Valentine's Day Party Recipes

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach. ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Today I'm sharing some recipes from my Modern Priscilla Cook Book, published in 1924. Valentine's Day parties with kids are so much fun. Decorations are easy: hearts, heart and more hearts. Cut them from doilies and construction paper, add ribbons, a roll of crepe paper in pink or red and you are good to go. I have some neat recipes that will work for get togethers with kids or adults this weekend.

Sweet Cider Punch

1 cup sugar
1 pint water
3 lemons
1 quart cider
1 pint grape juice

Place the sugar in the water and boil for ten minutes, adding a little of the lemon rind. When cold add juice from lemons, then add cider and place in freezer. Freeze to a mushy consistency. When frozen, mix in the grape juice. Serve in tall glasses. Dilute with cold water if too strong. Serves 20.

Notes: I would serve this in small punch cups or even paper cups in a Valentine's theme. It would serve far more that way, and less chance of spills.

Raspberry Mint Punch

1 sprig mint
1/2 cup ripe raspberries
1 quart lemonade

Bruise the leaves and stems of the mint, and crush the berries, putting them in the ice cold lemonade at least two hours before serving. Strain before serving. 6 servings.

Notes: If you don't grow mint it's almost always in the grocery store. You don't need much. I see no reason not to use frozen raspberries.

Chocolate and Mocha Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour milk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla
2 squares chocolate
1/2 cup boiling water

Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs, milk, flour mixed and sifted with the soda. Add vanilla then the chocolate, melted, to which hot water has been added. Bake in layer tins in a moderate oven, 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes. 12 servings.

Mocha Filling and Icing

1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons coffee infusion (very strong coffee)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cream sugar and butter. Boil cocoa and coffee for three minutes, cool, and add to first mixture. Add vanilla.

Cake Notes: Sour milk can be made by putting in a tsp. of vinegar to the milk and letting it sit for a few minutes. It doesn't say, but the cake is for two layers-- so bake in two round cake pans.

Frosting Notes: If you are making this cake for kids and don't want to use coffee you can make it the same and just use water. Or use a buttercream frosting instead.

Chocolate Cocoanut Cookies

2 tbsp. butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoanut
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour
8 tsp. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, cocoanut, milk and flour mixed and sifted with other dry ingredients. Add vanilla last. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased tins and bake for 15 minutes in a 350 minutes. Makes 36.

Notes: I'd check the cookies at ten minutes. Ovens bake differently and 15 minutes will be too long for some.The spelling of coconut was how it was spelled in the cook book.

For more Valentine's Day recipes visit OFL here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/lovecookies.html

~Brenda