It's Your Kid's Party

Valentine History and Recipes
by Ricci Neer

We found a neat article on the history of Valentines by Mani Niall on the PastryWiz.com website:

5th Century, Rome

Mid February was traditionally the time of the Lupercian festival, an ode to the God of fertility and a celebration of sensual pleasure, a time to meet and court a prospective mate. In AD 496, Pope Gelasius outlawed the pagan festival. But he was clever to replace it with a similar celebration, although one deemed morally suitable. He needed a "lovers" saint to replace the pagan deity Lupercus.

The martyred Bishop Valentine was chosen as the patron saint of the new festival.

Saint Valentine had been beheaded for helping young lovers marry against the wishes of the mad emperor Claudius. Before execution, Valentine himself had fallen in love with his jailer's daughter. He signed his final note to her, "From Your Valentine", a phrase that has lasted through the centuries.

Pope Gelasius didn't get everything he wanted. The pagan festival died out, it is true, but he had further hoped people would emulate the lives of saints. Instead they latched onto the more romantic aspect of Saint Valentines religious life. While not immediately as popular as the more passionate pagan festival, eventually the concept of celebrating true love became known as Valentine's Day.

As we celebrate this time of love, whether passionate, puppy, or in friendship, we are amazed as the vast array of decorations, food ideas, and fun things available to us these days to celebrate this day. When I was in grade school, I remember Valentine's day consisting of boxed cards, boxed chocolates, and candy hearts. Today, we exchange extravagant gifts with our partners, prepare intricate desserts for our children, and decorate our front doors in honor of love. I enjoy going "all out" on this special day, and have put together some fun ideas to celebrate the special loves of your life!

For your children's teachers or classmates - send "Hot Rock" cookies to school!

Hot Rock Cookies
1 cup sugar
1 cup softened butter or margarine
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup hot rock candies
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
Heart-shaped cookie cutter, about 3" tall

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine sugar, 1 cup butter or margarine, egg, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add baking powder, flour, salt, and then beat at low speed until a soft dough forms.

Sprinkle flour on counter top. Roll the dough out to about 1/8" thick. Cut dough with cookie cutter (that has been dipped in flour). Place hearts 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 - 12 minutes, or until cookie edges are golden brown. Set the cookies aside cool down. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt hot rock candies and 1 tablespoon butter/margarine, stirring the mixture until smooth. Dip half of each cooled down cookie into the melted candy, allowing excess to drip off. Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate until set.
Yields: 3 - 4 dozen cookies!

*More ideas

*For after-school snacks, use heart shaped cookie cutters to cut heart shaped sandwiches.

*Soften butter, put into heart shaped molds, chill, and serve on a plate with hot french bread

*Bake a heart shaped cake

*Ice a regular cake or cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkle red sugar crystals or candies on top.

*Pour pancake batter in such a way that it makes heart shaped pancakes (serve with heart shaped butter pats!)

*Chill flavored geletin or gelatin salad in a heart shaped mold, invert, and serve

*Bake sugar cookies or heart shaped cookies onto a lollipop stick, decorate, wrap, and tie with curling ribbon

Today, we have so many neat things to decorate our homes, classrooms and offices. From danglers that attach to the ceilings, to heart shaped foil cutouts, to heart shaped balloons, there is a variety of items to choose from. To dress up home-made or store-bought treats, consider putting them into clear cello bags, tie with curling ribbon, place into a shred filled gift box. Place the box into a decorated gift basket bag, tie with a pull bow and you have an instant, and beautiful Valentines gift!

Recommended links & books on Kid's parties:

 

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