Valentine's Day Trivia, a Recipe, and a Special Valentine's Day Giveaway by Loree Lough


I've never been one to pass up an opportunity for some trivia, especially when it concerns the sweetest and most romantic day of the year. So here are a few facts to keep in mind this Valentine's Day weekend:

- In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

- The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.

- Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentine’s Day candy box in the late 1800s.

- Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy", on Valentine's Day, 1876.

- The oldest surviving love poem till date is written in a clay tablet from the times of the Sumerians around 3500 BC.

- In Medieval times, girls ate unusual foods on St Valentine's Day to make them dream of their future husband.

And it wouldn't be a proper blog post without a recipe included! Here's one of my favorite cheesecakes:


Loree's Favorite Cheesecake





Ingredients:
  • 2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
  • 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine, melted
  • 5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 5 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1⁄3 cup whipping cream 
  • 1 teaspoon finely shredded rind of lemon


Directions:

1. For crust, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.

2. Stir until well combined.

3. Press onto bottom and about 2-1/2 inches up the sides of a 9x3-inch springform pan.

4. Mix cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla.

5. Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy.

6. Add eggs and egg yolks, beating on low speed just until combined.

7. Stir in whipping cream and lemon peel.

8. Pour into pan.

9. Place pan in a shallow baking pan in the oven. (Does not mention anything about a water bath)

10. Bake in a 325 degree F oven about 1-1/2 hours or until center appears nearly set when shaken.

11. Cool 15 minutes.

12. Loosen crust from sides of pan.

13. Cool 30 minutes more; remove sides of pan.

14. Cool completely.

15. Chill 4 to 24 hours.

16. If desired, garnish with fresh berries.

VALENTINE'S DAY GIVEAWAY!


This month we're hosting a special Valentine's Day drawing, featuring Loree's talented daughter's hand-crafted wreaths! Simply visit Elice's Etsy page (link below), choose ANY wreath that strikes your fancy (a $40 value!), and tell us why that's your favorite in the comments box below. If your name is chosen in our random drawing on MARCH 1st, 2016, we'll send the wreath of your choice directly to your home! So be sure to check back often. And yes, you can enter more than once!

Good luck!
 
 

About Loree:

With nearly 6,000,000 books in circulation, best-selling author Loree Lough's titles have earned numerous 4- and 5-star reviews and industry awards. She splits her time between her home in Baltimore and a cabin in the Alleghenies (where she loves to show off her “Identify the Critter Tracks” skills). The release of Sweet Mountain Rancher (#2 in the “Those Marshall Boys” series for Harlequin's new Heartwarming line) brings Loree’s number of books in print to 105! Loree loves to hear from her readers and answers every letter, personally. Visit her at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and www.loreelough.com!


Comments

  1. It appears I will be baking this weekend! Thank you for sharing the recipe. Your daughter makes beautiful wreaths!

    Happy Valentine's Day weekend everyone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you make it, they will come! I think you'll enjoy this cheesecake, Kate. I know our family is crazy about the recipe!

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  2. The Wreaths are beautiful. How could anyone pick just one? Hope everyone has a perfect Valentine's Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, Marion, if your name is drawn, you might have to! Good luck and happy Valentine's Day!

      Delete
  3. Um, yummy sounding recipe. And the wreaths are superb. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and thanks for the trivia about the day, Loree.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wishing you a great weekend and a happy Valentine's Day, too Roz!

      Delete
  4. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I might make that for my father, he loves cheesecake.
    The wreaths are beautiful, and what a great idea. I typically think of wreaths only for the holiday season.
    Happy Valentine's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I shared your opinion, Jill, and only decorated with wreaths at Christmastime. Now, I change 'em up seasonally, and even repairmen comment on them! Good luck in the drawing, and here's hoping you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

      Delete
  5. Your daughter makes stunning wreaths. I always have a wreath on my door for different holidays. I love her Valentine's wreath. Do you know how hard it is to find a wreath for Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day, Memorial Day?
    Thanks for the recipe. Hope mine will turn out as good as yours.
    Happy Valentine's Day!!!
    Carol Smith
    penelope223(at) yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elice is a talented young woman, all right! Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day and luck in the drawing!

      Delete
  6. How fun it would be to have wreaths for all the holidays! Love the trivia. Interesting how far back Valentine's Day goes. I didn't realize "Cadbury" had been at it quite so long. No wonder those chocolates are so divine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true, Carol...with all that history, no wonder the company is such a hit! Wishing you a beautiful weekend and a happy Valentine's Day!

      Delete
  7. The cheesecake looks delicious! You have a very talented daughter! The wreaths are all awesome. I really liked the Valentine one with the roses, but I would be happy with any of them, the are all beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the Valentine's Day wishes and compliments on the kid, Pam. Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a very happy Valentine's Day...and good luck in the drawing!

      Delete
  8. I love trivia too and I want to know what the 3500 BC poem says.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Valentine's Day gift to you, Shirley...a link to that ancient poem:

      http://wisdomquarterly.blogspot.com/2012/04/sumerian-worlds-oldest-love-poem.html

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, a Happy Valentine's Day, and luck in the wreath drawing!

      Delete
  9. Loree - Love the trivia, and I'm with Shirley, Would love to know what it says! Thanks for the recipe - will try to charm my neighbor into making it for me if I buy the ingredients. I also always have a wreath on the door for various holidays. Your daughter is so talented!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can copy and paste this link into your search bar to find and read the poem, Muriel! Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day and luck in the wreath drawing!

      Delete
  10. Cool, I'm with Shirley. What does the BC poem say…

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am so jealous of your daughter's creativity. I tried making wreaths once. It wasn't good. I'm not the arts and craftsy person. I love, love the fall wreath with the sunflowers. It reminds me of my grandmother. She used to decorate her house with sunflowers.

    Did you know Arizona's birthday is Valentine's Day? We were inducted into the union on Feb. 14, 1912. Just a little more trivia for you. And thanks for the cheesecake recipe. I can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know that about Arizona, LeAnne! Thanks for sharing that Valentine-y bit of our country's history! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, a happy V-Day, and luck in the drawing!

      Delete
  12. These wreaths are gorgeous, Loree! Your daughter is so talented! Loved the trivia, and that recipe has me craving cheesecake. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear ya, Cerella...I've been craving cheesecake since I dug out that recipe! Hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend and a happy Valentine's Day, my talented friend and blog partner!

      Delete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deleted because I posted it in a comment box, rather than replying to Cerella's post. (Somebody pass the coffeepot, please?)

      Delete
  14. Hi Loree, I have wreaths that I change out for every season for my front door. I just love the Valentine - In the pink Valentine wreath that your daughter made. It has a victorian look to me it is so pretty. Thanks for the chance to win one. I wish that I could be more motivated to make my own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have that same wish, Darlene! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, a happy Valentine's Day, and much luck in the drawing!

      Delete
  15. Pretty wreaths and yummy looking dessert! Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

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  16. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too, Amy!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cheesecake is my favorite, beautiful wreaths . Your daughter is quite talented like you loree. Love your books

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful wreaths! The summer beach wreath is fun... When I started decorating my living room I had a beach cottage in mind.

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  19. EEEK! I'm two days late, announcing the winner of the GRACE YOUR DOOR wreath! Drum roll, please... Carol Smith, if you'll private message or email (loree@loreelough.com) your address, I'll get your heart wreath into the mail! CONGRATULATIONS!

    ReplyDelete

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