Valentine's Day Dining and Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day dining & gift guide

A Blank Slate Media Special Section • January 30, 2015

30 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

Make the most of your night out this Valentine’s Day Chocolates and flowers may be staples of Valentine’s Day, but many couples take it one step further and dine out on February 14.

According to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’s Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 34.6 percent of respondents indicated that dining out would be part of their Valentine’s Day agenda.

A romantic dinner is an ideal capper for a day geared around love and affection. But Valentine’s Day is a busy night for many restaurants, so it pays to heed the following advice to ensure this special night is memorable for all the right reasons. · Make reservations well in advance.

Dining out is especially popular on Valentine’s Day, so call several weeks in advance to secure your spot. Also, do not underestimate the draw of all types of restaurants on Valentine’s Day. People who were not able to get a table at their first choices may trickle into chain restaurants

or smaller establishments in search of an easy meal. If you think your lesser-known haunt will not be packed, think again. Always play it safe by making a reservation early. · Expect some crowding. Restaurants tend to add extra tables on Valentine’s Day, when they expect an influx of customers.

Dining rooms may be more packed than usual, and you may not have a choice of where you will be seated. Even a reservation does not guarantee you won’t have to wait for a table. Be patient upon arriving at the restaurant, and consider wait time when factoring in childcare. · Be flexible with the menu. Pricefixed menus are commonplace on nights when there will be a large turnover of customers in a short amount of time.

These menus allow restaurants to stock up on the necessary ingredients and cook en masse. Diners may find that pricefixed menus offer a limited selection, and their favorite dishes may not be available.

But knowing this in advance can reduce

feelings of disappointment. Rest assured there should be several options that appeal to different palates. · Be patient with servers. Valentine’s Day is a busy night for staff at the restaurant, particularly servers who must be the liaison between the kitchen staff and diners. The sheer volume of customers can test the skills of even the most veteran servers. Many Valentine’s Day diners do not eat out regularly and will need extra guidance. Servers may be called on to snap photos of couples with cell phones or linger at certain tables. Use idle time at your table to engage in romantic conversation and plan the rest of the evening. · Consider your budget. Diners can expect to pay a premium for dining out on Valentine’s Day. Select a lower-priced

restaurant if your budget is on the smaller side. · Be on time. Being respectful of your reservation will not only benefit you, but also it is a courtesy to fellow diners who will be sitting at your table later in the evening. While you may want to linger over dessert, try not to linger too long. · Promptly store leftovers. If you take a doggie bag home from dinner, stash it in the refrigerator as soon as possible to prevent foodborne illnesses. If you will be going out dancing or to a movie after dinner, it may be best to skip the doggie bag altogether.

Valentine’s Day is a busy night for dining out. Patience, courtesy and flexibility are traits that can keep your evening moving along smoothly

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News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015 • Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide

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32 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

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Greeting card history & etiquette Billions of greeting cards are sold and exchanged each year, and Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular days of the year to give a loved one a greeting card.

The Greeting Card Association says 145 million Valentine’s Day units are sold in the United States each year. The association says seven out of 10 surveyed card buyers consider greeting cards to be essential to them, and are passing on the greeting card tradition to younger generations.

Though the tradition of exchanging greeting cards is still going strong, few may know the history and etiquette behind this time-tested tradition.

Greeting card history The tradition of exchanging greeting cards can be traced back to ancient China, where people exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year. Over time, greeting cards were exchanged for various reasons, and by the 1850s greeting cards were transformed from handmade, expensive purchases to relatively affordable means of personal communication and well-wishing.

Valentine’s Day greetings have been popular since the Middle Ages, when they were sung or spoken aloud to special people. Cards were popularized in the 1400s, and the oldest known Valentine created during this era is on display in the British Museum in London. Valentines were initially made by hand, but by the end of the 1800s, the process of making cards was handled by machinery. Esther Howland, an American printer and artist, was one of the first to publish and sell valentines in the United States. Yet it took a few more years for a card company to manufacture and distribute valentines.

Keeping cards Although there are no rules governing just how long to keep and display a card, most people keep them for five to seven days. Some special occasion cards, such as milestone birthdays or religious rites of passage, may warrant holding on to the card for posterity. However, the length of time cards are kept is entirely at the discretion of the recipient.

Etiquette Sending cards requires a little knowhow. Start out with a high-quality card to show that you value the recipient. If you’re taking the time to send a greeting card, make sure it looks like you put some effort into its selection.

Be sure your card list is continually updated with new addresses and contact information. If you do so regularly, it’s easier to send cards when the time comes.

Ensure greeting cards will arrive on time by mailing them out a week or two before the special day. Few things are worse than a card arriving late and seeming like an afterthought.

Address cards by hand and sign them personally. Although desktop printers can make fast work of card mailings, writing things out by hand is a special touch that indicates you care. Personal greeting cards for close friends and family members may also deserve an extra special touch, like including a custom message or a photograph.

Greeting cards are about expressing sentiments to special people in your life.

They’re popular on Valentine’s Day and all year long to commemorate holidays and special occasions.

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34 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

Best Foods for Valentine’s Day Dining

Enjoying a delicious meal together is popular for couples on Valentine's Day. The National Restaurant Association predicts that more than 70 million Americans will visit a restaurant on Valentine's Day this year. This statistic is what helps catapult Valentine's Day to the second most popular holiday for dining out, preceded only by Mother's Day. Restaurants love Valentine's Day as well, but more for the profits they can bring in and not necessarily for the romance in the air. Many restaurants capitalize on people's decisions to dine out with a special menu -- one that is often a bit more expensive than their traditional fare. That's because price is often no matter when it comes to impressing your Valentine. This year, February 14 falls on a Tuesday, typically a slow day for dining out.

So restaurants will also benefit from added revenue on a traditionally slow business day.

Couples browsing through Valentine's Day menus may want to be selective when choosing their menu options. Certain foods are thought to be aphrodisiacs, which can incite feelings of love and passion later on in the evening. Some of these foods include: • Almonds: The aroma of almonds is purported to arouse passion in women. Antiquity almonds were also once regarded as fertility symbols.

• Asparagus: Going back to the 17th century, asparagus was believed to stir up lust in women and men. It could be because folic acid and a host of vitamins in the vegetable boost histamine production necessary for certain components of amorous affections.

• Avocado: The shape of an avocado suggests something anatomically male, which is why it is often considered an aphrodisiac. Catholic priests in Spain once forbade parishioners from eating the fruit. It is rich in vitamin B6 and potassium, which can help boost energy levels and the immune system.

• Bananas: It's hard to ignore the shape of bananas and how they may seem sexual in nature. But it's not the shape alone that earns

them their status as an aphrodisiac. They also contain chelating minerals and the bromeliad enzyme believed to enhance the male libido.

• Figs: These fruits have long been associated with love and fertility. The look of figs is thought to symbolize female reproductive organs, and Adam and Eve wore fig leaves to cover their private areas. Perhaps the sweet taste is enough to conjure sweet affections.

• Oysters: The high zinc content of oysters is thought to increase libido and sperm production. Oysters are perhaps the best known aphrodisiac food.

While certain foods are known to stimulate romantic feelings, there are some foods that can repel a person away. Avoid these foods when dining.

• Beans: The fiber in beans may result in flatulence, something that can quickly staunch romantic liaisons.

• Garlic: The potent aroma of garlic can come out through the pores when perspiring and remain on the breath even after rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth.

• Notorious gut-busters: If there is a certain food that tends to cause you gastrointestinal discomfort (spicy foods, cream-based sauces, milk products), avoid them at all costs. Your date likely won't want to wait through emergency trips to the restroom.

• Onions: Flavorful, but also strong in aroma, this seasoning may also cause gas to form in the digestive tract. That may lead to some embarrassing bodily noises.

• Seeds and nuts: Small particles of food may become lodged in the teeth and cause a goofy grin when smiling.

Poppy seeds are prime culprits.

Make the most of a Valentine's Day meal out by choosing foods that will put you in the mood for romance and not detract from the special mood of the night.

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36 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

5 thoughtful gifts that don't require much thought Valentine's Day is prime season for florists, with floral sales capturing 40 percent of holiday dollar volume, according to data collected by IPSOSInsight FloralTrends Consumer Tracking Study. While flowers -- particularly mixed flower and red rose bouquets -- may comprise the leading gifts for romantic gifters, many others are looking to buck the flowers-and-chocolate trend this year and offer something more unique.

On the heels of the holiday giving season, most gift-givers realize how difficult it can be finding the "perfect" gift for a recipient. That gift may be even more difficult to find when the intention is to convey love and affection.

But Valentine's Day givers can look to a number of gifts that are very thoughtful but needn't take more than a little forethought.

• Gift card: You may be thinking a gift card doesn't sound that thoughtful.

However, when paired with a listing of gift items, it's easy to illustrate the thought that went into the gift. It may make sense to simply purchase one of those interesting items, but this way you're giving the recipient the choice of what he or she really wants to select.

• Something engraved or monogrammed:A simple scarf turns into something more special when it

includes monogrammed initials or a special saying. The same can be said for anything from a picture frame to candle holders. Taking the time to have something monogrammed or engraved imparts thoughtfulness into the gift.

• Pet accessories: People view their pets as members of the family and often as small children (when small children are not yet present). Especially during the dating stage, providing an adorable gift for his or her pet may be seen as a heartfelt gesture. Be sure to pick up a little something for the pet parent as well, though.

• Hobby gifts: Recognizing the interests of a loved one is a clear sign that you're in tune with what he or she enjoys to do. If you have an avid reader on your hands, a new e-reader or some e-books may be ideal. Sports fans could appreciate tickets to the next home game of their favorite team. Someone who dabbles in culinary creations may delight over a gift basket full of top-ofthe-line cooking utensils.

• A spending spree: Take your Valentine to his or her favorite store and encourage him or her to pick out a few favorite items. Set a price limit or let them choose regardless of price. This way you can spend time together and see the joy on your Valentine's face when he or she is choosing treasured items.

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News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015 • Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide

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38 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

Romantic films to watch together this Valentine’s Day Couples celebrate Valentine’s Day in many different ways. For some the idea of dinner out followed by a stroll arm-in-arm seems the epitome of romance, while others may want to go out dancing or engage in a favorite hobby.

Valentine’s Day also can be a romantic endeavor if a couple chooses to spend time at one with each other watching a romantic movie. The following are a handful of love-inspired movies that can add a special something to Valentine’s Day festivities. · The Notebook: Author Nicholas Sparks has a way of taking the everyday experiences in a person’s life and making them relatable and heartbreaking in a pluck-at-yourheartstrings sort of way. His novel “The Notebook” won the hearts of many and seemed a natural to be adapted to film.

Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, the movie illustrates how love can last through the years and even survive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. · The Proposal: In order to remain in the country, a demanding New York-based book editor (Sandra Bullock) asks her brow-beaten assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. Their tumultuous relationship involves a trip to Alaska to meet his family. · An Affair to Remember: Romantic melodramatic master Cary Grant falls in love with Deborah Kerr aboard a cruise ship while they are traveling with other people.

They agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in six months if they have ended their relationships and are ready to commit to each other. Grant makes it to the rendezvous spot, but an injured Kerr never shows as Grant

assumes she has rejected the proposal. · Say Anything: In pursuit of a woman he believes is out of his social league, Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) creates hope for the underdog in us all. The movie inspired teens to raise their boom box radios over their heads and blast romantic tunes to illustrate their love. · The Wedding Singer: This quirky movie about a wedding singer who falls for a banquet waitress highlights the importance of loving each other for what makes you unique. · Once: Attraction between the main characters comes by way of creative musical collaboration. Music proves to be an aphrodisiac, making the film and the song “Falling Slowly” from its score so popular. This romantic tale helped take the film from the big screen to the Broadway stage. · West Side Story: “West Side Story” is yet another homage to “Romeo and Juliet.” But the film made Shakespeare’s tragic love story relatable to audiences of the 1960s. · My Best Friend’s Wedding: Julianne (Julia Roberts) is called on to be the “best man” for her friend’s (Dermot Mulroney) wedding. Only when the wedding planning is underway does Julianne realize she is in love with her friend and needs to get him to fall for her instead. · Never Been Kissed: A reporter goes undercover at a high school to discover something controversial and ends up being the subject of her story when she falls in love with her English teacher.

· Harold and Maude: A man in his twenties and a much older woman begin a romantic relationship and challenge social norms along the way. · Annie Hall: Winner of four Academy Awards, “Annie Hall” follows a comedian who is trying to maintain his relationship with a woman. · Bridget Jones’ Diary: A modern adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” the movie tells the tale of a selfconscious woman who finds love in a man that seems to be her polar opposite. · Ten Things I Hate About You: Filmmakers reinvented “The Taming of the Shrew” in this teen comedy starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. · Casablanca: No romantic movie list would be complete without this wartime drama. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are in top form in this movie of chance meetings. · The Princess Bride: Girl meets boy, girl detests boy, girl truly loves boy, and then girl loses boy. This fairy tale shares the purity of true love and happily ever after.

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40 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

How to temper chocolate for a Valentine's treat What would Valentine's Day be without chocolate? Candy and chocolate are often exchanged come Valentine's Day. Though store-bought confections might be popular, such gifts can easily be made at home as well.

Chocolate satisfies a sweet tooth, and some researchers believe chocolate is an aphrodisiac. In the 1980s, doctors at New York State Psychiatric Institute explored the possibility that chocolate could be an aphrodisiac. When someone is in love, his or her brain produces a chemical called phenylethylamine, or PEA, which acts a lot like an amphetamine, triggering the hormones norepinephrine and dopamine to create feelings of euphoria. Considering chocolate naturally contains PEA, there is reason to believe that chocolate could also trigger feelings of happiness and love. However, other chemicals might be behind these feelings of euphoria.

Whether this is the case or not, chocolate will long remain a romantic gift, especially on Valentine's Day. Dipped pastries, lollipops and chocolate-covered berries are savory treats that can be whipped up rather easily in the average kitchen.

Simply melting chocolate and pouring it over dessert is one way to go, but to create the shiny, firm finish that professionals achieve requires tempering chocolate.

The act of tempering chocolate

causes the cocoa butter to break down and suspend evenly in the chocolate. This also alleviates the white "bloom" that appears on chocolate when it's exposed to temperature changes. Properly tempered chocolate will be smooth and shiny.

It is possible to temper chocolate at home with a few tools. You will need a food thermometer to measure the temperature. Some people prefer to melt chocolate over a double-boiler, which is

essentially a bowl with the chocolate resting over a pot of gently boiling water. Using the microwave is another way to melt the chocolate. Melt small pieces of chocolate at 10- to 15-second intervals until it is melted, stirring after each time. Dark chocolate needs to reach a temperature of between 114 F and 120 F. Milk and white chocolate need to reach a temperature between 105 F and 113 F. Next the chocolate needs to be cooled.

You can do so by adding more pieces of chocolate and stirring to incorporate them. This is called "seeding." Continue stirring and measure the working temperature. Dark chocolate needs to lower to a temperature of between 90 F and 86 F. Milk and white chocolate need to reach a temperature between 85 F and 81 F. After it has cooled, bring the temperature back up to around 86 degrees and stir again.

Test some of the chocolate with a small piece of parchment paper. Let it sit on the paper for about 2 minutes. If the chocolate sets up firmly and looks glossy, it has been properly tempered. If not, add more chocolate and repeat the process again until it is tempered correctly.

Make sure that no droplets of water come in contact with the chocolate; otherwise it might seize up and not temper properly. Also, start with a good-quality chocolate that is chopped into small pieces so it will melt more easily. Chocolate makers sell small pieces of chocolate known as pistoles, callets or wafers.

Once the chocolate is tempered, be sure to keep it at a consistent temperature of around 100 F to 90 F until you are done working with it.

Chocolate is savory, decadent and a prized gift for Valentine's Day. Properly tempered chocolate is something anyone can do at home.

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News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015 • Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide

Exploring the connection between the heart & love Hearts and Valentine’s Day are forever intertwined. One of the most recognizable symbols of love is the modest heart, and hearts adorn candy boxes and cookies while paper hearts are pinned to doors or windows as a symbol of Valentine’s Day. Young valentines may share candy hearts printed with silly sentiments.

A symbolic heart bears no resemblance to an anatomical heart, and yet it is used to represent the deepest feelings of affection a person can share. Some may wonder just how the emotions of love became tied up in the shape of a heart, even though it’s widely known that the brain, and not the heart, governs affections.

In ancient times, people believed that the heart was the center of all human emotions. Since the heart is prominently located in the center of the chest and the middle of the body, it became the cornerstone of human feelings.

Love is considered to be one of the most profound and strongest human emotions, therefore it was reasoned that the feeling must emanate from the heart.

Surprisingly, the heart has not always been the only organ associated with love.

During the Middle Ages, the heart was deemed a useless organ. Followers of the Greek physician Galen theorized that the liver actually was the seat of the soul and love.

The first depictions of a symbolic heart date back to the 11th century, when the heart was drawn to resemble a pinecone held upside down with the point facing upward. The scalloped heart that is more familiar today first arose in the early 14th century. Around the same time, the heart was depicted with the point facing downward and the indentation at the base.

Naturally, as time passed and more

was learned about human anatomy, it became obvious that the brain was the seat of all emotion and thought processes.

However, as the brain was something intangible in a living body in ancient times, and the beating heart could be much more readily monitored - with a pulse rate speeding up when a person is excited or aroused - it’s easy to see how the link between the heart and love has endured.

Although the human heart is not bright red like symbolic hearts, that was the color chosen. Red has long been associated with passion, so it made sense to depict the heart in a bright red hue.

Many other theories have been offered regarding the symbolic heart and its representation of love. While there’s no definitive correlation between love and hearts, the heart has become an accepted symbol of the emotion and the season of romance.

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42 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015

Valentine’s Day for the kids

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Although Valentine’s Day may be geared toward adults, children are quite drawn to the celebration as well. Perhaps it’s the promise of candy or chocolate that gets their attention, but Valentine’s Day annually appeals to the younger set.

Some couples opt to leave children in the capable hands of a babysitter come Valentine’s Day and enjoy the evening solo. But for those who want to include youngsters in their fun, they can explore the many enjoyable and clever crafts and other activities available.

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Crafts Children can have fun cutting out cupids, making coloring pages or doing just about any other Valentine-inspired craft, like making their own cards.

Another craft idea is to write secret love notes with invisible ink. Lemon juice can be used as invisible ink. Have children write a message by dipping a cotton swab or their finger in lemon juice and then writing words on a white piece of paper. Once the papers have dried, an adult can reveal the message by placing the paper in front of a heat source, such as an iron or a light bulb. The message will magically appear and reveal those secret sentiments.

Children can get crafty by making gifts for the special people in their lives. Combine the concept of valentines with the ambiance of a candle. For an even safer alternative, opt for an LED-flame candle instead of traditional candles.

Kids can glue foam conversation hearts, sold at many craft stores, to the outside of the candle. Wrap the middle of the candle with ribbon, and they’ve just created an easy, heartfelt gift.

Learning games Valentine’s Day can be turned into a learning opportunity for children. One idea is to create an “Attracting Love” game that illustrates the power of magnets and the laws of attraction. Fill an empty glass jar with various items made into heart shapes. These can include small pieces of pipe cleaner, paper clips, paper, and even aluminum foil hearts. Put the top on the jar and shake up the contents. Let children guess which items will be attracted to a magnet, then have them test their theory with a strong magnet rubbed on the outside of the jar.

See which hearts are attracted to the magnet.

Other learning games can include matchKids’ dinner ing or finding the differences between picEncourage the next generation of chefs tures, counting paper hearts or making recipes to create culinary masterpieces, which they of scented modeling dough. can then serve to family members or friends.

Children can even prepare dinner as a token Dessert fun Invite youngsters into the kitchen to try of appreciation to their parents.

Plan recipes with kids in advance, but their hands at different recipes, making sure that they have a chance to sample their handi- look for age-appropriate menu ideas, particularly those that will not require much use of work afterward.

Faux chocolate truffles made with choco- the stovetop or other dangerous kitchen applilate sandwich cookies can be a tasty treat for ances. Kids can always do the prep work and little hands. Start by mashing up some Oreo® then ask an adult to put the food into the oven cookies, then add them to a bowl with one for cooking.

One easy idea is to create heart-shaped 8-ounce package of cream cheese. Mix until everything is incorporated into a sticky batter. hamburger sliders and Valentine-colored Truffles can be made into balls or heart shapes. mashed potatoes. Use red potatoes with the For children celebrating Valentine’s Day and skin on to create the potato mash. The sliders winter fun, turn the truffles into edible snow- can be shaped by hand or using a heart-shaped men. Dip the truffles into melted chocolate or cookie cutter.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner colored candy melts to coat. Place on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet and refrigerate for and the holiday presents many opportunities for children to share in the fun and festivities. an hour, or until the truffles are firm.

News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015 • Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide

43

Delectable desserts set hearts a-flutter Valentine's Day is synonymous with candlelight dinners, romantic movies and delicious desserts. Although chocolate is often standard fare for the day of love, many other treats, including petit fours, can win the heart of a special person.

Although people often believe the term petit four refers to a particular recipe for a dessert, it actually denotes a variety of small desserts. Petit fours are bite-sized pastries generally eaten at the end of a meal or at tea time. The name is comprised of French terms meaning "small oven," which generally means the desserts are cooked at a low temperature in an oven. Petit fours may be "secs," meaning "dry" desserts, including biscuits and puff pastries.

Most are "glaces," or "iced" desserts, such as tiny cakes. These are often the desserts people associate with the name "petit fours."

Cake-type petit fours are traditionally made from an almond flavored sponge cake or an almond genoise.

Other types of cake, such as pound cake, can be used, but the consistency must be firm enough to handle cutting

and filling. The options in fillings and coatings is as endless as the imagination. Some prefer to coat them in fondant, a sugary dough that hardens upon standing and produces a firm, flat surface for decorating. Others like their petit fours covered in chocolate or another candy material.

These desserts are available from many bakeries and retailers. For those who want to treat a Valentine to homemade petit fours, one trick is to bake the batter in mini loaf pans and then cut in half, or use small cupcake tins to achieve the desired, bite-sized shape.

Or bake the batter in a sheet pan and then use cookie cutters to make small shapes. Jams, fruit preserves, frosting, icing, almond paste, and any other fillings can be used in between the layers.

Fondant can be purchased from party and craft stores or specially ordered from cake decorating retailers.

An easy fondant can be made from a confectioners' sugar and marshmallow recipe.

After a romantic meal, serve petit fours with a dessert liqueur for the perfect Valentine's Day dessert.

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44 Valentine’s Day Dining & Gift Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, January 30, 2015