The Real Gift Of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is special, not just because we receive flowers and gifts, but because it is a reminder that once upon a time it was illegal for Christians to be wed under the Roman Empire rule. A  Christian Priest refused to follow the law and married thousands of Christians in secret. His name was Valentine.

Today we call him Saint Valentine.

This post is not a history lesson. It is more of an etiquette lesson. More and more this world has made us feel unappreciated and unseen.

Valentine’s Day is the one day where we can freely express our love to make our loved ones feel loved and seen. A great way to do that is to accept your Valentine’s gifts with genuine sincerity and a humble spirit. If your spouse or significant other did not get you enough flowers, candy, or the gift you have been hinting about, please refrain from humiliating or shaming them on social media or with your friends and family.

I urge you instead to try to look at it from your spouse’s perspective. Maybe they are on a financial budget. Maybe they didn’t pick up the hints you were giving, or maybe they wanted to give you something they wanted to give you, instead of something you are making them give you.

Either way, we should be grateful that our partners took the time out of their day to show their love for us.

What if it is a gift I hate?

Etiquette tells us if we have received a gift that we ‘hate’ or dislike, but it is from someone we love that we use or wear the gift three distinct times. We do not regift, nor do we throw it away.

Dear God,
Please let us have humble hearts and spirits on the day of love. Let us know that gifts do not define our love for our spouses/significant others, but our actions do. Let us continue to exercise the fruit of Spirit so we can show our true love to those who need it.- Amen

This Valentine’s Day recipe is sure to smooth over any gift-giving discourse if there has been any. This flourless chocolate cake recipe is divine. Chocolate lovers will adore this dessert. The edges are delicate and crisp, while the center is moist and fudgy. Let me know how it turns out! Happy Cooking!

Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients

6 Tablespoons Unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or 8oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate)
6 Large egg yolks
6 large egg whites
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275F
2. Butter a 9-inch springfoam pan.
3. Place butter and chocolate in large bowl
4. Microwave in 30 second increments. stirring each time. until melted. Cool slightly.
5. Whisk in yolks.
6. In another bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks.
7. Gradually add granulated sugar; beat until stiff and glossy.
8. Whisk 1/4 of whites into chocolate mixture; gently fold mixture into remaining whites.
9. Pour into prepared pan; smooth top
10. Bake until cake pulls away from sides of pan and is just set in the center, about 45-50 minutes.
11. Cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Serve dusted with confectioner’s sugar.
    Serves: 8