Valentine’s
Day is in the air…or on the shelves rather. Even though it is a holiday based entirely on
commercialism (what holiday isn’t these days?), I can’t help but admit that I
have always loved Valentine’s Day. Not just because of all the fru fru that
comes with it, but because it splits up a long, cold Nebraska winter. It’s that
bridge between the Christmas holiday season and spring. When I was little, my
school always had Valentine’s Day parties in grades K-6 and I would
meticulously construct my Valentine box to set on my desk. I would love when
the holiday finally rolled around, and we got a break from classroom
instruction and could eat sugary snacks and open Valentines from everyone in
the class. The boys I had crushes on
always got more stickers or candy in their Valentines! I also had older sisters
in high school at any given point (being the youngest of six) and frequently
would receive balloons or giant sugar cookies to my classroom at the end of the
day. There was a brief awkward time in junior high when childhood parties were
no more, and boyfriends were non-existent. I would rely on my friends to cheer
me up in those years. Then high school rolled around, my last couple years
providing me with a boyfriend, which meant you had everything; someone to get
you presents to brag about to your friends, and someone to take you “out on the
town!”
Now that I
am “grown-up” and married with a little guy of my own, I see it in a totally
different way. I don’t expect big, grand gestures for this holiday. I would
much rather save those things for our wedding anniversary, a day that is mostly
only special to us. However, I do love making treats for my family and
expressing how much I love them, even though I say it to both of them every
single day. This lets my husband off the hook; having a wife that is happy with
a card and lounging on the couch watching movies with our almost four-year-old.
Last year consisted of a “Wall-E” viewing on the Disney Channel, and me making
crock pot hot lava cake. That was it. And it was wonderful! This year,
Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday and there is no way I would ever try to go
out on a weekend night. If we do, it will end up being the neighboring small
town at the local steak house, then home.
This year
for my “new” dessert, I will make a cake that my husband and I came up with
together. For my mother-in-law’s birthday in December, I made a cake I found on
Pinterest called a “Red Velvet Poke Cake”. It is a red velvet cake with
cheesecake pudding. Chill over-night, and top with Cool Whip and crushed up
Oreos. It was fantastic! This new cake is along the same concept, and also
super easy.
Strawberry-Vanilla
Poke Cake
Strawberry Cake Mix (bake as directed)
I always
add a little sour cream, applesauce or Greek yogurt for moistness.
41/2 Cup Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 Container Cool Whip
Graham Crackers
Caramel Ice Cream Topping
Fresh Strawberries
Bake cake as directed on box. Remove from oven and poke many
holes in cake. Mix up vanilla pudding with 2 cups of milk and pour over cake.
Refrigerate overnight. Top with Cool Whip, crushed up graham crackers, and
caramel ice cream topping. Add fresh strawberries! Enjoy!!
Cake with poke holes. |
This was absolutely yummy! Cake is dense though, so be ready
to share with friends!
The finished product! |