Looking out the Window: Love, Romance, Flowers and the Aroma of Chocolate Are in the Air. Giveaway

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

It all started in the Third Century when Roman Emperor Claudius demanded young men not marry because it distracted them from their duties as Roman soldiers. A priest, Saint Valentine, secretly married soldiers to their young brides. Then the Emperor demanded Christians deny their religion and worship pagan gods, but Saint Valentine refused, was arrested and condemned to die.

While he waited for his execution, his jailer asked him to pray for his blind daughter. After she miraculously regained her sight, the jailer and many others were converted to Christianity and were baptized. Before Saint Valentine was executed on February 14, 269 AD, he wrote a note to the jailer’s daughter and signed it “from your Valentine.” *

Mercifully, priests and ministers don’t have to pay such a price today for marrying those in love, or praying for those in need, nor do we have to pay for loving or showing kindness to someone.

Today’s a good day to spread love, give hugs and eat chocolate.

The following Chocolate Eclair Cake comes from the Busy Bee Seniors, characters in Cooking up a Mystery. They are attending Laney's Cooking School, which appears in the back of the book. All of the recipes were donated by members of Mission Love Seeds, a charity in Destin, Florida, which supports children.

Busy Bee Seniors Chocolate Éclair Cake

Ingredients

One box graham crackers

Two small boxes French vanilla pudding

Three cups milk

One cup sour cream

One (8 oz.) container imitation whipped cream

One stick butter

One-third cup milk

One-half cup cocoa

One box powdered sugar

One teaspoon vanilla

Mix milk and pudding together using mixer, until pudding thickens. Mix in sour cream and whipped cream. In a 9 x 13 pan, layer graham crackers, broken in half, and on the edges break in quarters. Pour one-half the pudding mixture on graham crackers. Top with another layer of graham crackers. Pour on remaining mixture and then put on a last layer of graham crackers. Mix butter, milk and cocoa together over low heat. When butter is melted, remove from stove and stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Icing will harden quickly. If it starts to harden, pour in a small amount of milk to get to a pourable stage. Quickly pour over cracker / pudding mixture, or spread ready-to-spread chocolate frosting over top. Store in refrigerator overnight.

Submitted by Jim Llewellyn of Red Lion, Pennsylvania

About Cooking up a Mystery

Laney Eskridge worked to put her husband through dental school. Then he left with another woman. She's on edge from the emotional scars and her parents' deaths. Then she hears unexplained noises in her new tea house, and her anxiety is tripled. Add a budding romance with Eric—a guy with a fear of commitment—and it's all too much to handle. She cuts ties with Eric and plunges into making her business pay off.

When Eric discovers that Laney's in danger, he vows to protect her. But can he make a lasting promise? Will she trust him? . . .and when they overhear a threat that could cause national turmoil, will anyone believe them? There's more brewing than herbal tea in Cooking up a Mystery.

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*Historical information from Inspiration / Ministries

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