Valentine Celebration with Recipes

A Valentine celebration will be enjoyed by many of us in a few weeks. Each will celebrate in a different way but most with the typical heart shapes in some form. If you ask your friends for their favorite Valentine treats, many will answer with their favorite chocolate dessert recipes.

When my children were young, for our Valentine celebration, my Valentines Day recipes often consisted of simple recipes like chicken casserole, chicken and dumplings or a tuna noodle casserole. Then I would make special Valentines Day recipes for dessert. Sometimes I would make a delicious chocolate fudge cake, which was a favorite. I would ice it and decorate it with Valentine hearts. Other times I might use one of my easy holiday recipes like moist brownies cut in heart shapes or a simple sugar cookie recipe with pink or red icing. A favorite Valentine treat was from my frozen dessert recipes and very simple to make.

FROZEN STRAWBERRY DESSERT RECIPE

• 1 Small tub Cool Whip
• 1 Small box strawberry gelatin
• 1 Cup strawberries, chopped small
• ½ Cup chopped pecans

Mix thoroughly together. Spoon into muffin tins. Freeze until solid. Remove from tins to a plate before serving. Garnish with sliced strawberries. NOTE: May need to apply hot wet towel to bottom of tin to loosen or use paper liners.

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TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE RECIPE

• ½ Cup butter
• ½ Cup chopped celery
• ½ Cup chopped green pepper
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 2 Cans tuna fish
• 1 Can cream mushroom soup (no water)
• 1 Can cream chicken soup (no water)
• ½ Cup mayonnaise
• 1 Jar pimento
• 1 Pound cooked noodles
• ½ Cup chopped almonds
• 1 Cup grated cheddar cheese

Melt butter in a skillet. Sautee’ butter, celery, green pepper and onion until tender. Combine tuna, cooked noodles, soups, mayonnaise, pimento and almonds. Combine noodle mixture with the sautéed vegetables. Spoon into a greased casserole baking dish. Top with grated cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.

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BEST SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE

• Cup soft butter
• 1 ½ Cups powdered sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
• 2 ½ Cups all purpose flour
• 1 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1 Teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix all ingredients thoroughly together. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Divide dough into half. Roll each half to ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured area. Cut with cookie cutter and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Frost with powdered sugar icing. For a more easy recipe, purchase decorative colored icing in red or pink from your local market.

For my Valentine celebration this year I will be in Ecuador. I was there last year. I thought that Valentines Day was simply an American thing. A couple days before the holiday I went in to make reservations at La Mirage for several friends for dinner. I began to explain what this American holiday was about. I got this smile and nod. I said, “Do you know about Valentines Day.” Again I got this smile and nod. OK I thought.

The day came for our Valentine celebration. Seven AM came. I heard a knock on the door. When I opened the door, a friend stood there with flowers and a box of candy. That was only the beginning! All day Kelly and I received beautiful Ecuador flowers, candy and delicious chocolate strawberries. I very quickly realized that this is also one of the Ecuador holidays and even more a part of the Ecuador culture than here in the US. Needless to say, this is one reason I want to be there this year.

I hope this will add to your Valentine celebration!

More Great Holiday Recipes

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