Cupid's Cups

Here's a recipe that can be used for any holiday. Simply change the color of jello to red & blue for the 4th of July, green & red for Christmas, yellow & pink for Easter, or come up with your own yummy color combo!

Ingredients:
1 square Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
2 cups boiling water, divided
2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1-1/2 cups cold water, divided
Ice cubes
1 container thawed cool whip

Assorted Valentine sprinkles and candies (optional)

Tools:

• 8 Clear plastic cups (6-oz.)
• Sandwich bag
• 1 cup measuring cup
• Whisk
• Medium Bowl

Directions:
DRAW - Spoon melted chocolate into sandwich bag, and trim a very small hole in one corner. Use this to pipe the chocolate in a heart design or write a Valentine's Day message on the inside of each clear plastic cups. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm.

STIR 1 cup of the boiling water into 1 pkg. of the dry gelatin mix in medium bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water; pour evenly into prepared cups. Refrigerate 1 hour or until gelatin is firm.

MEANWHILE, stir remaining 1 cup boiling water into remaining package of dry gelatin mix in medium bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to remaining 1/2 cup cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until thickened. Stir in whipped topping with wire whisk until well blended. Spoon into prepared cups. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Before serving, top with cool whip and decorate with sprinkles. Store leftover desserts in refrigerator.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Valentine Toast

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This is a sweet way to make your Valentine breakfast more festive.

Directions:

1. Toast two slices of bread.

2. Cut out using a large heart-shaped cookie cutter.

3. Spread one slice with Strawberry or Raspberry preserves, and place the other on top in sandwich style. (Or eat open face)

*This would look great as part of a breakfast-in-bed for your parents.

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Valentine Cupcakes

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To make a classic cupcake, a unique and lovable Valentine cupcake, try this simple idea.

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You can use a yellow or white box mix, or your own cupcake recipe, whichever you prefer. Just make them as you usually do, only add red or pink food coloring.
Bake cupcakes; then cool on wire cooling rack.

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While the cupcakes are cooling, draw a small heart on a piece of cardstock. Carefully cut around the heart.
When the cupcakes are cooled, place paper heart in the center of the cupcake. Using a small sifter, shake powdered sugar over cupcake. When you remove the paper, you will have a perfect heart.

"A friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway!"

History of Muffins

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Muffin - a small, cup-shaped bread, often sweetened and usually served hot.

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The derivation of the word muffin comes from the French word moufflet which is often times applied to bread and means soft.
The two main types of muffins are English muffins and American style muffins. They vary in style as well as flavor and history.
English muffins are a flat yeast raised muffin with nooks and crannies that are cooked on a hot griddle. English muffin history dates all the way back to the 10th and 11th centuries in Wales.

Early English muffins were cooked in muffin rings which were hooplike and placed directly on a stove or the bottom of a skillet.

American style muffins on the other hand are more of a quick bread that is made in individual molds. The molds are necessary due to the mixture being a batter rather than dough.

Muffin recipes first began to appear in print in the mid 18th century and quickly caught on. By the 19th century muffin men walked the streets of England at tea time to sell there muffins. They wore trays of English muffins on there heads and rang there bells to call customers to there wares.
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Three states in the United States of America have adopted official muffins. Minnesota has adopted the blueberry muffin as the official state muffin. Massachusetts in 1986 adopted the Corn Muffin as the official state muffin. Then in 1987 New York took on the Apple Muffin as its official muffin of choice.

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

A scrumptious breakfast food!

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Ingredients:

4 Eggs

1 1\2 cup oil

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 3\4 cup pumpkin

1 tbsp. Cinnamon

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups choc. chips

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Tools:

• Large mixing bowl
• Electric beaters
• Measuring cups
• Muffin tins

Beat eggs slightly; add sugar, oil, and pumpkin; beat. Add dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill greased muffin cups 2\3 full & sprinkle lightly brown sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min.