day valentines. When you click on the Link to Women's Day from my blog it takes you to a menu of Valentines ideas, I hadn't clicked on it this particular menu choice, however, it is there. Or you can simply click on my link here and it will take you to the Valentine's Essentials page. it has some cute ideas for heart shaped desserts. I still want the main course recipes found in the printed version of Women's Day. It had some recipes for things like marinara sauce, a shrimp dish, a tart cherry sauce and other entree ideas. maybe I can find similar ideas or different online recipes.

Any Way You Say It, It Still Means "I Love You"

I found a website called BrailleBug that will let you type a message to someone in Braille. The message is then emailed to the person of your choice. They can then decode the message with the decoder on the site, or if thy don't want to do that, there is a button they can push that will automatically decode it for them. I'm not sure what the purpose of this site is, but it is kind of fun. You could write your loved one a secret love note. Look here.
If you don't want to send a message in Braille, You could tell them that you love them in a different language. I've compiled a list of translations of "I Love You". If you are a Star Trek fan it even includes the translation into Vulcan and Klingon. If you are a fan of Lord Of The Rings, I've included the translation into Elvin. There are a lot of languages that I have never even heard of. I never knew there were so many languages! Please keep in mind, I am not a linguist. My son has already told me that one was wrong (I corrected it). I compiled this list from several others that I found on the internet. The information is only as good as the source and I'm really not sure about my sources, so, take it for what it's worth and have fun with it. The list can be found here.

Jump Start Your Heart

Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.
--Robert Browning

What could be more romantic than having a long and healthy life with the people you love. Valentines is a good time to start or to recommit to taking care of your heart and the rest of yourself. I know that personally, I was being really good at exercizing and eating right until the holidays came. Then I got too busy and there was too much good food around and I lost all my will power. I am going to recommit to taking care of myself so that I will be around to share my life with my husband and my kids and my grandkids. They mean too much to me to cut my time with them short.
So in your indeavors to show your love to those around you, be careful. Limit the amount of junk you feed them. I know almost every food in this blog is probably bad for your heart, so use discretion. Mix things up a little. Give them treats one day and something else another day.
Show them how much you love them by taking care of yourself and them, so you can be around for a very long time.

squeaky clean valentines

My mom and I made these home made soaps this morning. We bought the stuff at various craft shops in town. With the 50% coupons that are often found for craft shops these soaps were not that much more expensive than store bought traditional bath soap. We simply followed the directions on the package, added color and glitter (made for soaps). We used rubber heart shaped ice cube trays, they were perfect because they popped out so easily.

These look way cute next to my sink in my bathroom. I think I will give some to my mother-in-law as a valentines day present in the next few days. She will love them.

Remember you can express your love and appreciation to other people besides your significant other on valentines.

Sweet Hearts for my Sweetheart

We made candy like this for my daughter's wedding a couple of years ago. They are fudge hearts dipped in chocolate. This year we found plastic heart shaped ice cube trays at Target. They cost $2.50 for 2. I also found them at the local dollar store. These are great. When we made them before, we used hard plastic candy molds. It was very difficult to get the fudge out of the molds. But with the ice cube trays, we just sprayed the mold with PAM, put the fudge in the mold, put it in the freezer for about a half hour, then we just pushed it out from the bottom. It was so much easier! The recipe makes a lot (100-150 depending on the size).

We used good quality molding chocolate to dip them in. It is easier to use than dipping chocolate. But be sure you get the good stuff. Not the kind that is available at craft stores. I buy it at Bakers Cash & Carry in Salt Lake. It's easier to dip the fudge when it is cold (not frozen). But after they are finished, store them at room temperature.

We bought the flowers and little hearts at Peppermint Place In Alpine, UT. It is much easier than trying to make your own (at least for me) and they are much cuter than anything I can make.

These are truly yummy. Here's the recipe for the fudge (don't refrigerate the fudge before making the hearts, put the fudge in the molds while it is warm, then after it is set up and you remove it from the mold, repeat with more fudge:



See’s Fudge

1 large can evaporated milk
3 12 oz. packages chocolate chips
½ lb. margarine
4½ cups sugar
1 8 oz. jar marshmallow cream
1 t. vanilla
nuts

Combine all ingredients except milk and sugar and set aside. Mix milk and sugar in a sauce pan. Cook for 9 minutes at a full rolling boil. Pour over other ingredients and stir until smooth. Pour into a 9x13 pan. Refrigerate until firm.

Valentines on other BLOGS

Download and Print:
Wood you be Mine? from mmmcrafts (super cute!)
Lollipop Holder Valentines from Tricia-Rennea illustrations
Zebra Valentines from Bunny Cakes
Variety of Valentines from the Toymaker
Candy Heart Valentines from Bunny Cakes

Cards:
Sewn Paper Valentines from Purl Bee

Craft/Gift:
Valentine Pins from Purl Bee
Felt Fortune Cookies from Martha Stewart
Valentine Treasures from Schlosser Designs
Valentine Vermin from the Junior Society

Food:
Valentine Pretzels from Mayamade

More ideas linked on One Pretty Thing in multiple posts titled Valentine's Day Roundup( 1, 2, 3). I would guess there to be more to come.

Money for my Honey

Several years ago I made my kids Valentines using six one dollar bills. It was fun seeing their reactions. My girls treasured them for a long time. I think one of them may still have hers. The boys, on the other hand, promptly took them apart so they could spend their money. A few years after that, my sister sent me a little shirt made from one dollar bill. The six dollar shirt is made on a template made of card stock so you can write a note on the back if you want. I put a message that read:


"I'd give the shirt off my back it you'd be my Valentine"


The instructions for the 1 dollar shirt are here.
The instructions for the 6 dollar shirt are here

Mama Mia, That's One Hearty Pizza

Did you know that Papa Murphy's makes heart shaped pizza? Well actually, they don't start making it until February 8th (unless of course you get a very helpful server like I did). Anyway, it is pretty cute. Or if you are ambitious, you can always make your own. Or if you are really, really ambitious you can make your own heart shaped pizza and cut all the pepperoni into heart shapes as well. I personally go for Papa Murphy's with a note that says:

You hold a PIZZA my heart!

or

I love you to Pizzas!

Not Your Ordinary Valentine Cookies

These cookies are baked in a waffle iron, rather than the oven. If you have a heart waffle iron you can make really cute cookies (heart shape waffle irons bake 5 waffles or cookies at a time). If you don't have a heart waffle iron, you can use a regular waffle iron and make round cookies. I tried a Belgian Waffle Iron. It didn't work. If you decide that you want to buy a heart waffle iron just to make these cookie, look for one that has deeper holes and makes a thicker waffle.I really like these cookies. They are a little like brownies only they are a little crisper. I use cream cheese frosting on them (I use cream cheese frosting on just about everything I put frosting on). I used cake decorating bags and tips to decorate them, but you can use a zip lock bag with a little hole cut in the corner, or you can just frost them with a knife.

Here is the recipe

Chocolate Waffle Cookies

Melt together: 3 tbsp cocoa and ½Cup margarine or
2 sq Chocolate

mix in:
2 Eggs
¾ Cup sugar
Dash of salt
1 tsp Vanilla
1 Cup flour

Pour 1/2 cup of batter in the middle of a heart shaped waffle iron

or
Drop by tbsp onto waffle iron. Cook 1½ minutes Cool and frost then top with nuts (if desired).

Charis's Valentines

Hi I am the daughter. I loved growing up and watching my mother show her love for my daddio. Consequently I have decided to do it for my husband. Here are some of the ideas I have done this year for my husband.

I first of all got stuff that he needed, and tried to make it cute.

He needed new pants So I told him "You are my smartie pants" (gave him some canadian smarties too!)
He needed a new shirt and tie so he gets that on Sunday with a note that says we are the perfect fit.
He needs a drill and a level. . he is always wishing he had one so that is what he gets, with a note that says, "you know the drill, be my valentine" and one that says, "You are my life saver" you keep me "level" headed." oh yeah and he gets gummie life savers... his favorite.
I got him some of his favorite candy from England and a note that ties them together.
Some really stupid novelty things
I got him a childrens music CD so we can sing to our baby at night and a Signing DVD to help him learn how to sign songs to our baby. (everyone in our immediate family signs. . . so we are trying to expand our knowledge of the language).
He loves to play games with the family so I got him a game.
He loves to read to my baby, so I got him a book that is really cool
He loves to go hit golf balls, but it costs lots of money so I got him some foam golf balls and a driving mat so that he can go practice hitting them in the yard.
He ties balloon animals, so I got him a new book that shows how to make animals with lots of balloons, very cool.
I got him some treats that he likes to sit and share with the kids. They say things like "I am your fairly tale princess" and "you are my super hero" and "I know this is cheesy, but I love you lots and lots and lots and lots" Etc.
Really, you can make anything into a valentine, big or small, if you don't have a lot of money just use stuff you need anyhow and make it special. They will just love the fact that you thought of a special way of giving it to them.