Valentine Activities

By Corliss Clayton

Muffins

2 cups flour

2 tablespoons or 1/3 cup sugar (see Step 2)

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup raisins, chopped dates, chopped nuts, or broken pieces of crisp, fried bacon (optional)

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together, blending well.

2. Add raisins, dates, nuts, or bacon, if desired. If using bacon, use lesser amount of sugar.

3. Beat egg, then add with milk and melted butter or margarine to flour. Stir until flour is mixed in. Batter should be lumpy.

4. Grease muffin tins, then fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 400° F (205° C) for 25–30 minutes.

Fortune Cookies

3 egg whites

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons water

red food coloring

1. Write thirty valentine messages on small slips of paper. Fold papers.

2. Beat egg whites, sugar, and salt together in a bowl. Add flour, vanilla, butter, water, and about six drops of food coloring, stirring well after each addition.

3. Chill batter for one hour.

4. Drop batter onto greased cookie sheet one teaspoonful at a time. Spread each teaspoonful of batter out into 4″ (10 cm) circle with back of spoon. Bake only two to six cookies at a time so they can be folded before completely cool.

5. Bake cookies at 350° F (175° C) for about 5 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Carefully remove cookies from cookie sheet and place upside down on clean surface. Let cool only a few seconds, then place a valentine message in center of cookie, fold cookie in half, and then in quarters. Set on plate and let cool completely. Makes about 30 cookies.

Valentine Pocket Cards

For each card you will need: 5″ (13 cm) paper doily, 5 1/2″ (14 cm) square of red construction paper, 5″ (13 cm) square of wrapping or construction paper, glue, pencil, notepaper, and narrow ribbon.

1. Glue doily in center of 5 1/2″ (14 cm) square of construction paper.

2. Cut heart shape out of 5″ (13 cm) square of wrapping or construction paper. Write name of person to receive valentine across front of heart. Glue sides and bottom point of heart to doily, leaving top open. Tie ribbon into bow and glue at top of heart (see illustration).

3. Write valentine message on notepaper, fold, and slip into heart pocket. You might also want to put sucker, valentine candies, or another small surprise in pocket.

Heartwarming Beans

1 can (29 ounces/.82 kg) pork and beans

4 hot dogs

2 cans (8 ounces/227 g) tomato sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

2 slices bacon (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C).

2. Cut hot dogs into 1/2″ (1 cm) slices.

3. Mix all ingredients, except bacon, together. Make certain that dry mustard is mixed in well.

4. Pour mixture into baking dish, top with bacon if desired, and cover. Bake for 30 minutes.

Heart Sachet

Make a sweet-smelling gift for a valentine. You will need: 5″ (13 cm) circle of gingham fabric with 1/4″ (.6 mm) squares, needle, pink or red embroidery thread, narrow ribbon, mint leaves, grated and dried orange peel, and cloves.

1. Cross-stitch heart in center of gingham, using squares as guide to indicate where corners of each X will be. (See illustration for pattern.)

2. For sachet, mix together 2 teaspoons mint leaves, 2 teaspoons grated and dried orange peel, and 4 whole cloves. Place mixture in center of wrong side of fabric. Draw fabric up around mixture and tie ribbon with secure bow.

Cucumber Salad

2 cucumbers, peeled and sliced

4 green onions, chopped

1/3 cup italian salad dressing

1. Pour salad dressing over vegetables and gently stir.

2. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Drain before serving.

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney