Did You Know?...
Valentine Symbols
It's not difficult to figure out the connection between the heart and Valentine's Day. The heart, after all, was thought in ancient times to be the source of all emotions. It later came to be associated only with the emotion of love. (Today, we know that the heart is, basically, the pump that keeps blood flowing through our bodies.)
It's not clear when the valentine heart shape became the symbol for the heart. Some scholars speculate that the heart symbol as we use it to signify romance or love came from early attempts by people to draw an organ they'd never seen. Anyway, here are some of the other valentine symbols and their origins:
Red roses were said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Also, red is a color that signifies strong feelings.
Lace has long been used to make women's handkerchiefs. Hundreds of years ago, if a woman dropped her handkerchief, a man might pick it up for her. Sometimes, if she had her eye on the right man, a woman might intentionally drop her handkerchief to encourage him. So, people began to think of romance when they thought of lace.
Love knots have series of winding and interlacing loops with no beginning and no end. A symbol of everlasting love, love knots were made from ribbon or drawn on paper.
Lovebirds, colorful birds found in Africa, are so named because they sit closely together in pairs -- like sweethearts do. Doves are symbols of loyalty and love, because they mate for life and share the care of their babies.
How about the "X" sign representing a kiss? This tradition started with the medieval practice of allowing those who could not write to sign documents with an "X". This was done before witnesses, and the signer placed a kiss upon the "X" to show sincerity. This is how the kiss came to be synonymous with the letter "X", and how the "X" came to be commonly used at the end of letters as kiss symbols. (Some believed "X" was chosen as a variation on the cross symbol, while others believe it might have been a pledge in the name of Christ, since the "X" -- or Chi symbol -- is the second letter of the Greek alphabet and has been used in church history to represent Christ.)
It became easier to mail valentines in the mid 1800s, when the modern postal service implemented the penny post. Until then, postage was so pricey that most cards were delivered by hand. (Today, you can send your valentine to Loveland, Colorado, to be postmarked from the romantically-named town.)
Esther Howland struck gold with the first commercial American valentines. Today, there are nearly 2,000 greeting card publishers in the United States.
Source: Various internet sites
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Love is not blind.
That's why they make lingerie...
Discussion Forum
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Next Monthly Theme...
Recipes For Romance
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, share with us those recipes you consider when preparing that special meal for your sweetheart. Is there a special beef or seafood dish he/she enjoys? How about that aphrodisiac to all...chocolate? Share your favorite recipes for romance with us, won't you? Now, here is the NEW set of rules:
A to Z Recipes continues with its popular Theme Issues. We will share theme recipes and post them on the first Sunday of each month. Send your recipes no later than the last Friday of each month to have them posted in the next monthly theme issue. You may send in TWO of your favorite theme recipes in ONE email. If the number of recipes exceeds those needed in the issue, the publisher will post as many from every submitter as possible and save the remaining recipes for the following Sundays of that month. The rules for recipe submissions for the monthly theme issues are the same as ALL recipes submitted for posting.
The rules are as follows:
As a service to your fellow readers, please send only recipes that are in a form that others could easily copy and save for their own use. Recipes that would require a lot of editing or cleaning up or use non-standard measurements should not be submitted. Recipes without a name and location of sender may NOT be posted or posted without any credit given. There will be NO recipes posted that are from other recipe-zines. A to Z Recipes protects the privacy of its readers and does NOT publish email addresses. There will be no exceptions.
The deadline for February's theme issue is Friday, January 30th.
Theme recipes must have subject: "Recipes for Romance" and will be posted on Sunday, February 1st.
As usual, only recipes are to be sent to: A to Z Recipes Inbox
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Crazy Corner...
New Year's Resolutions - 2004 Edition
Shared by Rosemarie, Kansas City, MO
As we all start a new year, it is time again to make those ever so important New Year's Resolutions. I have faithfully made such resolutions in the past, and while I haven't been able to keep all of them, I have tried my best to continue making progress on them year after year. Following is my revised list of "New Year's Resolutions - 2004 Edition":
Resolution #1
2001: I will try to be a better husband to Marge.
2002: I will not leave Marge.
2003: I will try for a reconciliation with Marge.
2004: I will try to be a better husband to Wanda.
Resolution #2
2001: I will go to church every Sunday.
2002: I will go to church as often as possible.
2003: I will set aside time each day for prayer and meditation.
2004: I will try to catch the late night sermonette on TV.
Resolution #3
2001: I will not let my boss push me around.
2002: I will not let my sadistic boss drive me to the point of suicide.
2003: I will stick up for my rights when my boss bullies me.
2004: I will tell Dr. Hodger and the group about my boss.
Resolution #4
2001: I will read at least 20 good books a year.
2002: I will read at least 10 books a year.
2003: I will read 5 books a year.
2004: I will finish Airport.
Resolution #5
2001: I will not get upset when Charlie and Sam make jokes about my baldness.
2002: I will not get annoyed when Charlie and Sam kid me about my toupee.
2003: I will not lose my temper when they tell the guys I wear a girdle.
2004: I will not speak to Charlie and Sam.
Resolution #6
2001: I will get my weight down below 180.
2002: I will watch my calories until I get below 190.
2003: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200.
2004: I will try to develop a realistic attitude about my weight.
Resolution #7
2001: I will not take a drink before 5:00 p.m.
2002: I will not touch the bottle before noon.
2003: I will not become a "problem drinker".
2004: I will not miss any AA meetings.
Resolution #8
2001: I will not spend my money frivolously.
2002: I will pay off my bank loan promptly.
2003: I will pay off my bank loans promptly.
2004: I will begin making a strong effort to be out of debt by 1998.
Resolution #9
2001: I will see my dentist this year.
2002: I will have my cavities filled this year.
2003: I will have my root canal work done this year.
2004: I will get rid of my denture breath this year.
Author unknown...
THE BACON TREE
Shared by Linda, CA
Back in cowboy times, a westbound wagon train was lost and low on food. No other humans had been seen for days and then the pioneers saw an old Jewish rabbi sitting beneath a tree. "Is there some place ahead where we can get food?"
"Vell, I tink so," the old man said, "but I wouldn't go up dat hill und down de udder side. Somevun tole me you'd run into a big bacon tree." "A bacon tree?," asked the wagon train leader. Yah, an bacon tree. Vould I lie? . . . Trust me. I vouldn t go dere."
The leader goes back and tells his people what the rabbi said. "So why did he say not to go there?," a person asked. Other pioneers said, "Oh, you know those Jewish people - they don't eat bacon."
So the wagon train goes up the hill and down the other side. Suddenly, Indians attack them from everywhere and massacre all except the leader who manages to escape and get back to the old rabbi.
Near dead, the man shouts, "You fool! You sent us to our deaths! We followed your route but there was no bacon tree, just hundreds of Indians who killed everyone but me."
The old Jewish man holds up his hand and says, "Oy, vait a minute." He quickly picks up an English-Yiddish dictionary and begins thumbing through it.
"Oy Gevalt, I made myself such ah big mishtake! It vuzn't a bacon tree . . . it vuz a ham bush!!
TIME OFF
Shared by Bette, Pittsburg, CA
Two factory workers were talking. "I know how to get some time off from work." said the man. "How do you think you will do that?" said the other one. He proceeded to show her...by climbing up to the rafters, and hanging upside
down.
The boss walked in, saw the worker hanging from the ceiling, and asked him what on earth he was doing? "I'm a light bulb" answered the guy. "I think you need some time off," said the boss. So, the man jumped down and walked out of the factory.
The second worker began walking out too. The boss asked her where did she think she was going? "Home. I can't work in the dark."
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Amazon.com Valentine's Day e-Cards!
Special Valentine's Day cards for him and for her, and for anything in between; and left to it; and right. Amazon.com not only lets you send these cards for free, you can also attach a gift certificate for your Valentine.
FREE Valentine's Day Cards
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Your Favorites...
CHICKEN RICE BAKE MIX IN A JAR
Serves 4
~Sent in by Raquel, McDonough, GA
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup -- (10 ounce)
1 package Ramen -- (noodles, chicken flavor)
1/2 cup Long-Grain Rice
1/8 cup Minced Onion -- (dried)
1 can Water chestnuts, canned -- short, wide can
You will need a wide-mouth one quart canning jar, a paper towel and some clear packaging tape for this recipe.
First, fold paper towel to fit in bottom of jar, and set it in the bottom. Next, place can of soup on top of paper towel. Set aside. In a medium bowl, pour out Ramen noodles, and using the bottom of a drinking glass, break noodles into small pieces. Set aside. Add minced onions to jar, settling them around bottom of soup can. Next, add the rice, then pour broken noodles on top of rice. Place seasoning packet on top of broken noodles and place lid on jar. Set jar on top of the short, wide can of water chestnuts, and connect them firmly with the clear packaging tape for storage purposes. Use scissors to cut a 9 inch circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric circle over lid and secure with a rubber band.
Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band. Attach the following directions:
Chicken Rice Bake
Pour noodles, rice and onions from jar into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix soup, 2 cans of water and seasoning packet & set aside. Lay 5 or 6 skinless, boneless chicken pieces on top of rice/noodle mixture in pan, then top with drained water chestnuts. Pour soup mixture over all, cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour, 15 minutes.
CANDY COATED PECANS
~Sent in by Carol, No. CA
1 egg white
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 dash vanilla
4 c pecans
1 Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line a
cookie sheet with wax paper. Spray the wax paper with
cooking spray.
2 Beat egg white until stiff. Add brown sugar and
vanilla. Stir until smooth. Mix in pecans and stir until
coated. Pour the nuts onto the prepared cookie sheet.
3 Bake until browned, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
OHIO HONEY GRANOLA
~Sent in by Lucy, Kirtland, OH
My website is: www.ohiohoney.com
1 pound rolled oats
1/2 cup Ohio Honey
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups raisins (or cranberries), divided
Mix together oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds and nuts in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, combine honey, oil, brown sugar and vanilla until just before boiling. Combine both mixtures and blend well. Spread evenly on two oiled, large, shallow baking pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and stir in raisins. Allow to cool and store in tightly sealed container.
CHILE RELLENOS CASSEROLE
~Sent in by Stoney, Mount Hope, WV
1 cup Half & Half
2 eggs
1/3 cup flour
?? lb jack cheese, shredded
?? lb cheddar cheese, shredded
3 4-oz cans green chilies
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
Mix cheeses together. Reserve ?? cup for topping.
Beat flour, eggs and Half & Half together until smooth.
Alternate layers of flour mixture, cheese mixture and green chiles. Top with reserved cheese mixture. Pour
tomato sauce over all.
Bake at 350?° F for 1 ?? hour or until done in the middle.
GOLDEN BROCCOLI
~Sent in by Treva, in the beautiful mountains of NC
2 pkg. 32 oz. frozen broccoli, thawed
10.5 oz. can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
4 slices crisp crumbled bacon
Place broccoli in crockpot. Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon soup over top. Sprinkle with bacon. Cover and cook on LOW 4-6 hours.
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Heart Healthy...
CHEESE AND BASIL SCONES
Yield: 12 scones (12 servings)
~Sent in by Joyce, IL
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (1 ounce) fresh grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, or 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2/3 cup low-fat (1 percent) buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon beaten egg, or 1 tablespoon egg substitutes
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with a generous amount of nonstick pan spray.
Combine 2 cups of the flour, the cheese, basil, baking powder, baking soda, and pepper in a medium bowl.
Add the buttermilk and oil; mix only until the dry ingredients are moistened. Divide the dough into 2 balls. Knead each ball gently 3 times on a surface floured with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour.
Pat the dough into 2 circles, each 7 to 8 inches in diameter, on the prepared cookie sheet. With a sharp knife, score each disk 1/4 inch deep into 6 wedges; do not cut through.
Brush the tops of the dough rounds with egg to glaze. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cut each disk into 6 wedges while hot. Serve the scones warm or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 scone):
Calories: 125, Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 7 mg, Sodium: 161 mg, Carbohydrate: 18 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 1 g, Protein: 4 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fat
Points 1.5
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For Two...
FRUIT AND CHEESE OMELET
Serves 2
~Sent in by Larry Holmes, Ontario, Canada
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons honey
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice
?? cup mixed fresh fruit
1 recipe Basic French Omelet (recipe follows)
?? cup shredded cheddar cheese
Basic French Omelet
3 eggs
1 tablespoon water
?? teaspoon salt
dash pepper
1 tablespoon butter
In small saucepan combine cornstarch and honey; stir in orange and lemon
juices. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in fruit
to heat through; keep warm. Prepare Basic French Omelet as directed. Use
some of fruit mixture to fill omelet. Fold and turn out omelet as directed.
top with remaining fruit and cheese.
Basic French Omelet: In a small bowl beat together eggs, water, salt and
pepper with a fork until blended but not frothy. In an 8-inch skillet with
flared sides, heat butter over medium heat until butter sizzles and browns
slightly. Lift and tilt pan to coat sides. Pour in egg mixture. Continue
to cook over medium heat, using fork to stir rapidly in a zigzag pattern
just through the top of the uncooked egg. At the same time, shake skillet
constantly to keep the egg mixture moving; shake carefully so that the
depth of the omelet remains even. When eggs are set on the bottom but still
shiny and soft on top, remove skillet from heat.
Spoon filling across the center. Using spatula, carefully lift one-third of
the cooked omelet and fold over filling. Tilt skillet; with spatula,
gently fold remaining third of omelet over filling. Invert skillet to roll
omelet onto serving plate. Serve at once.
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