Valentine’s Day Reflections

by

Some days I swear I can’t be as old as I am (and no, I’m not sharing that detail). Other days, I feel old. Not so much physically but in the slap-me-upside-the-head-with-a-reminder way. When my children’s babysitters started having children, that was a rude age awakening. (Now some of their children are going college!) This year as Valentine’s Day approaches, I’ve had another odd age related realization.

I remember what a big deal that day was in elementary school. Would my latest crush, Chris or Lester, give me a Valentine. Yes, I’m old enough that we didn’t have to give valentines to everyone in class. In college, I wondered what to do on that day because goodness, no one wanted to be sitting home. And of course, when I was dating, Valentine’s Day was a big deal. Do I give a gift or simply a card? If I go with the gift, what and how much do I spend? Such angst. When I had young children, Valentine’s Day was a great excuse to get a babysitter, go to a restaurant, and have couple time.

This year as a woman married forty-two years, the holiday isn’t as big a deal in the romantic love sense. Hubby and I will have a quiet night at home. We’ll get takeout, but don’t want to deal with getting a reservation and fighting packed restaurants. After dinner, we’ll watch a movie. Now I see the day as a reminder to tell those I care about how much they mean to me, including my exceptionally patient husband.

I want to make a point to thank all of you for being a part of my life. The first Wednesday of the month, you take time out of your busy day to chat with me. You share the ups and downs of this crazy writing life and have helped with my stories in more ways than I can count.

Since candy/sweets is the most popular Valentine’s gift, and I assume most of that is chocolate, I as my Valentine’s Day gift, I’m sharing my grandmother’s Chocolate Drop cookie recipe with you.

 

Chocolate Drop Cookies

1/2 C butter

1 C sugar

1 egg

1 tsp baking powder

1 3/4 C flour

1/2 C milk

4 Tbs Cocoa powder

1/2 C nuts (optional)

In a bowl, mix dry ingredients. In a different bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add egg and milk. Beat well. Add dry ingredients and combine. Drop a small dollop on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for # minutes. Insert a toothpick to test for doneness. Cookies will have a cake like texture.

Frosting

1 C powdered sugar

1 Tbs cocoa powder

2-3 Tbs butter softened

2-3 Tbs milk

Beat until creamy and smooth. Frost cookies when cool.

These cookies and chocolate covered strawberries are my favorite Valentine’s Day treats? What’s yours? Let me know.

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Julie Benson has written five novels for Harlequin American, and her Wishing, Texas series is available from Tule Publishing. Now that her three sons have left the nest in Dallas, when she isn't writing, Julie spends her time working on home improvement projects, rescuing dogs, and visiting Texas wineries with her husband. Visit her at www.juliebenson.net.

24 thoughts on “Valentine’s Day Reflections”

  2. I love to get myself some dark chocolate almond bard from this shop that makes it home made. it’s a treat I give myself 3 times a year, Valentines Day, my birthday which is in March and at Christmas.

    • Kathleen, I love that you treat yourself to that special treat! When I had four males in the house, I learned that was the only way to be sure I got something I wanted.

  6. thanks for sharing. my husband and I now have to stay away from sweets. oh man, but that is soooo tough. sigh oh well. better to stay healthy and enjoy life as it rolls by us.

    • Lori, I’ve been trying to stay away from them too, but it’s been hard because hubby and my boys aren’t. But they’re big chocolate lovers while me, not so much. That helps a little.

  7. These sound good! I love peanut butter cookies! My favorite Valentine’s treats, though are Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

  8. Good morning, Thank you so much for sharing this delicious sounding cookie recipe. My favorite are peanut clusters and the Ferrero Rocher. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.

  9. Thanks, for recipe. I love all chocolates. As for getting older….can’t believe where all the years went & how did I get this old???? We have been married for 56 years and both of us are turning 80. Blessed that we are still healthy & active. Have a Awesome day & Valentine’s.

    • Lois, congratulations on being married for 56 years! What’s your secret? And how wonderful that you’re both healthy and active. Sounds like you’ve done and are doing a lot of things right.

    • Becky, I love any kind of chocolate strawberries. I miss being able to have chocolate covered pretzels since I’ve gone gluten free. Those are so good. Nothing better than salty and sweet.

  13. Thank you for sharing the recipe. We make a similar cookie for special occasions. When the cookie is baked, we place a maraschino cherry on top then frost it while it is cooling. They are so good. We rarely go out to eat on Valentine’s Day. If we do, it would be mid-afternoon. More often, we fix a nice meal at home or go out another day. Our second daughter was born on Feb. 15, so we sometimes take her and her family out for dinner that day and call it our Valentine meal. Early in our marriage, it seemed like we always had infants or toddlers or my husband was gone (he was in the Air Force). As a result, we celebrate holidays or special days (birthdays and anniversaries included) when ever we can. We aren’t celebrating a date on the calendar, we are celebrating what makes that day special. That can be done whenever we want or can.
    I hope you have a nice Valentine’s Day.

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