504 Main by Holly Lefevre: Valentines-Schmalentines...But At Least I Made Dessert!
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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Valentines-Schmalentines...But At Least I Made Dessert!

Can you tell how I really feel about Valentines day from the title of this post?
Sorry, it is the truth and if nothing else I do try to be honest. I don't get it - never have. I of course enjoy making Valentines...but alas that's it.
Could it be that in grade school...middle school...and even high school no boy ever gave me a Valentines? Could it be that I am a fuddy-duddy? Could it be that I am just not romantic? Hmmm....There was one Valentines Day (I was in my 20's) when two different men sent me a dozen roses...sound nice? Sound like the thing that could cure me of my Valentines heeby-jeebies?...Nope, just stressful.
So, I vote to avoid V-Day!

HOWEVER...with the kiddos I have tried to perk up a little...and be more excited about Valentines Day...craft and bake...
and hey, this year I even have their Valentines already to go!

In spite of all my complaining we actually do have a tradition...WE STAY HOME!
We do not go out on V-day - I do not like crowds (says the girl from Los Angeles) and we are cheap. Even when hubby and I were dating we did not go out. So what do we do...
(please, get the mind out of the gutter)
Order pizza and salad to-go from California Pizza Kitchen and eat at home!
That is it pretty exciting, eh?
We know how to live!

I do also make a fab dessert...S'mores-a-licious Mini Cakes
(sometimes they are not so mini)
Photobucket

S'mores-a-licious Mini Cakes
Click HERE for a PDF 
Makes 12+
{I had some left over chocolate...you could probably get about 15-16 mini cakes or 6 large cakes out of this recipe}

INGREDIENTS
CAKE
-1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
-1/4 cup butter
-1/3 cup granulated sugar
-2 large eggs
-2 teaspoon vanilla
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-2+ teaspoons cinnamon {Optional..we love cinnamon and it makes for a nice flavor!}
-6 large marshmallows, cut in half or 48 mini marshmallows
-Powdered sugar, optional

CRUST
-4 Whole Graham crackers, crushed
-3 Tablespoons butter, melted

Mixing, CAKE
  1. Add the cinnamon to the flour and stir to combine.
  2. In a 3 or 4 quart sauce pan, over low heat melt the butter and chocolate chips until smooth.
  3. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar eggs, and vanilla until well blended.
  4. Stir in flour mixture. 

Mixing, CRUST
  1. Add the melted butter to the crushed graham crackers and mix thoroughly.
Combining and Baking
  1. For the mini cakes, I used a mini muffin pan. You can use either ramekins or a large muffin tin to make larger cakes.
  2. Butter the muffin tin.
  3. Place about one teaspoon of the graham cracker mixture into each muffin cup and press down firmly to form a crust.
  4. Fill each cup about halfway full with the batter, about a heaping teaspoon of batter.
  5. Place a half or a large marshmallow or about 4 mini marshmallow in the center of each cup, pressing down into the batter slightly.
  6. Evenly divide remaining batter {about another heaping teaspoon of batter} amongst the muffin cups and spoon on top of the marshmallow, covering it.
  7. Bake in a 350 degree oven until puffed and crackly for approximately 10-12 minutes {it may take up to 15 minutes...but start checking at 10}.
  8. Let cool for 10 minutes +/-.
  9. Run knife along edges to release.
  10. Dust with powdered sugar, optional. 
Serve with a VERY cold glass of milk or vanilla ice cream! 
Or if you want to be super decadent...hot fudge sauce...
but you may have chocolate overload {is that possible?}

 
{They look just as good w/o powdered sugar!} 


What's Your Valentines Tradition?
How do you feel about Valentines Day?
Signature
Prompt #5 from this weeks Writers Workshop
Mama's Losin' It

23 comments:

  1. Holy S'mores Batman those look amazing! I love Valentine's Day. My sweetheart and I just enjoy each other and celebrate being sweethearts. Doesn't have to be a big deal or a bunch of bells and whistles. Just the two of us enjoying each other's company.

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  2. Anonymous6:48 AM

    I don't do Valentine's Day and typically spend the whole day in a funk. I think these yummies could cheer me up though.

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  3. Awww. My hubby and I stay home usually too - cooking together is more fun than going out.

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  4. Anonymous6:59 AM

    We don't have much in the way of Valentine's traditions.... as with a lot of things, that's on my to~do list! :-) But those cakes ~ good golly I cannot wait to make that recipe. Bookmarking to try, if I ever venture out again with this ridiculous ice storm! :-)

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  5. I usually make my husband a nice meal and maybe a heart shaped dessert. We go out for Valentines Day, but not on the actual day when it is so busy. I don't get into decorating for it at all. In fact, I can run through my reader quickly at this time of the year, 'cause I skip all the valentine stuff, and let me tell ya, there's a lot of it out there!

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  6. mmm! Those look yummy!

    I actually like Valentine's Day because it's not a religious holiday and it's a chance to remind you to tell people you love them. I also love the decorations because they're always cute : )

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  7. Anonymous7:53 AM

    Yum!
    Those look good

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  8. Those look yummy!!! I think valentines day is sort of dumb too. And pizza is way better than a lot of those fancy-pants restaurants anyway.

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  9. I think vt's day is way over-rated! :)
    those little cakes are cute, and look delicious!
    gail

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  10. You of all people will appreciate then, how my younger sister used to walk around telling everyone, "Happy VD!" Much to us older sisters shame. Now, that wouldn't work because no-one would understand "Happy STD!" but ...

    Slinking off now in shame for this dumb comment.

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  11. My hubs and I don't do much for Valentine's Day either. Usually just ends up like any other night, but maybe we order out instead of make dinner.

    Those cakes look amazing! I think I may have to try them!

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  12. I think my Valentines day tradition is going to be coming to your house! Those look sooo good!! We don't have any traditions, just another day unfortunately.

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  13. We stay in, too. Its our fondue night! Though this year with the little one eating with us we'll probably have a regular meal and fondue the dessert. :)

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  14. Oh Yum, Holly! Sample please!

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  15. they look delish and they would also be perfect for a camping theme party!
    my 5 yr old said today, "i hate valentine's!" i think i am rubbing off on him with all my grunting over it. my husband actually asked me if i wanted to get a sitter and go out to dinner. um no. i would be much happier in my pj's eating sushi and hanging out at home!

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  16. I love Valentine's Day. I am single, so you'd think it would depress me,but I love all things heart. I love February because it just makes me think of all things romantical. I'm 45 years old, so you'd think I'd get over it. This year I plan on having a dinner for my single friends. I just love it! Your s'mores mini cakes look delish.

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  17. Anonymous12:46 PM

    I think I need to come to your house and sample your traditions too.

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  18. Oh, those look so good!

    I can't even remember what we did for Valentine's Day last year. We're not big on going out for it- our anniversary is less than a month later and we'd rather celebrate for that.

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  19. I love that Valentine wreath. So pretty. We do pretty much the same as you only I make homemade pizza and I make the crust into a heart shape instead of round or square. I am not much into V-day either. Don't know why.

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  20. Wow Wow Wow! That looks amazing! :)

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  21. I love that wreath Holly!!

    Yeah, I don't really do Valentine's Day. I figure it has something to do with being divorced and single for 7 years. LOL ;)

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  22. Blah blah blah valentines blah heart blah. I'm totally in love with my husband but not so much into the day. I don't even want a present from him on Vday.

    beslightlyaskew.blogspot.com

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  23. omg, that looks delicious!!! And, there's nothing wrong with staying home. Sounds very nice and relaxing!!

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Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!

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