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Dark Chocolate Rose Water Truffles
I have to be totally honest with you, after I passed the age of giving out Valentines at school (which I always adored), I have always found the fact that Valentine’s Day has become a day generally so focused on giving gifts, to just be a tad bit silly. I grew up with my mom saying to us kids every single year without fail, something along the lines of: “I don’t need one special day or any fancy gifts to show my love to you or your dad, I love you each and every single day of the year”. I have to say, I couldn’t agree more with my mother. I have always felt like the holiday was less about love and more about the greeting card industry, the jewelry stores and florists make out like bandits, and besides Easter, I have to imagine this is the biggest day of the year for chocolatiers. I also have to be real here for a sec, I kinda resent that this day has been somewhat stolen by those in monogamist romantic relationships! If it’s a day about love, then shouldn’t we celebrate ALL love? That of the romantic variety but also plutonic friends, parental, puppy-love (like I’m talking your actual pooch), your favorite co-worker, anyone and everyone that you have love for?
Don’t get it twisted, I don’t at all frown upon a day focused on love, how could I? What kind of V-day scrooge that would make me? It’s far from this. Nothing in this world makes me happier than love and I can only wish and hope that every day, every person has the pleasure of experiencing some love on some level, even if just that sweet look of adoration from their pooch on their morning walk. Love should be celebrated each and every day, so a day that puts it at the forefront, this certainly brings a smile to my face. But I say, collectively, we take that energy so many focus into this one single day and we extend it out throughout the year. Do sweet things for one other, share sweet thoughts with the people you love most, tell them you love them, surprise someone with homemade chocolates – these acts of love are are even better on a random Tuesday, not just on February 14th, one time a year.
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, if you want to give gifts, I am, just as any other holiday, very much in favor of those of the homemade variety. I also love the idea of thoughtful actions in lieu of presents and sweet unexpected somethings like breakfast in bed or a homemade meal, traditions, special outings, picnics etc. The gifts that come from the heart, they will, like cupid’s arrow, cut through with such vigor!
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Creamy Tahini Raspberry Rosewater Popsicles
We food bloggers can get pretty serious about our food. Clearly. So much so that at times this adoration might get down right borderline stalker-level, crazy. What the heck am I talking about, are you wondering? Oh no big deal, just this little thing called POPSICLE WEEK!! That’s right, for the third year in a row, our friend Billy of Wit & Vinegar has declared a whole week dedicated to this summer-inspired frosty goodness on a stick.
Considering I have no shortage of love for this frozen treat, as evident of the many popsicle recipes I have posted over the years, I finally decided this year to join the 50+ other food bloggers and get in on all the frosty fun. I decided to pull out all stops and get a little crazy with my popsicles and mix things up a bit.
These Creamy Tahini Raspberry Rosewater Popsicles may sound a little strange to some of you, a bit of an odd flavor pairing for some of you, but you have to trust me. The creamy rich and sweet coconut milk pairs so beautiful with the strong, nutty flavor of the tahini and the rosewater in that layer is the perfect pairing, floral, sweet and delicate. The beautifullly vibrant bottom layer with the tart raspberries brings it all together so nicely and it offers the palate a little something bright and light, to offset the creamy, richness.
