 |  |
|
Welcome to Celtnet's St Valentine's Day Recipes Page — This is a continuation of a series of pages on the history of certain occasions and the recipes associated with that occasion. This page details the story of St Valentine as well as why Februar 14th became the saint's feast day and is, today associated with lovers. You will learn about the various practices and beliefs associated with Valentine's day, as well as finding out about some of the traditional recipes that you can cook to celebrate St Vaentine's day.
|
In English-speaking countries Valentine's day is the traditional day, celebrated on February 14th on which lovers display their affection for one another by sending cards, gifting chocolates and flowers or preparing romantic meals.
However, the origins of Valentine's day is something of a mystery. It seems to have grown in popularity in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished and is probably named after two amongst the many early Christian martyrs bearing the name 'Valentine' who were buried along the Via Flaminia road connecting Rome with Rimini.
Indeed, the name 'Valentine' does not occur in the very earliest list of Roman martyrs, as compiled by the Chronographer of 354. In fact, the feast of St. Valentine itself was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among those '... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God'. As Gelasius implied, nothing was known, even then, about the lives of any of these martyrs, and Saint Valentine that appears in various martyrologies in connection with February 14 is described either as:
A priest in Rome
A bishop of Interamna (modern Terni)
A martyr in the Roman province of Africa
Which means that, of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia north of Rome on February 14.
The name Valentine (or Valentinus in Latin) derives from derived from the Latin valens (worthy), and was a common name in Late antiquity. Of the various early Christian martyrs bearing this name our first candidate for St Valentine of Valentine's day is Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) was a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about 269 CE and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
The first representation of this Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle, (1493); alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime.
An almost certainly apocryphal tale has grown around him, where Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter whom he healed by restoring her sight — and who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.
The second candidate is Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae). Valentine of Tern became bishop of Interamna (modern-day Terni) about 197 CE and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).
No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the fourteenth century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost.
The Early Medieval acta of both Saint Valentines were excerpted by Bede and briefly expounded in Legenda Aurea (Golden Legend). According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer. However, the Legenda Aurea provides no connection whatsoever between St Valentine and romantic love.
Ancient PracticesIn Roman times, there was a festival, Lupercalia observed February 13 through 15; an archaic rite connected to fertility. However, Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general Festival of Juno Februa, meaning 'Juno the purifier' or 'the chaste Juno', was celebrated on February 13–14.
It has been commonly thought that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to Christianize celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia, and that a commemorative feast was established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, of those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God," among whom was Valentine, was set for the useful day. However, there is no direct link between the Roman traditions and the later Christian traditions. Indeed, the links between romantic love and St Valentine's day do not appear until the time of Chaucer in the late 14th century.
The earliest surviving valentine is a fifteenth-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his "valentined" wife. At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415.
In 1797, a British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained scores of suggested sentimental verses for the young lover unable to compose his own. Printers had already begun producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches, called 'mechanical valentines', and a reduction in postal rates in the next century ushered in the less personal but easier practice of mailing valentines. That, in turn, made it possible for the first time to exchange cards anonymously, which is taken as the reason for the sudden appearance of racy verse in an era that was otherwise, at least on the surface, prudishly Victorian.
From Greek times it was known that the heart pumped blood around the body. They also observed that the heart pumps faster when the person is agitated or excited. As a result the heart was divined as the seat of emotions and feelings. Poets eulogized the rôle of he heart in the feelings of love and romance. Over the centuries the association between the heart and love became very deep seated. Blood, of course, is red and is the vital fluid pumped by the heart. So the colour read itself became a proxy for the heart and for the love felt by the heart.
As a result the caricature of the red heart, red cloth and red roses became traditional Valentines symbols. Often it's the red heart pierced by cupid's arrow that is used as a Valentine symbol. This expresses the vlunerability of love in that Cupid's arrow can induce love between two people, but that the act of love also lends the lovers prone to rejection and hurt. Thus the piercing arrow symbolizes the vulnerability of love.
This association is maintained today with heart symbols on Valentine day cards and red heart-shaped boxes of chocolates or red roses given as gifts. Even for those organizing romantic dinners damask tablecloths, napkins and decorations as well as romantic red candles are a must.
Often, foods considered to be aphrodisiac are included in many Valentine's day recipes. Below is a list of aphrodisiac foods that you might wish to base a Valentine's day meal upon:
Asparagus; Almonds, Avocados; Bananas (particularly the sap of the red banana); Basil; Rocket (Arugula); Truffles; Coffee; Dark Chocolate; Coriander (Cilantro); Honey; Vanilla; Liquorice; Raspberries; Carrots; Ginger; Ginseng; Garlic; Figs; Wine (Particularly Champagne); Strawberries; Celery; Ginkgo; Lettuce; Oysters; Saffron; Artichokes; Tomatoes (from the French term pomme d'amour); Passion Fruit.
For those planning romantic meals during Valentine's day here are some recipe suggestions to take you from Breakfast to dinner, as well as ideas for making your own chocolates and gifts:
Breakfast Dishes:
Black Forest Ham with Fresh Figs Chocolates and Treats:
Starters:
Main Courses:
Accompaniments to Main Courses:
Deserts:
Tea Time and Cakes:
Links to Recipes Using Aphrodisiacs
Below you will find links to varous recipes on this site that use one or more of the plant and fruit aphrodisiacs listed above:
Almond-based Recipes When thinking of cakes, everyone automatically imagines a recipe for baking. Yet, for hundreds of years before ovens became ubiquitous cakes were being steamed rather than baked. Here you will find a recipe for a classic steamed cake that you can prepare anywhere, even on the barbecue or whilst camping. Wow your friends by giving them a freshly-steamed cake the next time you go camping. Ghana is one of the most fertile and productive of West African countries. It is also the inheritor nation of the Ga and Ashanti poeples, ancient rulers of West Africa. The cuisines of Ghana are diverse and characterized by he use of chillies, native spices and boiled eggs in the cooking. Here you will find two typical Ghanaian recipes. Chicken is perhaps one of the most versatile meats available to the cook. Partly because chickens grow quickly but also because chicken meat, if cooked properly, remains tender and succulent during the cooking process. Chicken also lends itself to a vast array of cooking methods from stewing to roasting. Here you will learn a little about chickens and chicken meats along with two classic chicken recipes. Pork and Aubergine in Hot Sauce is a classic Chinese dish, heavily influenced by the cuisine of Sichuan, China, with its use of hot chilli sauce and mouth-tingling Sichuan pepper (actually a citrus fruit rather than a true pepper!). Learn the secrets of this simple but delicious dish today. Barbecuing, or cooking meat directly above a flame, is a very traditional cooking method and probably represents humanity's oldest cooking technique. There is nothing like a summer outdoor barbecue and here you will find recipes for a classic kebab and sticky ribs both designed to make the most out of barbecuing. Nigeria has a very vibrant and dynamic culture and this is reflected in the country's food. Staples remain stews ('soups' in West African parlance) and staples based on grains, cassava flour and millet. Here you will see two authentic Nigerian recipes to help you gain a flavour for this country's cuisines. Ethiopia is one of the most ethnically, geographically and religiously divers countries in the World. Indeed, it's one of the world's oldest countries and the second country to have become officially Christianized. Ethiopian cuisine is also unique and wholly native and here you will find a taster of that cuisine, with a classic bread and stew combination. Liberia is a West African country formed by freed slaves. It is one of only two African countries never to have come under European rule. Liberia is also one of the few African countries with a tradition of baking. Sitting alongside these are ingredients sourced directly from the rainforest. The main course is the most important part of any formal meal, with preceding courses leading up to it. Here you will learn a little more about main courses as well as how they developed in Ancient Rome. In additional a recipe for a classic Roman main course is provided. Beef is a very flavoursome meat, as long as it is well matured, but it does have the cachet of being expensive and to be used only as a treat. Partly this is due to the history of beef as a high-status ingredient. Partly it's due to the cost of the better cuts. But you have a whole animal to consider and this article takes you through the history of beef eating and gives you a recipe for both the best and one of the poorer cuts of meat.
The Modern Day
Valentine's Day and the Red Heart
Valentine's Day Recipes:
Strawberry Ambrosia Muffins
Asparagus, Poached Egg and Pine Nut Salad
Fruit Smoothie with Ginseng
Ginseng Banana Muffins
Champagne with Strawberries
Wild Love Cocktail
Sweet Chocolate Raspberry Hearts
Dark Chcolate Meringue Kisses
Apricot Sweetmeats
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ginseng Cookies
Raspberry Romance Cocktail
Caviar Heart Kisses for Valentine's Day
Oyster Stew
Angels on Horseback with Prunes
Angels on Horseback
Asparagus Salad
Salmon and Asparagus Mousse
Georgian Asparagus Soup
Asparagus and Crab Strata
Steak Diane (if desired, trim the steaks to heart shapes first).
Gower Peninsula Oyster Broth
Roast Cod with Sea Beans and Oyster
Fried Oysters with Chilli, Smoked Prawns and Peanut Sauce
Oysters Mombassa
Asparagus Risotto with Black Truffle Coulis
Asparagus Risotto with Jus de Viande
Baked Cod with Ginger on Asparagus
Valentine Pork au Poivre
Veal Chops Valentino
Sinful Valentine's Pork Chops
Black Cherry and Black Pepper Lamb Chops with Sweet Pea Risotto
Stuffed Veal Chops
Stir-fried Beef with Ginseng
Ginseng Steamed with Chicken Drumsticks
Double Heart Pizza
Rosemary Pesto Crusted Lamb Valentine Steaks
Valentine Lamb Steaks with Avocado and Sour Cream
Perfect Valentine Steaks with Root Vegetables
Rack of Lamb with Olive Crust
Love Me Do Prawn Pasta
Rosemary-grilled Lamb Loin Chops with Cranberry and Apple Relish
Asparagus au Gratin
Endive and Asparagus Gratin
Asparagus in Egg Sauce
Stir-fried Rice with Ginseng Threads
Strawberry Flan with Redcurrant Glaze
Strawberry Galette
Silky Chocolate Pudding
Apricot and Almond Charlotte
Apricot Bombe
Apricot Sorbet
Coeur á la Crème with Apricot Sauce
Apricot Crumble
Sticky Guinness Pudding
Raspberry Truffle Tart
Chocolat Pots de Crème
Passionfruit Sorbet
Passion Fruit and Rum Sorbet
No-cook Chocolate Silk Tarts
Golden Apple Pie with Rum Sauce
Lady Portarlington Chocolate Cake
Rich Chocolate Cake
Double Chocolate Cake Mix Cake
Sweet Chestnut Flour, Hazelnut and Chocolate Cake
German Chocolate Cake
Devil's Food Cake
Devil's Food Cake II
Strawberry Palmiers
Gala Apricot Cheesecake
Apricot Torte
Drum Cake II
Traditional Sachertorte
Meringue Hearts
Valentine's Day Chocolate Cheesecake
Apricot-based Recipes
Artichoke-based Recipes
Asparagus-based Recipes
Avodcado-based Recipes
Banana-based Recipes
Basil-based Recipes
Carrot-based Recipes
Celery-based Recipes
Chocolate-based Recipes
Champagne-based Recipes
Coffee-based Recipes
Coriander (cilantro)-based Recipes
Garlic-based Recipes
Ginger-based Recipes
Ginkgo-based Recipes
Ginseng-based Recipes
Honey-based Recipes
Lettuce-based Recipes
Liquorice-based Recipes
Oyster-based Recipes
Passion fruit based Recipes
Raspberry-based Recipes
Rocket (Arugula)-based Recipes
Saffron-based Recipes
Strawberry-based Recipes
Tomato-based Recipes
Truffle-based Recipes
Vanilla-based Recipes
Recent Articles
How to Bake Without an Oven
The Recipes of Ghana
Making the Most of Chicken - Chicken Recipes
Pork and Aubergine in Hot Sauce
Traditional Barbecue Recipes
The Recipes of Nigeria
The Foods and Recipes of Ethiopia
The Recipes of Liberia
The Origins and Importance of Main Courses
Cooking with Beef - Making the Most of Beef Cuts
Latest Forum Posts
click here for the full story
printer version