Celebrating Valentine's Day
The origins of Valentine's Day lie in the romance of secret marriages performed by St. Valentine. During his reign as Roman Emperor, Claudius II thought unmarried men made for better, more focused soldiers. In an effort to strengthen his army, he forbid men to marry by placing a ban on marriages. According to National Geographic "...Valentine, it is said, flouted the ban, performing marriages in secret. For his defiance, Valentine was executed in A.D. 270—on February 14, the story goes." Hence the celebration of Valentine's Day occurring on February 14th.
Thankfully modern day celebrations are more cheerful and often extend beyond celebrating with your significant other. For many, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to express how much they care for their romantic partner, children, close friends and even pets.
To start your morning off with a little charm try dressing waffles up with this delicious Simple Berry Compote by Minimalist Baker. Sift confectioners sugar over the waffles for a finishing touch.
A homemade Surf and Turf dinner for your partner adds a bit of decadence while dining from the comfort of your own home. As an added bonus, you'll likely save money and forgo long restaurant waiting times. This Taste of Home recipe is sure to please.
Add a heart-shaped touch with a Caprese Salad, using a cookie cutter to easily cut the mozzarella.
If you're looking for Valentine card ideas, Good Housekeeping has several cute DIY cards. There is a host of charming printable Valentines for children to share with classmates and friends from Mommy Evolution. For adorable "punny" Valentines, check out these chuckle-filled cards from Lauren Conrad.
In lieu of traditional Chocolate Covered Strawberries, consider finishing the evening off with a home-baked good. Try these Raspberry and White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Ahead of Thyme which bakes beautifully on the Range Kleen Ceramabake BC4010.
If you're looking to treat your Valentine to a gift, check out our entire collection of bakeware and use code FF2018 to save 20% on your order.