It happens once a year. Some dread it and watch horror films with their like-minded buddies, while others look forward to it as an opportunity to spend some quality time with their loved ones. Regardless of whether you are on the edge of your seat waiting for Freddie Kruger to make an unwelcome foray into some innocent teenager’s nightmare or are perfecting your best come-hither look, participating in some form of special activity on Valentine’s Day is virtually unavoidable. Fortunately, there is one activity to which everyone can look forward and that triumphs over all others: Eating good food.
In an effort to raise money to fund an Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans, second-year College student Danielle Barnes came up with the idea of putting together a cookbook that would be a perfect — and practical — addition to anyone’s kitchen. Barnes said the idea behind the book was to “involve the U.Va. community in something it can actually contribute to and have a final result.” The cookbook, entitled “Poetry — Recipes — Romance: An Evening for Two,” is a compilation of student-submitted recipes and poems.
The concept of the cookbook, Barnes said, is to enjoy cooking a full meal with or for someone special — with some poetry to add to the romance. It also offers a nice alternative to typical Valentine’s Day gifts. “Cookbooks are way sweeter than chocolates and teddy bears,” Barnes said. Fourth-year College student Graham Evans, the site leader for the ASB trip, added that the goal was “mainly to do something different and interesting. The poetry provides something special that people can enjoy and share together along with the food.”
Something different indeed, as Barnes and other participants of the ASB trip — third-year Architecture student Carla Jones, first-year College student Andrea Brennan and third-year College student Michelle Ferng — completely handmade the books. The cookbook is made up of a tea-colored cardstock cover and light beige pages, bound together with hemp. It has 30 original recipes, including appetizers and side dishes, entrees and, perhaps most importantly, desserts.
With recipes compiled with romantic poetry — a four-to-one recipe-to-poem ratio — to set the mood, the cookbook offers students much more than what they would normally get at just another bake sale. The poetry submissions are mainly public domain poems, in addition to a few original pieces the submitters wrote themselves.
“I recently have been getting into poetry and think it can really add richness to the magic and romance of everyday life,” Evans said.
Furthermore, the recipes included are not your ordinary cake recipes. Some submissions, such as the “Avocado Pie,” are sure to be crowd-pleasers, as well as head-turners.
Avocado Pie
Ingredients:
1 graham cracker crust
2 medium avocados
14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
a pinch of nutmeg
Directions:
Place peeled and pitted avocados, milk and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Pour into crust. Sprinkle nutmeg on top as desired. The pie should be chilled an hour before serving. Serves as a dessert for two, midnight snack and/or sweet morning treat.
While the cookbook’s intended romantic influence makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day, contributors agreed that it is practical for any occasion. “My friends and I are always watching Paula Deen and making dinner for each other, so it’s really an ingenious idea,” fourth-year College student Hannah McCollester said.
Although cooking may not be on the top of every college student’s to-do list, the creators of the cookbook hope it will be successful. “I hope people buy it, if only for their sake. They will be surprised to see how much use they get out of it,” second-year College student Rachel Burns said. Burns contributed two dessert recipes: “Bombshell Brownies,” which she claims are always a hit, and the “5-minute Chocolate Mug Cake”, which she added to go along with the romantic theme. “It’s a cake you make in a mug so it should be perfect for two.”
Regardless of whatever this Valentine’s Day entails for you — whether it is a romantic date or casual movie night — good food is always appreciated. For those who have the luxury of a kitchen, a good cookbook can make any night of the week a tasty one.
“It’s always good to have recommended recipes on hand,” Burns said. “And some of the recipes are not just for two — most of them are geared towards small groups of people, which is perfect for college students.”
So whether you want to impress a certain someone or simply want to have an impromptu get-together, the use of a good cookbook goes beyond just a holiday.
“Most cookbooks have themes, so Valentine’s Day is just that,” Burns said. “My roommate and I enjoy making dinner for each other and so we will probably use it regularly — regardless of what day it is.”
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