Mmmmm...Junior Mints

Yesterday while I was grocery shopping I found some Valentine Junior Mints. I don't remember them from past years but maybe they have been around for a while. They are heart shaped with red filling. So fun for Valentine's Day. And they taste good, too! You can put a note with them that says:

Me and You,
You and Me,
That's the Way
It was "MINT" to be.

Individual Cake Pedestal

At a Christmas party my sister attended, the host made individual dessert pedestals as favors for each of the guests. They were filled with candy and wrapped in cellophane and tied with a pretty bow. But I think they would make cute Valentine gifts as well. And they would be really cute to serve dessert on for a party for little girls.
They were made by gluing a small white china plate to the bottom of an inverted ice cream sundae cup. Use an epoxy glue so it is permanent and doesn't wash of. You could use a clear plate as well. The ice cream cups and the plates were purchased at the local second hand store so the dessert pedestal is really inexpensive.

You could include a note that says "I've put you on a Pedestal. Be My Valentine".

Divinity Hearts

My mother always made divinity at Christmas when I was little. My mother in law made it, too. It was one of my favorite things when I was little. But whenever I tried to make it, I failed. However, I finally found a recipe that works for me. Last night I made some and used a pastry bag with a very large star tip (B6) to make Heart shaped divinity. It took a little practice, but I think they turned out to be pretty cute.

Don't bring the first hump of the heart clear down to the bottom of the point (make it smaller) Then overlap with the second hump, bringing it down to the point of the heart. Squeeze the bag a little at the top of the hump and release the pressure as you pull the divinity to the point.

Divinity sets up rather quickly so you have to work fast. I was only able to get about half the batch to work as hearts. The rest I just formed into normal divinity.

Here is the recipe I used:

Divinity

4 cups sugar

1 cup white corn syrup

3/4 cup cold water

3 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla

3-4 drops food coloring

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir only until sugar has dissolved. Do not stir after this point. Cook syrup mixture until it reaches hard ball stage (260 degrees at sea level).

While the syrup is cooking, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Once the sugar mixture reaches hard ball stage, carefully pour a slow steady stream of syrup into the stiffly beaten egg whites, beating constantly at high speed. Add the vanilla and food coloring and continue to beat until mixture holds its shape. (this will take 5 minutes or more).

Using 2 spoons, drop the divinity onto waxed paper or parchment paper, using 1 spoon to push the candy off the other. Or put mixture in a pastry bag and pipe into heart shapes.

Always remember to calibrate your candy thermometer so it measure correctly for your altitude (hard ball is actually 253 degrees at my altitude)

Mixed Up Valentine Dinner

I have no clue where this idea originated. I got it from my sister who did it in her neighborhood. I did it with couples from my church many, many years ago. My daughter did this dinner with a group of her friends for a girl's choice dance a few years ago in high school. As long as you are with a group of people with a good sense of humor, it is a lot of fun.

As everyone sits down at the tables, they are given a menu. The items on the menu are not easily identifiable. All items, including utensils, are listed as menu items. Each person chooses five items for each of four courses. All selections for each course are chosen at the beginning of the dinner, before anyone is served. Nobody knows what they will be served and each person gets a different thing at each course. Someone could end up with all utensils and no food in one course. Or they might end up with some very sloppy food and nothing to eat it with. They may end up with dessert first and the main course last. You will probably need a lot of help in the kitchen.

Every time I have been to a party like this, everyone has had fun. It's probably not a great idea if your party is a formal event.

My daughter's dance was called "Dog Patch", the theme was a "little Abner" dance. That's why they called their pretend restaurant "Daisy Mae's Diner". But you can call it anything you want.

You can get a printable copy of the menu here and here.

This is the menu:
(don't write the name of the real item on the menu)

1. Chip Off the Old Block---------tooth pick
2. Manure Spreader-------------fork
3. Eve's Delight------------------apple juice
4. Jack Frost---------------------ice cream
5. Drunken Log------------------large pickle
6. Good and Plenty--------------main course (spaghetti)
7. White Cloud------------------marshmallow
8. Greaser----------------------knife
9. Twiggy-----------------------pretzel
10. Jacob's Well-----------------water
11. Square----------------------napkin
12. Sticky Stuff-----------------cake
13. Underground Icicle---------carrot stick
14. Gold Water-----------------orange juice
15. Rooster Tail----------------fruit cocktail
16. Greenbacks----------------rolls
17. Pucker Power--------------lemon pie
18. Lover's Delight-------------spoon
19. conglomerate--------------tossed salad
20. Popeye's Friend-----------olive
21. Nervous Pudding----------jello

World Market

I just got home from a trip to World Market. What a fun store. I like to browse there, but rarely buy much. However, today I found some really cute cinnamon heart crackers and some fun heart shaped pasta. They also had some cute valentine sprinkles for cookies or ice cream. I'm excited to use them for some sort of Valentine treats.

World Market had all kinds of other Valentine stuff. If there is one by you and you haven't been there, go check it out. If you have already been, go again, it's worth the trip (if it's close) It's a great place to browse!

Cards For Assisted Living Center

Last week, the Young Women (12-18 years old) in our church, got together and made valentines. We provided colored card stock, some scrapbook paper, scissors, glue, paper punches, stickers, ribbon, lace, sequins, craft foam, paper doilies, markers and what ever else we could find. They provided the creativity. We had a few preprinted ideas for girls who couldn't think of anything, but most of them came up with their own ideas. They did a great job and I think they turned out really cute.

In February, we are going to visit the residents of an assisted living center in our neighborhood and deliver the Valentine's to the people there. The girls are excited. They had a lot of fun coming up with the Valentines and are anxious to deliver them to the people at the assisted living center.

Denim Quilt

I know Valentine's Day is still several months away. But if you decide you want to do this for Valentine's Day it could take several months to prepare. So I am posting this early. You can collect old jeans from friends or neighbors or buy them at second hand stores. My daughters and I have made several quilts using old blue jeans. We cut 5" squares from old jeans and sewed them together to make the top. Then we tied them to a coordinating back fabric. You can use a thin batt if you would like, but denim is very heavy so make sure the batt is thin. Bandana fabric works really well for the back. Or for Valentine's Day a heart print works well. We included a lot of the details of the pants, like pockets, belt hoops, side seams, buttons and zippers. When you use things like front pockets or zippers, make sure they are sewn closed so that nothing gets lost in the quilt (Just sew across the bottom of the pocket, so the top remains openable).You could even use parts of the pants that have small holes. Just be sure to line the square with a contrasting piece of cloth. Then you can put love notes in the different pockets. Have a picnic on the blanket (on the livingroom floor if it is too cold outside). You're honey could be finding love notes for a very long time. My daughter did this for her husband and he found one of the notes a year later.

Children's sized jeans work well because the pockets are smaller than the pockets on adult sized jeans.

Happy Valentines Day!!

I remember when I was about 10 years old, my dad wrote a poem for me and each of my sisters for Valentine's Day. He just wrote it on a heart cut from red construction paper. Nothing fancy. I don't remember exactly what it said. I was too little then to appreciate it enough to save it. But I do remember how I felt when he gave it to me.
I treasure copies of letters that my Great grandfather wrote to my grandma when she was a young girl away from home at a boarding school. In the letters he expresses his great love for her and how much he misses her and how he trusts that God is watching over her.
There is really nothing I want more, than for my children and grandchildren for generations to come to know how much I love their dad and them and the Savior. How will they know that, if I don't write it down? They won't.
I guess that is the point of this blog entry. If you do nothing else this Valentine's Day, write the people you love a love letter. Not something hot and passionate (although you could do that, too), write your true feelings, something that you want your grandchildren to know. It doesn't have to be fancy. It just needs to be sincere.
If you want to make it cute, Martha Stewart has some cute ideas for love notes on here website here, here, here, and here.

The Queen of Hearts, Made Some Tarts

I made Heart Shaped Tarts to take to my husband at work today. But this morning, I remembered he has the day off. I guess I'll put them in the freezer and give them to him next week. Valentine's Day will just be extended for a few days and I get to spend the day with him.

I got this recipe with a little Martha Stewart heart tart press. But you can use a cookie cutter and crimp the edges with a fork. They are really good served with a dish of vanilla ice cream.

I may put a note with them that says "To My King Of Hearts".
This is the recipe:

Raspberry Heart Tarts

5 cups flour
1 ½ tsp. Salt
4 tsp sugar
2 cups (1 lb.) butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
10 Tbsp. Ice water
1 jar of jam (about 1 cup)
2 egg yolks
2 Tablespoon cream
Sanding sugar (optional)

In a bowl combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal. (Or process in a food processor for about 8 - 10 seconds)

Add ice water slowly while mixing just until dough holds together.

Turn dough onto work surface. Form into a disk.

Warm raspberry jam in microwave for 1 minute (so it spreads easier).

Heat oven to 400 F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick. Using heart press or cookie cutter, cut out heart shapes and put them on a clean surface. Brush edge with water. With back of spoon, spread 1 ½ tsp. Jam evenly to within ¼ inch of the edge of each tart. Carefully place another heart on top. To seal, place the heart press on top of the filled pastry and press down, crimping the edges together or use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges together all the way around. Repeat with remaining hearts. Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, trim off any excess dough. Transfer to cookie sheet, placing about 1” apart.

In a small bowl. Combine the egg yolks and the cream. Brush evenly over each heart. And transfer to the freezer for 20 minutes. Remove from the freezer and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired. Bake until crust is golden, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

A Kid'll Eat the Middle of an Oreo First

Yesterday, while my daughter was at the grocery store, she found a really good deal on Winter Oreos (the ones with the red middles). They were on a close out after Christmas sale. She bought several packages because she thought they would be great for Valentines. She dipped them in chocolate and put some little Valentine sprinkles on them. I think they turned out pretty cute. They might be even cuter if you dipped them in white chocolate. But we didn't have any. We may give them to some of our neighbors for Valentine's.

Pretty Cheesey

Today I took my husband a heart shaped Cheese Ball with heart shaped crackers. I just made his favorite kind of cheese ball and shaped it like a heart. Or you can just buy a cheese ball. Just push a dent into the top of the cheese ball and squeese the bottom to a point. I bought the crackers at Pirate O's, in Draper, UT. They are probably available at other specialty food stores ,too. I have seen them, occasionally, in regular grocery stores, as well. I have a recipe for a Pina Colada Cheese ball that would be cuter. It is white with little chunks of cherry in it and is covered with coconut instead of nuts. You could even color the coconut pink. But My husband likes the one I made better, so that's what he got. This would also be a good apetizer at a Valentine party.

The card says:

"I know this sounds cheesey, But I'm crackers over you!"

Here are the recipes for the Cheese Balls:

EASY CHEESE BALL
2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese
1 bunch green onions, Chopped
l-2 Cloves garlic (minced)
sliced almonds

Mix Cream cheese, onions and garlic. Form into ball. Roll ball in sliced almonds. Refrigerate, till ready to serve. Serve with Crackers.
You can add some chopped pimento or chopped red pepper to make it look more festive (for Christmas)

PINA COLADA CHEESE BALL
2 8oz package cream cheese
½ cup powdered sugar
1 8 oz can crushed pineapple (well drained)
2/3 cup flaked coconut
8 marachino cherries chopped (optional)
Flaked coconut to roll ball in.

Mix first 5 ingredients. Form into a ball. Chill. Roll in flaked coconut.
Serve with sweet crackers or fruit.

No Bones About It.

Everybody makes heart sugar cookies for Valentines. They are cute and in lots of families, they are a tradition. They have been in mine, too. However, as much as I love Valentines and hearts, I think it's kind of fun to surprise people with something a little unexpected. That's why I made Bone Valentine Cookies for my husband to take to work today. I put little hearts on them so they look a little more Valentiney. Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Put parchment paper on the cookie sheet before you put the cookies on. It makes the cookies easy to take off the pans and it makes the them hold their shape better, they don't spread. This is my favorite sugar cookie recipe:

Lion House Sugar Cookies

1⅓ cup margarine 6½-7 cups flour
3 cups sugar 1 tsp. salt
4 eggs 5 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. Vanilla
¼ cup milk

Preheat oven to 400º. Cream margarine and sugar. Mix in eggs, vanilla and milk. Add flour, salt and baking powder. Mix well. Roll 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut in desired shapes. Bake 7-8 minutes on cookie sheets covered with parchment paper. Remove from pans. Let cool and decorate with frosting and sprinkles, etc.
I put a card with them that says:


"No Bones About It, I Want You For My Valentine.

Games of the Heart

If you are in charge of the games for a Valentine's Party, here are a few suggestions. If you are have an adult party with married couples, you can play The Newlywed Game. A list of questions can be found here. I personally think that the goal of a Valentine party is for everyone to go home at least as good of friends as they were when they came. So, the questions here are pretty tame. I don't think there are any that will make anyone go home angry or with hurt feelings (they may be a little embarrassed, but not too bad). Use your own judgement.

Another game that you can play is "Pick Your Honey's Nose". In this game you make a large screen/wall out of butcher paper. It has to be tall enough for all the spouses to stand behind it in a line. Nothing can show (no shoes or tops of heads). Cut holes in the paper, either all at the same height or at varying heights. We drew stick figures on the front of the paper with the hole where the nose should be. Write a number above each hole. Have all the husbands (or all the wives) stand behind the screen and poke their nose through a hole (if you make the holes at varying heights, make sure that the people behind the screen don't stand at a hole that is the same height as their nose actually is). The other spouse has to guess which nose belongs to their spouse. You would thing that it would be pretty easy, since you see it pretty closely every day, but it really isn't. Even the most distinguishable noses become more ordinary when they aren't attached to a face. You can also have people try to identify all the noses. Whoever gets the most right wins.

Valentine Bingo is fun for parties with kids. You can use conversation hearts for the markers. There are free downloadable bingo cards with pictures here. They have all kinds of free bingo cards there. You can also download card with numbers here.

Another game I found there was a game called, "Find Your Heart Mate". Cut enough hearts that each child can have a half heart. Cut each heart in half at different angles or a different shape line. Give each child a half a heart and have them find the person with the other half of his/her heart. This website has a lot of fun ideas for classroom activities and games for childrens parties.

Roses and Noses

Chocolate and Roses are lots of peoples favorite Valentine's gift. So what could be better than Chocolate roses? These roses made from Hershey's kisses have been around for years. My son used some to ask a girl to a dance 10 years ago. But they are still fun. You can get instructions here. Then check out these ideas for chocolate and flowers on KSL Studio 5. I particularly liked the chocolate bowls.

And speaking of Chocolate Roses, here a little different spin. How about long stemmed chocolate noses. The molds are available at Bakers Cash & Carry in Salt Lake. I also found them on Ebay. I used bamboo skewers for the stems.

I included a note that read:

I ordered long stemmed roses for you, but they must have misunderstood. Because when I went to pick them up, they gave me long stemmed noses, instead. I guess it's alright, though. Because, of all the noses, on all the faces, in all the world, I'm glad I picked yours!

Happy Valentine's Day, anyway.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, here is a list of the meaning of the different colors of roses and one of the significance of the different number of roses you give.

Conversation Hearts

This is another of those things that I'm not quite sure what the purpose is. But it is kind of fun. You can write anything you want on the picture of a conversation heart and then you can post it anywhere you want. Or you can print it and give it for a valentine. It looks just like the real thing.