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valentine’s day
As Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, it is time to think of a perfect women’s clothing to commemorate such a special night. Most women wear lingerie for that most romantic night; a night that can spark and rekindle any lost or unheated relationship again.
Most women are looking for a lingerie that will keep her partner drooling all over her. However, buying lingerie for Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily mean it is for someone to look. Some women, even if they are single, buy lingerie for themselves.
Lingerie can be a sign of self-love and self-recognition. Moreover, it is not bad to sometimes feel attractive. Such can boost your self-esteem, confidence for yourself and a source of body empowerment. It is important to find as many ways as possible for you to show yourself love, especially those who are single during Valentine’s Day.
Nevertheless, buying lingerie for yourself or for someone you love with Valentine’s Day in mind can be quite exhausting and frustrating. Though there are so many exciting, elegant and beautiful types of lingerie in the market, looking for that perfect match is quite troublesome.
The Perfect Lingerie for Me
https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-blur-body-bra-230590/
There are many types of lingerie you can come up. Some women would want something lacy, silky or wearable. Thinking of all the possible style of underwear can overwhelm you too much and eventually leave you hanging. You can either use a sporty set or a chic kind of underwear depending on your mood.
To start off, one of the all time favorites wore by women during Valentine’s day without being uncomfortable is a soft, cotton, lace lingerie. Use the kind of top without underwires so it won’t poke you while you can use a bottom that features an elastic-free leg hole.
If you are not a fan of lace or silk kind of lingerie, you can use a classic cotton as an alternative. This lingerie is a pullover style with wireless cups, racerback straps, and scoop neck. It also comes in different colors such as red and black.
There is more to Lingerie
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-strapping-her-body-of-american-flag-113709/
Though wearing special lingerie in such a particular and romantic night for the love of your life, there is a deeper meaning to wearing such clothing. Because we live in a society dictated by standards and norms only created by the likes of us, such rules become distorted.
Some women don’t have the guts to wear lingerie because of the indoctrination of body shaming. Body shaming is prevalent in our culture, and often women are pushed to feel shame and remorse towards her body.
Women shouldn’t be judged singularly on aspects of physical appearance because there is more to a woman than just beauty. That is where lingerie comes in. Wearing lingerie gives women the sense of acceptance and confidence about her body. In short, it emanates body empowerment.
If you accept your body entirely to allow yourself the pleasure of looking for and finding the right match of lingerie that fits all in the right places and expresses your original personality, then that would be the right match of lingerie for you.
Takeaway
Single or not, buying and wearing lingerie is a decision only a right woman filled with confidence can do. Women may prefer a lace or silk kind of lingerie or vintage cotton lingerie, however, whatever kind of underwear you wear as long as you feel comfy, attractive and confident with it.
There is more to wearing underwear during Valentine’s Day. It is not just an act of affection to the love of your life, but an act of acceptance and body empowerment for women. Women are mostly judged on aspects of physical appearance and often gets objectify because of it.
However, the act of wearing lingerie is a sign of acceptance of your body and a decline of any act of judgment from people. The important thing is that you can express your style through what you wear and show how confident you are.
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Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter got married on Valentine’s Day, the actor’s publicist has confirmed.
The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony with family and close friends on the Isle of Wight.
Guests at event are said to have included Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman.
Sophie Hunter, 36, first met Benedict Cumberbatch, 38, when they appeared together in the 2009 film Burlesque Fairytales.
Benedict Cumberbatch shunned the token celebrity Instagram post to announce their engagement in an eight-line notice in the Times newspaper in November.
He has been shortlisted for an Oscar for his role as mathematician and Second World War code breaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.
Benedict Cumberbatch previously dated actress Olivia Poulet and designer Anna Jones.
A new winter storm bought snow and dangerously high winds to New England for the fourth time in less than a month on Valentine’s Day.
The region has already seen more than 6 feet of snow in some areas.
A blizzard warning was in effect for coastal areas from Connecticut to Maine through February 16 in the morning, promising 8 to 14 inches in southern New England up to 2 feet in Maine. A bone-chilling blast of cold will follow, with lows of minus 10 degrees forecast in some areas Sunday night.
National Weather Service meteorologist William Babcock said road conditions will be dangerous as steady, widespread winds whip the relatively dry snow around.
“On Sunday, the best thing people can do is stay home, stay indoors,” he said.
Hesaid gusts could max out at 75 mph — hurricane territory — on Cape Cod. Officials warned of possible power outages, and north-facing or vulnerable coastal areas could suffer flooding and beach erosion, the National Weather Service said.
The bad weather spanned several states — winter storm warnings extended west into Michigan and Ohio, where whiteout conditions led to a pileup on the Ohio Turnpike that killed at least two people. Another crash involving several tractor-trailers was reported on Interstate 70 just west of Columbus, and a storm-related crash on the New York Thruway south of Buffalo killed one person.
In New England, transportation officials took many precautions. Boston’s Logan International Airport said more than 250 Sunday flights were already canceled, and none was scheduled Sunday morning. And the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority canceled all rail, bus and ferry service in the Boston area on February 15.
Gov. Charlie Baker urged drivers to stay off roads during the storm, but he stopped short of an outright travel ban.
Crews worked urgently to remove the massive amounts of snow that clogged streets and triggered numerous roof collapses.
Massachusetts called up hundreds of National Guard troops to assist with snow removal, and the Hanscom Air Force base outside Boston became a staging area for heavy equipment pouring in from eight other Northeast states to help in the effort.
In southern New Hampshire, where up to 18 inches of new snow could fall, employees at a tree service volunteered to clear the snow from the roof of Londonderry South Elementary School. With the weather promising to show little love on Valentine’s Day, Governor CharlieBaker on Friday proclaimed “Valentine’s Week” in Massachusetts and encouraged people to celebrate the holiday by buying gifts and dining out all next week.
Business groups said weather-related travel woes have cut into sales by up to 80% for some restaurants and retailers leading up to Valentine’s Day, a holiday that usually generates about $500 million in business.
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Benedict Cumberbatch and his fiancée Sophie Hunter are set to get married over the Valentine’s weekend.
The couple is expected to tie the knot in a private ceremony with family and close friends in the south of England.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter shunned the token celebrity Instagram post of an engagement ring to announce their engagement in a small notice in the Times newspaper back in November.
Sophie Hunter, 36, first met Benedict Cumberbatch, 38, when they appeared together in the 2009 film Burlesque Fairytales.
Benedict Cumberbatch has been shortlisted for an Oscar for his role as mathematician and Second World War code breaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.
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In some parts of the world like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia or Indonesia, celebrating Valentine’s Day with flowers, chocolates or a glass of wine could result in severe punishment.
While Valentine’s Day is celebrated by many Indonesians, officials and Muslim clerics are less happy about the holiday.
In recent years there have been protests from conservative Indonesians, saying Valentine’s Day is un-Islamic.
They argue it promotes casual s** and the drinking of alcohol.
India
A number of political parties in India have criticized Valentine’s Day, arguing it promotes Western values and is unwelcome in India.
India used to be part of the British Empire until it declared independence on August 15, 1947.
In 2015, the Indian Hindu nationalist party Mahasabha said that they would encourage couples spotted out together on Valentine’s Day to get married, and will actually have a religious leader on standby to perform marriages.
Other groups have said that celebrating romance would encourage teenage pregnancy and instead pushed for Indians to ditch the idea of romance between boys and girls and replace Valentine’s Day with a celebration of the love between parents and children, a “Parent’s Worship Day”.
The idea began on religious leader Asaram Bapu’s website.
Indonesia
The Asian country has the world’s largest Muslim population, but is a secular nation, meaning that the government says it is neutral and neither supports nor disagrees with religion.
However, in the province of Aceh, the only place with Islamic rule, celebrations are banned as is the sale of gifts.
Photo Getty Images
Iran
While giving chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s Day is increasingly popular in Iran, in the past authorities have sought to crack down on celebrations, calling the day a “decedent Western custom”.
Despite this restaurants in Tehran reported being fully booked last year and many shops could be seen selling teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.
This was in spite of being threatened with prosecution if they sold traditional Valentine’s Day gifts.
According to the Economist, shops simply used lookouts to tell them if inspectors were coming on a Valentine’s Day patrol.
Malaysia
Last year, 80 Muslims were arrested by the Islamic morality police for celebrating Valentine’s Day.
They think Valentine’s Day encourages immoral activities.
Officers raided budget hotels in the central state of Selangor and capital, Kuala Lumpur, detaining unmarried Muslim couples who were sharing rooms.
The anti-Valentine’s Day campaign by the country’s Islamic authorities goes back to a fatwa (religious ruling) issued in 2005.
However, many Malaysians still celebrate the day and other faiths are not affected by the Valentine’s Day boycott in the country.
Additionally not all Malaysian Muslims agreed with the campaign, with some saying Valentine’s Day is harmless.
Muslims make up nearly two-thirds of the 28 million-population.
Pakistan
In 2014, there were clashes at a university in Peshawar over Valentine’s Day.
Liberal students were celebrating with red balloons and cake while another group felt such a show was un-Islamic.
Dozens of students threw rocks in the scuffle, leading to gunshots being fired by both sides and rooms in a student dormitory being set on fire.
Three students were injured and stones were thrown at police.
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, Valentine’s Day is banned by the kingdom’s religious police.
Women and men sit separately in restaurants and public displays of affection are taboo.
However, some shops continue to sell red roses and other traditional Valentine’s presents.
One shop owner described how Valentine’s Day orders are placed over the telephone to avoid detection and flowers are hidden in the back of the store.
Last August, the decision to sentence five Saudis to a total of 39 years in prison, as well as 4,500 lashes between them, was upheld.
The men had been found dancing with six women they were unrelated to on Valentine’s Day. Alcohol and red roses were also seized.
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Canadian police have foiled a plot to carry out a mass shooting in the Halifax area on Valentine’s Day.
Three suspects were arrested and a fourth reportedly shot himself dead after police surrounded his home.
At least two suspects had intended “to go to a public venue… with a goal of opening fire to kill citizens, and then themselves”, police said.
Police officials said the motive did not appear to be terrorism, without providing further details.
Brian Brennan, commanding officer of the Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the plot had involved a 19-year-old man from the Halifax suburb of Timberlea and a 23-year-old woman from the US state of Illinois.
The two, he said, had had access to firearms.
When police went to arrest the 19-year-old man from the Halifax suburb of Timberlea, he killed himself, a senior police official told AP news agency on condition of anonymity.
A 20-year-old Canadian man was arrested along with the woman at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The fourth suspect, a 17-year-old Canadian boy, was arrested at a house.
The roles of the latter two suspects were still to be determined by investigators, police said.
Brian Brennan said he would describe the alleged plotters as a “group of individuals that had some beliefs and were willing to carry out violent acts against citizens but there’s nothing in the investigation to classify it as a terrorist attack”.
“I can tell you that it’s not culturally based,” he added.
Police believe they have apprehended “all known individuals in this matter and eliminated the threat”, he added.
According to the official who spoke to AP, the man who killed himself had told them he had no guns but he shot himself as he was coming out of the house.
The suspects had been on a chat stream and were apparently obsessed with killing and death and had many photos of mass killing, the anonymous official added.
Steven Blaney, the minister for public safety, said the arrests were a “great example of the fine work they do on a daily basis to help keep Canadians safe”, Canada’s CBC News reports.
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- A single rose of any color means love at first sight, utmost devotion to a single person
- Two roses entwined together communicate: “Marry me”
- Three roses stand for the three words in “I Love You”, and seek to convey this very simple yet powerful message
- Five roses say: “I love you very much”
- Six roses signify a need to be loved or cherished
- Seven roses communicate: “I’m infatuated with you”
- Nine roses say: “Together as long as we live”
- Eleven roses assure the recipients they are truly and deeply loved
- Thirteen roses indicate a secret admirer
- 99 rose say: “I’ll love you till the day I die”
- 100 roses signify a happy union of two loving souls till death or till a hundred years: “I’m totally devoted to you”
- 101 rose say: “You’re my one and only”
- 108 roses signify a marriage proposal: “Will you marry me?”
- 999 roses say: “My love will last till the end of time”
- 1001 roses speak of a faithful love that will live on forever.
A rose is not just a rose. The symbolism of rose colors is steeped in tradition. These flowers inspired people over thousands of years to develop a language of color – flower meaning dictionaries were quite popular during the Victorian.
When you choose a color, you are personalizing your gift with deeper sentiment.
Use this guide to help communicate your feelings if you give flowers this Valentine’s Day:
Red roses – Love
Burgundy (red dark) roses – Unconscious beauty
Pink roses – Grace, Appreciation, Thank You
Purple roses – Enchantment
White roses – A heart unacquainted with love
Peach roses – Modesty
Orange roses – Fascination, Desire
Yellow roses – Infidelity
Yellow with Red tip roses – Friendship, Falling in love
Kim Kardashian revealed her Valentine’s Day surprise on Instagram as she posed lying down with her legs in the air while surrounded by many bouquets of red roses.
“A thousand roses,” Kim Kardashian captioned the picture.
Kim Kardashian revealed her Valentine’s Day surprise on Instagram
Kim Kardashian, 33, looks thinner than ever while striking the seductive pose in a skin-tight black dress and sky-high stilettos.
It appears the person likely responsible for this over-the-top display of affection is Kardashian’s fiancé, Kanye West.
“Nothing better than being with my love on Valentine’s day! Happy Vday dolls!” Kim Kardashian tweeted on February 14.
Tori Spelling reportedly celebrated this year’s Valentine’s Day with her girlfriends and children.
Tori Spelling, 40, shared photos on her ediTORIal blog of how she’s been keeping busy crafting with her kids and partying with pals.
“This year, I decided that I wanted to do something special for my girlfriends for Valentine’s Day. So, I invited my girls over to the house and threw an Asian inspired Valentine’s Day Tea!” Tori Spelling wrote on her blog earlier this week.
“The afternoon was full of crafting, cooking and celebrating. We had so much fun sipping tea, enjoying dim sum and making (and eating) our own fortune cookies.”
Tori Spelling shared photos on her ediTORIal blog of how she’s been keeping busy crafting with her kids and partying with pals
Tori Spelling shared a photo of herself looking festive and happy wearing a homemade pink kimono and sipping from a cute teacup.
On February 14, Tori Spelling posted a blog about the sweet Valentine treats she made with her eldest children – Liam, 6, and Stella, 5 – for them to bring to school.
“They made homemade party poppers – such a fun and easy craft that you can do with your kiddos,” she wrote.
She also included a cute photo of Liam and Stella wearing red shirts and proudly showing off their party poppers.
Tori Spelling appears to be in good spirits this holiday, despite the fact that husband Dean McDermott is currently seeking treatment in rehab.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, here is a compilation of scenes where the Duck Dynasty couples are being sweet and romantic.
Phil Robertson and Miss Kay have a wonderful and loving marriage
Check out this amazing Duck Couples compelation video: http://aetv.us/1eVTrIs
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Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson sported a special bandanna to celebrated this year’s Valentine’s Day.
Willie Robertson sported a special bandanna to celebrated this year’s Valentine’s Day
Check out this amazing Duck Couples compelation video: http://aetv.us/1eVTrIs
White Chocolate Cheesecake with White Chocolate Brandy Sauce
Ingredients (10-inch cheesecake)
White Chocolate Cheesecake:
4 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs, room temperature
White Chocolate Cheesecake with White Chocolate Brandy Sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
White Chocolate Brandy Sauce:
2 cups finely chopped white chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
2 fluid ounces brandy
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C). Wrap the outside of a 10-inch springform pan with foil. Grease the inside of the pan.
- Place the cream cheese, sugar, and flour in a mixing bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape bowl.
- Melt 4 ounces of the white chocolate. With an electric mixer on low speed, mix melted white chocolate into cream cheese mixture. Keeping electric mixer on low, slowly beat in the vanilla and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Blend well. Pour mixture into the prepared springform pan.
- Place cheesecake pan in a water bath filled with warm water. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 50 to 60 minutes, or until center of the cheesecake is just firm. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Refrigerate until set before removing from pan.
- To make White Chocolate Brandy Sauce: place chopped white chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Pour 1 cup cream into a saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Watch carefully so it doesn’t boil over. Pour hot cream over chopped white chocolate; let soften for 2 minutes. Stir with a wooden spoon until melted. Add brandy and continue stirring until incorporated. Pour over chilled cheesecake and serve.
A Chinese man launched an anti-Valentine’s Day campaign by buying up odd-numbered seats at a cinema in Shanghai to stop couples sitting together.
Others joined his online campaign and now there are no two seats together for the main showing of Beijing Love Story.
The man who started it all said it was just a joke and hoped couples would understand.
The campaign focused on a cinema in Shanghai’s fashionable Xintiandi district, an older part of the city full of shops, restaurants and bars.
The unnamed man started buying up odd-numbered seats at a cinema in Shanghai to stop couples sitting together
It was orchestrated by a man who split up with his girlfriend last year and decided to get his revenge on couples by targeting the prime-time showing of Beijing Love Story.
He bought odd-numbered seats and, within hours, others followed his lead.
The story was picked up by a number of Chinese newspapers, which showed a graphic of the cinema’s seating plan with no room for couples to cuddle up together.
The man behind the campaign said he hoped people watching the Valentine’s Day show at the cinema on Friday might find themselves sitting next to someone they do not know, sparking new relationships.
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Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry has designated northern Georgia a “NO VALENTINE’S DAY ZONE” in a post on the department’s Facebook page Wednesday night.
Men are “exempt from having to run out and buy lottery scratchers and Hershey bars from the corner stores until February 18, 2014, due to ice, snow, freezing rain,” the tongue-in-cheek post said.
Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry has designated northern Georgia a NO VALENTINE’S DAY ZONE
It’s all in fun. But rescheduling the festival of lovers to Tuesday would give the ice-storm battered region time to get roads back to normal and make Valentine’s Day a safer affair.
Though it sounds like a pretty practical safety suggestion to motorists, it was more likely something else that drove Sheriff Scott Berry to the decision.
“I think he was just trying to cut the monotony,” dispatcher John Ogle told CNN.
Deputies have been practically snowed in at the office for a marathon 34-hour shift, and the sheriff wanted to give them something to smile at, John Ogle said.
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Strawberry Shooters
Ripe strawberries filled with amaretto and whipped cream
Ingredients:
1 (750 milliliter) bottle amaretto liqueur
Strawberry Shooters
1 (1 pound) fresh strawberries, hulled and cored
1 (7 ounce) can whipped cream
Directions:
Pour amaretto liqueur into each strawberry and top with whipped cream.
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Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients (1 9 x 13-inch dish):
Pastry Shell:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs
Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Filling:
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
Chocolate Ganache:
1 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
Directions:
- Preheat an oven to 400 F (200 C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place a mixing bowl in the freezer to chill.
- Combine the water, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the flour. Cook and stir until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Spread the dough evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Bake the pastry in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. (The dough will rise and make a boat shape, but should drop as it cools.) Cool completely on wire rack.
- Remove the chilled mixing bowl from the freezer and pour in 2 cups of cold whipping cream. Whip until the cream thickens, about 1 minute; stir in the confectioners’ sugar and the vanilla extract. Continue to whip until the cream forms stiff peaks. Refrigerate the whipped cream while you mix the pudding.
- Pour the pudding mixes and the milk into a mixing bowl and stir until creamy. Fold in the whipped cream. Spread the filling over the cooled crust and refrigerate.
- Place the chopped chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Bring 1 cup of cream almost to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and allow it to soften for 1 minute. Whisk the mixture until smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly to thicken, about 10 minutes. Pour the ganache over the cream filling, spreading to cover the entire surface. Return the pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Ingredients (9 inch cheesecake):
1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
1/2 cup water
2 cups white chocolate chips
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
- In a saucepan, combine raspberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to boil, and continue boiling 5 minutes, or until sauce is thick. Strain sauce through a mesh strainer to remove seeds.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt white chocolate chips with half-and-half, stirring occasionally until smooth.
- In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and melted white chocolate. Pour half of batter over crust. Spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over batter. Pour remaining cheesecake batter into pan, and again spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over the top. Swirl batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from pan. Serve with remaining raspberry sauce.
Sweetheart Cupcakes
Ingredients (2 dozens cupcakes):
1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Sweetheart Cupcakes
3 egg whites
8 drops red food coloring
2 drops raspberry candy oil
Directions:
- Preheat an oven to 350 F (175 C). Line a standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
- Beat the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and egg whites together on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium for 2 minutes, until smooth. Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full with white batter; set aside.
- Stir 4 drops of red food coloring into the remaining bowl of batter to make the batter pink, stir in the raspberry oil. Pour 1/3 of pink batter into a resealable plastic bag and set aside.
- Mix more food coloring into the remaining bowl of pink batter until it is an orange/red color and pour the batter into a resealable plastic bag. Cut a corner off the bag, stick the open tip into the center of each cup of white batter and squeeze in about two tablespoons of red batter.
- Cut the corner off the bag with the pink batter, stick the open tip into the center of the red batter and squeeze about 1 tablespoon pink batter into each cup.
- Bake the layered cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
Ingredients (14 servings):
1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C).
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together crushed vanilla wafers, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and butter by hand. Press ingredients into a 9-inch springform pan.
- In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips, making sure that they are very smooth.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy with an electric mixer. Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth. Mix in melted chocolate, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are thoroughly blended. Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
- Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 minutes. The cake will seem underbaked in the center, but will continue to cook after you remove it from the oven.
- Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for several hours before serving.
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Ingredients (20 cupcakes):
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 fluid ounce red food coloring
Red Velvet Cupcakes
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with 20 paper baking cups.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, red food coloring and vanilla. Stir in the baking soda and vinegar. Combine the flour, cocoa powder and salt; stir into the batter just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter and frost with desired frosting.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients:
16 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Directions:
- In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
- Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
- Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.
Justin Bieber is to be arraigned on February 14 on charges of DUI, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license.
Justin Bieber, 19, does not have to attend the Valentine’s Day court date, where prosecutors will formally file charges and a plea will be entered.
He was arrested last week in Miami Beach for participating in what police called an illegal street drag race.
Justin Bieber is to be arraigned on February 14
Justin Bieber was released from custody after posting bail of $2,500.
The singer will have his case seen by Judge William Altfield of the Miami-Dade County Criminal Division on February 14.
He appeared in court last week via video link and has since been seen on holiday in Panama.
It is claimed Justin Bieber had been racing a yellow Lamborghini against a red Ferrari in the early hours of Thursday.
Khalil Sharieff, the driver of the other car, was also arrested after being reportedly found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
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