Valentine’s Day

[Angie CupcakeQueen]

I don’t really put too much thought into Valentine’s Day. Most of the time I just put together little treat bags for my nieces and nephews and that’s about it. This year I made the treat bags but put a little more into them.
Then I got a call from my sister-in-law asking me to make two dozen white and milk chocolate covered strawberries for her to give her wife, my sister.
So I made them and they turned out great. They both loved them.
Then I got an SOS from my eldest sister who absolutely needed some Oreo Truffles. I agreed so I made heart shaped Oreo truffles that again look great.
After that I made a batch of peanut butter No Bake cookies for my dad and step mom.
And finally today I made something especially for my sister who gave birth about six weeks ago to my adorable nephew Owen.
Cheesecake filled chocolate covered strawberries. According to my mom they taste really good.
I love how they turned out and I just know she’ll love them.

 

[Norcalbaker59]

Boy youve been a busy baker! Everything looks delicious!

 

[Becky]

Wow, yummy! You've got me wanting oreo truffles now, I've not made them in a long while. I really like the look of those cheesecake strawberries too!

 

[Angie CupcakeQueen]

Boy youve been a busy baker! Everything looks delicious!

I have been definitely been busy but it was a lot of fun making them. And thank you! I’m not able to try any of these but according to my mom, who sampled everything for me, they are really good.

 

[Angie CupcakeQueen]

Wow, yummy! You've got me wanting oreo truffles now, I've not made them in a long while. I really like the look of those cheesecake strawberries too!

I seem to make Oreo Truffles often as my eldest sister Laura is crazy about them. I love the way the cheesecake strawberries turned out.

 

[Apocalypso]

Looks amazing!

We don't usually do much for Valentine's Day -- often Edgar is working that night, and we don't go out because everything is overcrowded. Sometimes we eat out a few days before or after. I want to surprise him with a big meal out soon at a place we haven't been. But he cooked, a simple but tasty chicken braise with rice, and I baked a carrot cake for the first time in at least decades, if ever. It's his favorite. I made two fairly tall 6" layers and split them. Made a cream cheese frosting which I loosened up a bit by adding some whipped cream, which meant it definitely had to chill to set up. And I made goofy carrot shaped blobs on top with some orange candy melts I never used at Halloween, and some green tinted frosting made the tops. I was decorating at the last minute, just glad the chopped walnuts stayed on the sides and it transported pretty well. I totally forgot to take a photo. I also made some mini heart shaped cheesecakes, having found these little Wilton silicon cupcake liner things (http://orangecountyanimalservicesfl...imals.aspx?types=C&genders=F&pagesize=120&r=r). I hadn't thought it through as they are slightly fluted, and I realized I wanted the crumb crust essentially on the wide end, which would be the top. So I semi-baked the cheesecakes and then put the crumbs (half chocolate wafers, half graham crackers) on top. They're a little more crumbly than I hoped, but they taste pretty good. I actually thought of baking cookies the size of the bottom and just placing them on top - I didn't have time but it turns out I have a cookie cutter that almost exactly matches. Something for next time.

 

[Becky]

That all sounds great @Apocalypso! That cake sounds delicious, it's a shame you don't have photos! I haven't had carrot cake in ages, largely because my husband is allergic to carrots and fungus (which rules out cream cheese). I used to love making it, and he used to love eating it - but it always disagreed with him and now we know why! His allergies aren't too bad, thankfully, but I miss carrot cake and I must look out for it next time we're in a coffee shop.

We don't usually do much for Valentines Day either, we always stay in and generally Ian cooks us a meal. His birthday is just before Valentines Day, so we usually have birthday cake to eat up! In a way it's a shame because I never do any Valentines baking, and I always love any excuse I can get

 

[Apocalypso]

Hi, Becky! Wow, being allergic to fungus - does that eliminate all dairy products or only those which are curdled into a cheese? It's E's favorite, and while I did like it it wouldn't be my first choice, which now might be the combination of yellow cake, orange curd, and chocolate ganache.

I also imported the cheesecake recipe into MyFitnessPal (I had halved the recipe, and used one whole egg and one yolk) and divided it by the 12 small servings it made, and it was only 207 calories per heart! That was minus any additional topping such as raspberry sauce. Not bad! I'll be making those again and possibly doubling up on them. And I may have to figure out what else I can make in those little silicon molds.

 

[Becky]

Hi, Becky! Wow, being allergic to fungus - does that eliminate all dairy products or only those which are curdled into a cheese?

It rules out all aged foods, but he's also mildly allergic to dairy so he avoids it. So there are two reasons he needs to avoid cheese, but he still loves it! Milk products just tend to make him sleepy, so he can have a bit now and then. He has always had a problem eating mushrooms, but we didn't realise it was fungus in general until he ate Quorn (which is made from a fungus). He was ill for weeks, it was awful! It seemed to kick start other allergies, and we're still trying to figure out what he can and can't eat. Thankfully he doesn't go into anaphylactic shock though, so it could be worse.

It's great to hear that those cheesecakes were only 207 calories! Sounds like a good reason to bake them again