Wanna Know

10 Ways to Make This St.Valentine’s Day Unforgettable

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Vampire Kiss Martini
Pecan-Caramel Spiders
Cinnamon Buns
Drunken Chicken

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In North America, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
History
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

via[W, History.com]

New Year's Dessert

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Christmas drinks

Christmas Traditions

Vampire Kiss Martini
Pecan-Caramel Spiders
Cinnamon Buns
Drunken Chicken
Chocolate Mousse

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Super-sweet valentine treats!

I'm so impressed with the adorable Valentine's Day desserts that are featured in this month's issue of Parents magazine. So cute and super creative...I can't stop staring at the butterfly cupcake especially! And with several of the recipes using things like store-bought cake mixes and cookie cutters, they really aren't as difficult to make as you might expect! (see below for online recipe resources)

The Recipes:

10 Ways to Make This St.Valentine’s Day Unforgettable

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Vampire Kiss Martini
Pecan-Caramel Spiders
Cinnamon Buns
Drunken Chicken
Chocolate Mousse

Snapper with Roasted Grape Tomatoes, Garlic, and Basil

All You Need to Know About French Chocolate

6 Most Famous Kinds of Italian Cheese

6 Tips to Choose Best French Cheese

Roasted Beet, Onion, and Orange Salad

Strawberry Shortcake

Whole-Wheat Pasta with Broccolini and Feta -Vegetarian

Friday, February 11, 2011

Decorating with candy

Colorful candies can function as great party decor year-round, but they are especially appropriate for Valentine's Day! These super simple ideas for decorating with Red Hots look especially fabulous... {via marthastewart.com}

For a cute and super-easy Valentine's Day centerpiece, fill clear kitchen canisters with different kinds of Valentine-themed candies. Embellish the canisters with a band of ribbon and a large contemporary sticker or scrapbook embellishment, then sprinkle the table area around them with edible candy confetti. This "candy-coated" centerpiece took less than 10 minutes to put together...

*Apparently I was temporarily blind during the process of taking these pictures because I realized AFTER it was all done & put away that the canister on the right was quite obviously facing the wrong way...oops! ;)

Product resources: Acrylic Canisters (set of 4) - Target; ribbon, Red Hots, and heart-shaped candy confetti Michaels; red & pink flower Glitter Clears™ by Making Memories; fuschia tablecloth - Plum Party; heart jellies and Gobstopper heartbreakers - Target.
via[hostessblog]

10 Ways to Make This St.Valentine’s Day Unforgettable

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Christmas Traditions

Vampire Kiss Martini
Pecan-Caramel Spiders
Cinnamon Buns
Drunken Chicken
Chocolate Mousse

10 Ways to Make This St.Valentine’s Day Unforgettable

Well, it’s getting around to that time of year again. Red seems to be more and more visible with every passing day. Roses have started dominating florist displays and everything from balloons to candy is shaped like a heart! It’s not difficult to tell that Valentine’s Day is coming! Here are 10 ways to make this one, well, unforgettable.

Cook up some romance! Give the crowded hotels and romantic hotspots a miss this year and get cozy in the kitchen. Pick an easy recipe and something your significant other will like to cook…and eat. Open up a light wine, put on your aprons and dish up the romance!
If music is the food of love, then write her (or him), a song! Even a rudimentary ability with a musical instrument will suffice. Set all the mush to music. You can be sure it will be treasured and will always be a favorite.
Do something you’ve never done before, singly or together. From something simple like going for a movie or play or tasting a new food or drink, to something really big like a hot air balloon or helicopter ride, gift yourselves a new experience.
Dedicate this year to giving, rather than getting. Visit people who have lost a spouse recently to death or separation. Plan what you can do to make their first Valentine’s Day without their loved one, a little easier.
If circumstances permit and especially if you have been toying with the idea, adopt a baby! Share the wealth of love in your home with a little one for whom the chances of being adored and spoilt, are not that great.
Let out the lurking Leonardo. Get the required materials and work together on a painting. You may need a few trials
before the finished product emerges, but it will give you a project to work on together for the next week or so. However, take care that it does not get derailed by arguments on what to paint and other arty details. When completed, give it pride of place.
Travel down memory lane. This may take some planning and budgeting. But if you can, take him or her to places that hold good memories of your childhood - like the house or street you were born in and spent early childhood, your nursery school etc. Even if it means taking a short trip, it will do wonders for the connection between you.
Buy him or her, the most expensive gift you can afford. Something they’ve wanted a long time but would never buy because of the cost. After all the grumbling about spending too much money, they will be thrilled to bits!
Start over again. Spend the entire day acting like a guy and girl who’ve met for the first time. Take off your wedding bands and head off in different directions. ‘See’ each other in a library, a restaurant, etc and pull off a successful come on. Take it from there and do all the silly and obvious things that young people who’ve just met and are interested in each other do.
Do nothing. Indulge in a day of complete laziness. Do not cook, go out or even talk much…lingering looks and smiles say a lot. Just order in, snooze, wander hand in hand through the house, read comics in bed, listen to music (but no TV) and eat and sleep some more!

I’ll bet you can’t wait for February 14th now. Well, neither can I. So start planning and much love and laughter to you and yours!

via[All Women's talk]

New Year's Dessert

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Christmas Traditions

Vampire Kiss Martini
Pecan-Caramel Spiders
Cinnamon Buns
Drunken Chicken
Chocolate Mousse

Just In Time For Valentine's!: An Ox Is Born With A Heart On Its Head, Named "Heart"

And before the day of Valentine's, you will be blessed with an ox. And this ox will carry a sign. Of peace and love.

10 Ways to Make This St.Valentine’s Day Unforgettable

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Scary Ghost Cookies

Great Green Gift Ideas for Valentines Day!

Valentine’s Day is a sweet time for couples, but is often associated with the more negative elements of luxury and consumerism. Between cut flowers and irresponsibly-mined diamonds, the excessive consumption of the holiday can lean towards damaging — rather than preserving the earth. We want you to enjoy Valentine’s Day in an eco-responsible manner this year, which is why we have put together a list of romantic green goodies that are sure to heat up your Valentine’s Day without compromising the environment.

10 Ways to Make This St.Valentine’s Day Unforgettable

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well

Directions

Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)

Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.

Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

Hellburger

10 Ways Not to Gain Weight during the Holiday Season