{"id":9636,"date":"2015-02-12T16:36:53","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T16:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=9636"},"modified":"2025-02-12T13:11:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T18:11:45","slug":"old-fashioned-valentines-day-treats-sweets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/old-fashioned-valentines-day-treats-sweets.html","title":{"rendered":"Old Fashioned Valentine\u2019s Day Treats & Sweets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena\u00a0Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to find Valentine\u2019s Day menus and recipes that our ancestors enjoyed. Gena\u00a0 is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.<\/span>\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Valentine\u2019s Day is Saturday, and one item associated with that holiday is food. According to the website History, it was after 1840 that Valentine\u2019s Day became associated with gift giving. British chocolatier Richard Cadbury introduced the idea of \u201ceating chocolates,\u201d a byproduct from the making of drinking chocolate. He even designed boxes for the candies to come in. He\u2019s credited with creating the heart-shaped box that served as a beautiful gift package for the chocolates and provided a storage place for memorabilia.*<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s on your Valentine\u2019s Day menu? Will your gift shopping involve the traditional heart-shaped box, or will you settle for a quiet night and a home-cooked romantic meal? If you\u2019re having a night in, there are plenty of ideas for Valentine\u2019s Day-themed foods in old newspaper articles to inspire you.<\/p>\n

Valentine\u2019s Day Menus<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 1928 Valentine\u2019s-theme menu includes two gelatin recipes, one savory and one sweet: a heart-shaped salad and a strawberry souffl\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\"recipe<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 11 February 1928, page 11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"recipe<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 11 February 1928, page 11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like other holiday foods, Valentine\u2019s Day food is associated with certain colors, mostly red and pink. This old newspaper article from 1951 proclaims that \u201cFood for Valentine\u2019s Day is probably as much fun to prepare as for any party because it is so pink and pretty.\u201d While that may or may not be true, there\u2019s no doubt that most people like the types of food described in these recipes, namely cookies and pie. The cookies described here are fairly easy to make, using a devil\u2019s food cake mix as their base. Red food dye, cranberry sauce and heart shapes help the meringue add to the dessert tray.<\/p>\n

\"Valentine<\/a>
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 12 February 1951, page 13<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This 1941 Nebraska newspaper provides three possible menus for a Valentine luncheon, all with a different dessert. Depending on which menu you choose you could have \u201cstrawberry ice cream in meringue shells,\u201d \u201cred raspberry chiffon pie,\u201d or \u201cmaraschino ice cream and petite fours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Add<\/a>
Omaha World Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), 31 January 1941, page 17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Start with Oysters & Salad, Then Eat Candy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Probably one of my favorite Valentine menus found in the newspaper is this one from 1915 entitled \u201cQueen of Hearts Cook Book.\u201d In this early 20th century menu, oysters served on heart-shaped croustades are followed by a Love Apple Salad. From there the couple can have St. Valentine Sandwiches cut into heart shapes, and then they can move on to a dessert of heart-shaped candies dipped in chocolate. Of course like many Valentine menus, the ability to make all kinds of food heart-shaped is imperative. In this case the author instructs for the sandwiches: \u201c\u2026you will need a heart-shaped cutter which can be bought for about five cents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"recipe<\/a>
Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 14 February 1915, page 40<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Obviously Valentine\u2019s Day is the perfect time to serve heart-shaped foods. That tradition continues today and even my local pizza restaurants get in on the action by serving heart-shaped pizzas.<\/p>\n

Bring on the Chocolate<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sure you can buy chocolate candies \u2013 but why not whip up a chocolate dessert?<\/p>\n

In this 1977 collection of recipes, those who love chocolate can choose either Chocolate Amaretto Kisses or Thicker No-Egg Chocolate Cake. While there is a recipe for His Valentine Cookies which can be served with either jam, jelly, caviar or grated cheese, my guess is the men might prefer the Myers\u2019s Jamaican Rum Pie.<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), 10 February 1977, page 86<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"recipe<\/a>
Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), 10 February 1977, page 86<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"recipe<\/a>
Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), 10 February 1977, page 86<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"recipe<\/a>
Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), 10 February 1977, page 86<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"recipe<\/a>
Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), 10 February 1977, page 86<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you have a traditional, old fashioned Valentine\u2019s Day recipe? I\u2019d love to hear about it. Please share in the comments below.<\/p>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

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