DIY- Getting Ready For Valentine's Day

Here are some DIY projects for Valentine's day. There's a little bit of everything, cooking, crafts and some useful heart templates! Enjoy!


Blackberry Pistachio Napoleons

Active time 15 minutes

Total time 30 minutes plus cooling

Makes 2 servings

 
Don't these blackberries look delicious?

1/2 sheet frozen puff pastry

(6" by 12"), partially thawed

3/4 c. ricotta cheese

3 Tbsp. confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Pinch grated orange or lemon peel

1/4 c. roasted salted pistachios, shelled and chopped(save
some whole nuts for the final)

1/2 pt. blackberries

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line small cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cut pastry into four 3" by 6" rectangles; place on prepared cookie sheet, spacing 2" apart. With fork, pierce pastry all over. Cover with another sheet parchment paper and small cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Remove top cookie sheet and parchment paper. Bake 2 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Pastry can be kept uncovered at room temperature up to 3 hours.

3. While pastry bakes, in medium bowl, stir together ricotta, pistachios, 3 Tbsp. sugar, vanilla and orange or lemon peel; set aside. Ricotta mixture can be covered and refrigerated up to 1 hour ahead.

4. To assemble: Spread ricotta mixture on 2 rectangles pastry. Arrange blackberries in single layer on  ricotta mixture. Top with remaining 2 rectangles pastry. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar. 

I used lemons because I had them. You can also use oranges.

I use a pizza cutter to cut the puff pastry.

This is what the pastry looks like in the oven.

With lemon zest, ricotta, pistachios & sugar.

 
Here is the ricotta mixture.

All golden brown & ready to come out of the oven.

Ready to be spread.

Here they are ready to eat. They were really delicious!

YUMMY! Anything with puff pastry is grand (I think)...

DIY - Valentine's Rock + Folding Heart

Here is a previous Valentine's post I did. 
It shows how to make a Valentine's rock (like below) and a folding heart. 
Take a peek here.

 
One Valentine's Day, I sent these to all my friends. This is the one I made for my godfather. 
These are heavy to mail, I forgot about that!

One of my favorite Valentines involves using wax seal!


DIY - Gift Wrapping

Pile of  Valentine's Day gifts ready to be wrapped!

Why not use bow tie pasta for one of your packages?

 Print your own wrapping paper, use whatever suits you but make it special!

Use brooches on the top of the wrapping. It makes them much more intimate.
I got these at a flea market. Keep your eye peeled for good ones.

Use part of the gift on the outside.

I thought this zipper tape was so clever!

 Use bow tie pasta as a bow + use a page from an old book as wrapping paper.

Here they are ready for Heart Day :)

 Heart Templates

Here are some heart templates. I thought they might be helpful.

I adore Valentine's Day. Can you tell?

Dear readers, which one did you like best?
Let me know!




Love,


Peggy

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