Today on DelmarvaLife –
Dr. Curt Watkins, an Allergist/Immunologist with Peninsula Allergy & Asthma is also here to explain what happens to the body when someone has celiac disease.
Brian Spicer, the president of Spicer Brothers Construction, is here to talk about mental health, and some of the struggles so many people live with every day. He’s also here to tell us about the “Hear me out” campaign which is meant to end the stigma of mental illness.
Bringing the past to the present. We sit down with WBOC’s Chris Weimer, who’s been working on a story about a young man in Millville, who has an appreciation and a passion for “the way things used to be.”
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, but we know that finding the perfect gift for your sweetheart is easier said than done. That’s why we sent 102.5 WBOC’s Corey Phoebus to Vernon Powell to check out some of this year’s neat gift ideas.
Imagine starting a business with your best friends, seeing its success and then finding out just walking in the door will make you sick. That’s a true story for a Princess Anne woman named Bridget Perry of Ugly Pie. We’ll meet her and learn about the diagnosis that shattered her dream. We’ll also find out how she’s picking up the pieces and moving on.
We are in The Kirby And Holloway Kitchen this afternoon, helping you add that extra touch to your Valentine’s Day Celebration. Personal Chef Deborah Lee Walker is here to show us how to put together “My Sweet Valentine.”
My Sweet Valentine
My Sweet Valentine is a unique Valentine’s Day centerpiece that is embellished
with cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, and fresh flowers. The versatility
of this recipe is it can be arranged according to personal preference and purpose
intended.
For example, the recipe can be adjusted to include red roses and chocolate-covered
strawberries for your significant other. The centerpiece can also be used as a
display for your Valentine’s Day desserts. In addition, the straightforwardness of
the box cake mix and canned icing allows kids to join in on the fun.
The art of entertaining is to create an atmosphere of merriment and to show your
guests how easy it is to host celebratory occasions. My Sweet Valentine is easy to
make and at the same time makes a stunning presentation. Enjoy!
My Sweet Valentine
Ingredients
3 to 5 large, beautiful strawberries
1 (16 oz.) microwavable tray of chocolate CandiQ
For The Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries:
1. Heat CandiQuik candy coating according to instructions on package. Hold
the greenery on the top of the strawberry and carefully dip the strawberry in
the
chocolate. Hold the dipped strawberry over the microwavable tray and allow the
chocolate to drip in the tray.
2. After 1 minute, carefully insert the sharp tip of a bamboo skewer into the base
of the strawberry to form a hole. Then remove the skewer and place the dull end
into the hole that was just formed. Place the skewered strawberry, sharp tip
down, into a section of Styrofoam to complete the drying process. Repeat this
procedure for the remaining strawberries and refrigerate.
* There will be leftover chocolate CandiQuik. Place it in a Ziploc bag and store
in a cool place for future use.
For The Bamboo Skewers That Will Support The Cupcakes:
3. Using a hot glue gun, allow wax to drip onto the bamboo skewer approximately
3-inches from the blunt end. Keep turning the skewer so the wax builds up on
the same spot. You will be making a “ledge” for the cupcake to rest on.
Otherwise, the cupcake will slide down the skewer.
4. When the wax starts to dry, about 1 minute, place the skewer (sharp tip down)
into a section of Styrofoam. Allow wax to completely dry (20 minutes) before
placing cupcakes on the skewers. Repeat the process for the number of
cupcakes you intend to use.
For The Cupcakes:
5. Bake cupcakes in cupcake liners according to instructions on the package.
Allow cupcakes to cool completely before icing.
6. Using a piping bag and decorative tip, pipe icing onto cupcakes. Use different
tips for a more festive look.
7. Carefully pick up a cupcake, leaving the cupcake liner intact, and insert the
sharp tip of the skewer into the base of the cupcake. Then remove the skewer
and place the dull end into the hole that was just formed. Place the skewered
cupcake, sharp tip down, into a section of Styrofoam; your cupcake is ready for
assembly.
* You will have leftover cupcakes. I am sure they will not go to waste.
For The Assembly Of My Sweet Valentine:
8. Cover terracotta pot with red-aluminum flower pot wrapping paper.
9. Using a sharp knife, cut the Styrofoam and fill the terracotta pot. Try to keep
the pieces as large as possible; fill in any gaps with smaller pieces. Leave a
1-inch space from the top of the pot.
10. Place tin foil (centered) over the top of the pot and fold the sides down. This
will leave an indentation of the pot’s perimeter on the foil; turn the outer
edges of the foil inwards creating a circular disk. Place the tin foil disk over
the Styrofoam, this will keep the Styrofoam from touching anything edible.
11. Remove the filling from the cookies. Using a rolling pin, crush the cookies
into a powder. The cookie powder represents dirt. Place cookie dirt on top of
the tin foil disk. Allow an ¼-inch of space between the top of the pot and the
cookie dirt. (For a 6-inch pot you will need approximately 2/3 of the cookies).
12. Starting at one end of the pot, arrange flowers, cupcakes, and chocolate-dipped
strawberries, working your way to the other side. Once completed, add a few
Valentine’s day decorative ornaments and a sprinkling of edible 14-karat gold
Dust.
The DelmarvaLife Valentine’s Day Giveaway is underway! How great does this grand prize sound? A one-night stay at the Hyatt Place Ocean City/Oceanfront, a gift card from Boxcar40 for dinner for two, a dozen roses from Flower Box by Little Nika, Edible Arrangements “Send Some Love Daisy” bouquet, & a $100 gift card to VP Shoes – Vernon Powell. Enter the DelmarvaLife Valentine’s Day Giveaway for your chance to win: http://www.delmarvalife.com/valentines-day-giveaway/#//
