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Seasonal: A Recipe for
Making Valentine's Day A Family Affair
- A Recipe for Making
Valentine's Day A Family Affair:
- Create Traditions of
Love & Treasured Memories
- Carrie J. Gamble
It was a fun and festive occasion
when my grandmother cooked up Valentine's Day Dinner for her
growing family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
It came at just the right time of year too - a celebration of
"love" after weeks of long, cold, dreary winter days.
It always seemed just about this time of year you felt desperately
in need of signs of spring. Pink and red heart paper doilies
and flowers could do the trick!
At grandmom's house it wasn't
just about the dinner it was also about the decorations. We could
always count on our spirits being lifted as soon as we'd arrive
at the front door. Her pretty picture window would be decorated
with the pink and red hearts. Upon entering her cozy home the
aromas of baked stuffed chicken, twice baked potatoes and fresh
baked Feather Bed rolls filled the air. The table was set with
the traditional red heart tablecloth. Our family Valentine's
dinner always included individual heart shaped Jello molds and
of course a heart shaped cake!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to
start creating this kind of tradition for your own family? If
you follow my grandmother's "recipe" on life, love
and family it will bring yours closer together. It's fun to put
together a holiday dinner! Why not get the kids involved with
decorating and helping out in the kitchen? And like I said, this
is the perfect time of year to do something fun and festive after
all of those long gray days. Give your family a gift of immeasurable
value - treasured memories to last a lifetime. Below are a few
tried and true recipes to get you started.
Twice Baked Potatoes
Use Idaho potatoes and bake
for about 1 hour until done. Before baking wash them and puncture
a few times with a knife. When done slice the top off and with
a teaspoon remove the inside and put into a bowl. After all the
potatoes are hollowed out and insides are all in the bowl, add
½ stick (¼ cup) butter, salt, pepper and enough
milk to make them fluffy. Mix well. Put back into the skins heaped
up nicely and sprinkled with paprika. You can also add some Parmesan
cheese. Put them back into the oven and re-bake at 350 degrees
until hot. (about 15 minutes)
Fruit and Jello Mold
Take a 16 ounce can of fruit
cocktail and drain, saving the juice. Prepare Jello as directed
on package except use the fruit juice as part of the required
liquid. Let Jello stand in refrigerator until slightly thickened.
Add fruit cocktail by folding into the Jello. Put into Jello
mold (you can use 1 large or small individual servings.) I like
to use small heart shaped molds. Put back into refrigerator and
chill for at least 2 hours. Unmold by dipping the bottom into
hot water for a few seconds. Serve on lettuce leaves. I like
to use Butter lettuce, sometimes called Boston lettuce. You can
change the color according to the occasion - red for Valentine's
Day, green for St. Patrick's Day, Yellow for Easter.
For Topping: Make a mixture
of 8 ounces of cream cheese, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla
and enough milk to make it the consistency of whipped cream.
Place a spoonful on top of each serving. You may garnish with
a strawberry or cherry.
This is a favorite holiday
dessert. It looks very festive and is delicious!
Carrie J. Gamble is the co-author,
editor and publisher of Grandmother's Cookbook, a collection
of her own grandmother's best recipes. Details about the cookbook
and more delicious recipes of Carrie's grandmother, Elizabeth
Rose von Hohen, can be found on their website. Visit the site
and download free recipes and "A Family Love Letter"
chapter at www.grandmotherscookbook.com.
_______________________________________
Author:
Carrie J. Gamble
Carrie J. Gamble, Inc.
www.grandmotherscookbook.com
Publisher of:
Grandmother's Cookbook, Simple Pleasures, an illustrated book
about life's greatest gift - nature.
P.O. Box 66 - Doylestown, PA 18901
Telephone: 215-340-0381
_______________________________________
Article Posted:
February 13, 2007 |
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