By: Ayla Valone

Valentine’s Day is a day that we are all supposed to show love and affection to the people we care about, and what’s a better way to say, I love you, than homemade treats? Not everyone is great and comfortable with giving gifts on Bae Day but a simple sweet treat isn’t too extravagant and they are always easy to make. The Squire interviewed Family and Consumer Science teacher, Mrs. Alexander, about how she celebrates Valentine’s Day and what food she makes for this particular holiday.

Lots of people enjoy the many perks of having someone special to celebrate this day with. It is important to show the people you care about all the love you have for them, and people celebrate in many different ways. After interviewing Mrs. Alexander, we found out she actually doesn’t even celebrate on the actual holiday; she and her husband wait until the weekend after. She explained she prefers to do this because it’s easier to plan something on the weekend than during the middle of the week, plus everything is cheaper after the holiday. Even though Mrs. Alexander is an expert in the kitchen, she actually thinks that the holiday treats are not very important. She believes that the most important part is showing someone you love and care about them. Spending time with them is the best way to spend the day.

An easy, cute, little treat to make for that special someone is cake pops! These are perfect for a discreet treat that will surely grab someone’s attention. To start, you are going to need lollipop sticks, 12oz of melting chocolate, one tub of vanilla frosting, one box cake mix of your choice, and Valentine’s Day sprinkles. Next, bake the cake according to directions on box, and after removing from oven, let cool completely. After cooled, break up the cake into smaller pieces and put them in a stand mixer. Add about ¾ of the frosting to the broken cake and mix. After the cake is mixed, it should look somewhat doughy and pliable. Shape the dough in your hands to create a ball. Make sure the ball is no bigger than a tablespoon or else it will be too heavy for the lollipop stick. Cool the balls in the fridge for about an hour, and, in the meantime, melt the chocolate either in the microwave or a double boiler. When the cake balls are completely cooled, stick them with the lollipop stick about halfway through the ball. Dip the balls in the melted chocolate and put them back onto the parchment paper. Then, drop some sprinkles on them and cool once again after the chocolate is completely hardened. Now they are ready to eat!

Chocolate covered strawberries are a classic, but what if I told you that you could put a twist on it to make them look even more appealing? The Squire did a twitter poll on what everyone’s favorite Valentine’s Day treat and chocolate covered strawberries seem to take the top of the list, so we are going to show you how to make them. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Take the strawberries and remove the stem, then cut them in half. Put a toothpick through the bottom of them. Melt your chocolate and dip the hearts into the chocolate and let them cool in the fridge. This is optional, but, when slightly cooled, you can put another type of chocolate drizzle over the top to make them look more decorative. Take them out in about 20 minutes. Remove the toothpick and you are ready to serve your chocolate covered strawberry hearts.

So don’t be afraid to make those sweets for that special someone because food is probably the best present to receive and probably the most effective gift. Head over to the store and buy some