Sweet Treats For Your Sweet Hearts

Valentine’s Day: The Day of Love. Love of spouse and significant other, love of children and family, love of friends. No matter who the object of your affection is on February 14, one thing is certain: Cupid’s arrow is sure to strike on Valentine’s Day.

Many couples will head out to observe the holiday with a romantic dinner on the town, while others will opt to stay in and celebrate their togetherness. Satin heart-shaped boxes of assorted chocolates will fly off the shelves, florists will work overtime filling bouquet orders of red roses and Hallmark will have a banner day as those smitten by the love bug exchange their sentiments. Let’s face it: demonstrating our feelings of affection just feels good.

But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be, and shouldn’t be, limited to just couples. Why not make it a family affair? Don’t exclude your kids, get them involved. Children love to help out in the kitchen, and time spent with family is the best gift of all.

In keeping with our Valentine’s Day theme, I decided to share some recipes for sweet treats from the kitchens of family and friends, that are both delicious and easy to make. Sweet Treat for your Sweet Hearts.

Lucky Leaf Darling Strawberry Cupcakes, with Dreamy Buttercream Icing

To make:

Preheat oven to 350’
1 (18.25 oz) package white cake mix
⅓ c. vegetable oil
⅓ c. water plus 3 eggs lightly beaten
1 21oz can Strawberry Pie Filling (Lucky Leaf Brand)
Strawberries for garnishing
*cupcake liners

In a large bowl, beat cake mix, oil, water and eggs until smooth. Add a little strawberry pie filling at a time, gently stirring to create swirls. Fill cupcake liners about ⅔ full of batter. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Dreamy Buttercream Icing

1 c. butter, at room temp.
3 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 ½ T. heavy whipping cream

Cream butter until fluffy, and gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Add vanilla nd 1 T. of the heavy cream. Beat for 1 min, adding more cream as needed to achieve desired consistency. Spread frosting on cool cupcakes, garnish with additional strawberries.
Tip: For fluffier icing, chill bowl and beaters in freezer to pre-chill while you are baking the cupcakes.

Chocolate mousse cake with chocolate dipped strawberries, from the kitchen of Becky Lemp Mathias

To make:

*1-2 boxes of chocolate cake mix (any brand, enough to make a double layer cake); follow instructions to bake a two layer cake. Set aside to cool.

2 packages Nestles mousse mix (sold in the baking aisle, near the pudding)
2 packages Dream Whip (also located near the pudding at the grocery store)

1 block of White chocolate (grated)

1 pint of Strawberries
1 package of melting semi sweet or dark chocolate

* Bake cake as directed, and set aside to cool.  Follow directions for Nestles Mousse Mix, and in a separate bowl, follow directions on box for Dream Whip. Simply fold the mousse and dream whip together, and use ½ of the mixture as a filling between the cake layers, reserving the other ½ for frosting the cake-Smooth on the sides and kind of wispy on top.

Put in fridge to cool. In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave, 30 seconds, then stir, then another 10 seconds until smooth and melted fully,(or use a double boiler). Dip strawberries in chocolate, and place on wax sheet. Refridgerate to cool, then place on cake in any design you like. To finish top with grated white chocolate.

Share your Valentine's Day sweet recipes in the comments.

Receipes were from a suggestion via a friend, from Womans Day Magazine December 2011