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)

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?

Prompt #5 from this weeks Writers Workshop