Handmade paper Valentines were being exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-15th century, and were generally hand delivered.  By the mid-1800s, because of advances in printing, mechanization, and a reduction in postal rates, more and more people began sending cards.

Why not make this Valentine’s Day more meaningful by making the card and gift yourself that you give to your sweetheart.  Here are two simple recipes you could easily make.   

Chocolate Covered Cherries

 Try these simple, yet elegant chocolate covered cherries.

Ingredients:

20 oz. maraschino cherries with stems

12 oz. semi-sweet brown or white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Drain cherries well; place on paper towels to finish absorbing liquid.
2. Melt chocolate according to package directions; keep warm.
3. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip one by one into melted chocolate, swirling to coat completely.
4. Place each cherry on wax paper-lined baking sheet.
5. Let stand at room temperature (or refrigerate), 30 minutes to set.
6. Store in refrigerator up to 2 days.

 Yields: Approximately 4 dozen cherries.

Chocolate Kiss

This is a fun treat to make for Valentine’s Day, and you can personalize it by what you write on the white paper strip sealed inside the foil wrapper.

Ingredients:

chocolate

round funnel

coffee mug

double boiler or microwave and microwave-safe bowl

nonstick cooking spray

white paper strip to write a message on

foil

Directions:

1. In double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate, watching carefully and stirring occasionally.
2. Put some tinfoil over the small end of the funnel, closing it off.
3. Spray a little nonstick spray into the funnel.
4. Place the funnel into the coffee mug to hold it upright.
5. Pour the melted chocolate in, and put into the freezer for 45 minutes to harden.
6. Take a strip of white paper and write your Valentine message on it.
7. Remove the “kiss” from the funnel, and wrap it in tinfoil, tucking the message in it near the point.
8. Leave some of the white paper strip sticking out.

These and many other Valentine recipes are found in Valentine Delights Cookbook, A Collection of Valentine Recipes by Karen Jean Matsko Hood. Click here to order you copy today!

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Fruit leather is a treat that kids love!  It is a healthy substitute for candy. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that dried fruit is like eating sticky candy. It stays on the teeth longer than fresh fruit, releasing sugar into the saliva for a greater period of time, which promotes tooth decay. Make sure you limit the amount of time in which your or your children’s teeth are exposed to sugar without being cleaned.

Drying fruit has been done for centuries. It is an easy way to preserve fruit. We generally think of dried fruit as such things as raisins, prunes, apple slices or apricot halves, but that isn’t the only way to preserve fruit. Pureeing fruit to make leather is an easy way to use up excess fruit before it goes bad. It is also easier than drying fruit pieces, because the puree is a more consistent thickness so that it all dries at the same rate.

Following are three fruit leather recipes you can use to preserve fruit for later use as tasty snacks.

Kiwi Fruit Leather

From St. Patrick’s Day Delights Cookbook

This is a great way for preserving kiwis when you are able to catch a great sale and they do not look like they will get used or eaten fast enough.

Ingredients:

10 kiwifruit, peeled

2   Tbs. white grape juice concentrate

¼  c. sugar

2   Tbs. lemon juice

green food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1. Purée ingredients completely in blender, making sure seeds are pulverized.
2. Spread purée in trays; dry until leathered.
3. Wrap in wax paper and store in airtight jar.

Blueberry Applesauce Fruit Leather  

From Easter Delights Cookbook

This is excellent fruit leather, and it makes a great Easter basket filler.  This makes a tart fruit leather, so if you like it sweeter, add more honey.

Ingredients:

1  c. blueberry purée

1  c. unsweetened applesauce

1  Tbs. honey

Directions:

1. In blender or food processor, combine blueberries and applesauce.
2. Process until smooth.
3. Pour mixture through strainer or sieve to remove skin and seeds.
4. Stir in honey.
5. Place mixture in 10-inch skillet.
6. While stirring frequently, cook over very low heat for 1 hour until thickened.
7. Preheat oven to 150 degrees F.
8. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
9. Pour thickened mixture onto parchment paper, and spread to form rectangle.
10. Bake 5½ to 6 hours, until fruit sheet is dry enough not to stick to your fingers but moist enough to roll; remove from oven and cool.
11. Placing a potholder in oven door to keep it ajar will help dry the leather by allowing moisture to escape.
12. Once cooked, leather should be rolled in plastic wrap or stored in airtight container to keep.

Raspberry Fruit Leather

From Easter Delights Cookbook

Try homemade raspberry fruit leather for a great snack or lunch treat.  You will not want store-bought leather after tasting these.

Ingredients:

2  c. raspberry purée

2  Tbs. honey (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix purée and honey together if using honey.
2. Line cookie sheet or tray with wax paper.
3. Evenly spread purée ¼ inch deep.
4. Place in sun, oven, or dehydrator to dry.  (It takes 4 to 10 hours.)
5. Leather is ready when edges are not sticky to the touch.
6. Pull from wax paper while still warm, and roll in plastic wrap.
7. Can be stored for 30 days at room temperature or for months in the refrigerator.

St. Patrick’s Day Delights Cookbook and Easter Delights Cookbook are coming soon! Find more preserving recipes in Karen Jean Matsko Hood’s Cookbook Delights series of cookbooks. These may be purchased online from Karen’s Bookstore.

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There are many different kinds of salad dressings. Freshly made ones are so much better that those in the bottle from the grocery store. Here are three recipes from cookbooks in my Cookbook Delights Series. Try them to spice up your salads for those holiday meals and all year round! 

I invite you to give me feedback when you try these recipes, and I also invite you to join others and share your favorite recipes on Cooking with Karen Blog.com.

Peach Salad Dressing

 
Taken from Peach Delights Cookbook, this is such an easy dressing and so delicious, that you will find yourself relying on it often.

Ingredients:

¾ c. mayonnaise

½ c. fruit juice

3  Tbs. vinegar

4  Tbs. olive oil

1  c. fresh peaches, peeled, finely chopped

    salt and fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine mayonnaise, juice, vinegar, and oil in a jar with a tight fitting lid; shake vigorously to mix.
2. Add peaches and salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to use.
4. Serve over any green or fruit salad.

Yields: 2 cups.

Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing

Taken from Strawberry Delights Cookbook, this is a very tasty dressing to serve over your favorite salads.

Ingredients:

¾ c. sugar

1  c. fresh strawberries, hulled

½ Tbs. Dijon mustard

⅛ tsp. salt

¼ red onion, sliced

⅔ c. red wine vinegar

2  c. canola oil

2  Tbs. poppy seeds

Directions:

1. Combine sugar, strawberries, Dijon mustard, salt, onion, and vinegar in blender.
2. Blend ingredients until smooth; lightly stir in the oil and poppy seeds.
3. Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Asian Ginger Apple Dressing

 
Taken from Apple Delights Cookbook, this is one of those elegant dressings that you will enjoy serving for company or a special dinner.

Ingredients:

1  sm. fresh apple, peeled, cored, chopped fine

2  Tbs. fresh lemon juice

1  tsp. lemon zest

3  cloves garlic, minced

2  Tbs. minced fresh gingerroot

¾ c. olive oil

⅓ c. rice vinegar

½ c. soy sauce

¼ c. water

3  Tbs. honey

Directions:

1. Combine chopped apple with lemon juice and lemon zest; set aside.
2. In large glass jar or shaker, combine garlic, ginger, olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and water.
3. Cover jar with tight-fitting lid; shake well.
4. Remove lid and add apple mixture and honey; shake just enough to dissolve honey.
5. Place in refrigerator to chill; shake again before serving.
6. Store, covered, in refrigerator.

Visit Karen’s Bookstore today to purchase these and other books in the Cookbook Delights Series.

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