Happy Valentine's Day!

To this day, I do not understand how people can hate Valentine's Day. Even my best friend cannot stand it. Yes, it is a highly commercialized holiday. A big money making day for florists, the greeting card industry and chocolate manufacturers, but that isn't what the holiday is all about. It is to celebrate everyone in your life that you love. I think in the eleven Valentine's Days Michael and I have spent together, I have gotten flowers once. Not because he doesn't remember or doesn't care, but because it isn't important to me. This year, he planned on getting me ESPN; but when we couldn't get a package from Dish Network that we liked, I told him it wasn't worth it. Just the fact he tried was enough for me.
I grew up making homemade Valentine's every year. I don't remember ever buying store bought and just signing my name to them. My mom always said if you make it yourself, it shows that you really care. Anyone can go out, buy a card and sign their name on it, but if you receive a Valentine made by someone, it makes both of you feel extra special. You put a little effort into making something especially for them. I would just as soon receive a handwritten note on a piece of scrap paper as a card from the store.
You don't need a significant other to celebrate Valentine's Day. Don't you love your family and friends? I have fond memories celebrating V-D. My parents never went out for Valentine dinners. My mom always made family meals on Valentine's Day extra special. We had pink heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. There would also be some conversation hearts and maybe a little present. At dinner, we always looked forward to pink milk and pink mashed potatoes. Sometimes we would have red Jell-o with apples or marshmallows. She would make a heart-shaped red velvet cake.
I've carried on my version with my family. Michael thinks pink mashed potatoes are weird, but he humors me. Tate doesn't like potatoes, so we've always had other red foods. Tonight we are having enchiladas and pink milk. I'm not much of a baker, so this morning I made red velvet pancakes and a healthy version, thanks to Chocolate Covered Katie! My favorite pancake recipe from her site is the snickerdoodle. Her Red Velvet Pancakes look so much prettier than mine, so I had to include her picture of them. (If you click the picture, it will take you straight to her recipe.)

My version of Red Velvet Pancakes:

Not the best presentation... they don't look red or even appetizing... but at 6AM, I didn't really care!

(I doubled the original recipe.)

• 8 T flour *
• 2 T whole wheat flour*
• 2 tsp wheat germ*
• 1 tsp plus 1/4 tsp baking powder
• scant 1/4 tsp salt (I never measure salt, just add a few shakes and call it good.)
• 4 T cocoa powder
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• red food coloring
• 2/3 cup skim milk
• 1 T oil
• 4 T sugar
• * Note: The original recipe doubled calls for 4 T plus 2 tsp oat bran, which I didn't have. I didn't know whole wheat pastry flour tastes better/ less intense than regular whole wheat flour, so I split it up between white and my regular whole wheat. I could still taste it, but it wasn't too bad. I also have wheat germ that I bought for a specific recipe. I need to use it, but I never know what to use it in... problem solved! 

So instead of complaining about Valentine's Day, do something special for someone you love. Michael got some homemade cookies (even if they were leftovers from what I baked for Tate's school, lol). Plus it's our regular Tuesday night TV date night. We are having one of Tate's favorite meals for dinner. Mayer, with his extra sweet tooth, got part of a cupcake for breakfast. I should stop and get some Twizzlers for Emma and Remington, a favorite treat of theirs. Thank you for reading! Happy heart day!