Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and love is in the air! Mischievous little Cupid is filling his quiver full of magic arrows to prepare for the big day. Ancient folklore tells us that unmarried ladies should be aware of birds flying overhead for more reasons than one. If a robin flies overhead, you will marry a sailor. A sparrow overhead signifies that you will marry a poor man, but will be very happy. Goldfinches bring unmarried ladies the luck of marrying a millionaire.
According to corsinet.com, florists in the United States will sell over 110 million roses in the 3-day period surrounding Valentine’s Day. Red roses, which are the most popular, signify love, compassion, peace, friendship and romance. The next two most popular are yellow, signifying friendship, and white which represents true love and devotion. Men will purchase 73% of the flowers sold and women 27%.
Consumers spend an average of $77 on Valentine’s Day gifts with men spending a little more than that average. The total sale of food, candy, flowers and other gifts will reach about $650 million.
People of all ages can be found searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day card to be delivered on February 14th. In the United States, more than one billion cards are sent on Valentine’s Day. Hallmark alone has over 1,330 different cards specifically for the holiday. Teachers receive the most cards followed by children, mothers, wives and sweethearts. Children, ages 6-10, exchange more than 650 million Valentine’s Day cards with teachers, classmates and family members.
More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold this year. While these are always a welcome treat, homemade cookies and candy also show your loved ones that you have spent extra time and effort to make the day special for them. Try dipping some fresh delicious strawberries in white or milk chocolate. Heart-shaped homemade cookies signify the season and are pleasing to the taste buds. Canned frosting and red sugar crystals can quickly make them even more festive.
When I think of Valentine’s Day, one of the first things I think of is the conversation hearts candy. Here is an idea to make some Conversation Heart Candy Bark: Melt 16 ounces of white chocolate chips or almond bark. Stir in 1 cup of conversation hearts of which half have been chopped and half left whole. Pour onto waxed paper and let set. When set, break the candy apart and store in an airtight container.
What is Valentine’s Day without a Red Velvet Cake? When my husband and I were dating, I made this cake every year for the holiday. The first year I had red food coloring everywhere. I think Mama had to paint the kitchen. Today’s recipes center around that recipe with a few variations for you to try. Make this Valentine’s Day special for the one you love. Thanks for reading.
RED VELVET CAKE
(This is a great idea for a Valentine cake. Now there is a red velvet cake mix that is also very good, but I do think this is better!)
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp. soda
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. vinegar
2 eggs
2 oz. red food coloring
Sift together the flour, salt and cocoa. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk to butter and sugar mixture. Add coloring and vanilla. Fold in soda and vanilla. Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan and an 8-inch round pan; half the batter and pour into each. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.
Slice round cake layer down the center to form 2 halves. Place the square layer to look like a diamond and place the round halves on either side of the top to form a heart. Ice with your favorite frosting and decorate as desired.
RED VELVET BROWNIES
1 (4 oz.) semi sweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
¾ cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 ½ cups plain flour
1 (1 oz.) bottle red food coloring
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9 inch square pan with aluminum foil – allow 3 inches to overlap on all sides; lightly grease foil. Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl until melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar; add eggs. Gently stir in flour, red food coloring, baking powder, vanilla and salt. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until wooden pick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack. Lift brownies from pan using foil sides as handles. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting. Cut into squares to serve.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
3 Tbsp. butter
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and salt, beating until well blended. Stir in vanilla.
RED VELVET COOKIES
1 box Red Velvet cake mix
1 stick butter, softened
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
4 full-size Dark Milky Way candy bars, cut into chunks
1 ½ cups mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix, butter, eggs, and vegetable oil. Stir in candy bar chunks and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Press down to flatten before baking. Bake for 10-12 minutes and leave on cookie sheets for about 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.
