We kept our powder dry, our hearts warm, and our options open

The news outside the window was not good

We Webers experienced a variation of venue regarding our Valentine's Day celebrations.

As in, we had planned to pack a picnic and sortie after church for a classic Sunday afternoon drive, our destination being Hopelands Gardens an hour's drive away in Aiken, South Carolina, where we would wander the grounds and take pictures after enjoying our lunch.

Aiken is one of my favorite places to visit in our fair state, Hopelands being the primary reason.

Me and my valentine ... summer of seventy-nine

However.

Although this is rarely the case, on Valentine's Day 2021 the weather was not inclined to be conducive to outdoor activities.

The wet and cold settled in on Friday and has not left the region yet. Although it isn't raining currently, it's bleak and cold, with more precipitation expected later tonight.

We were forced to change direction

Valentine's Day was an all-out soaker, in Columbia as well as in Aiken.

Our planned menu was all picknicky and definitely designed for fairer weather: my now-famed ham salad (yes; I made it for the second time in as many weeks), served on soft buns, with sides like deviled eggs and chips and so forth.

Also I was going to make a from-scratch Perfectly Chocolate Cake, using the recipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa can.

Cinnamon hearts and candy pearls led the way

But when Saturday dawned cold and rainy, with Sunday slated to be a great big sloppy copycat, we switched gears.

I invited everyone to my house for basically the same fare, except I ditched the deviled eggs and decided to make something special in the oven to go along with ham salad sandwiches and chips.

After Sunday morning church, everyone made their way to my door through pouring rain.

It's not a party without Audag

We were six seven: TG and me, Chad and Erica with Cutie Peanut Porter on board, and of course our Audrey and Dagny.

I had done most of my shopping on Friday and most of my cooking on Saturday: ham salad in the morning and chocolate cake in the afternoon.

I'd looked for red heart-shaped sprinkles with which to decorate the top of my cake, but finding none, gave up and came away from the store with nothing.

I decorated more than the cake

Audrey had looked elsewhere on Saturday and found red heart-shaped cinnamon candies, and texted me a picture, offering to get them, but I turned her down.

My reasoning was that cinnamon candies would not taste good with chocolate cake.

On the way home from church yesterday, however, I regretted that decision.

Hearts all over the place

Because, craving your approval, I wanted to show you pictures of my chocolate cake and it seemed unseemly to leave it plain.

So I asked TG to stop at Kroger.

Dagny and I waited in the car while he dodged icy raindrops to get the few things I'd asked for.

It's called cake time readiness

I'd forgotten cheddar slices for the sandwiches, so there was that. 

In addition, I asked him to get me a Valentine balloon. He'd already given me a sweet card and a golden heart-shaped box of Ferrero Rocher candies, but I was craving a balloon to add festivity to our party.

And, I said, please look and see if there are any red heart-shaped sprinkles.

The party was lit

In addition, I said, while you're in the baking aisle, look and see if there is a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

I had an idea.

My valentine came back to the car ten minutes later laden with everything I'd asked for and then some.

The shapes of things to come

(Including heart-shaped cinnamon candies, which as it turns out taste awesome with chocolate cake. So shut my mouth.)

That's the kind of valentine he is. Never complains, either, no matter what I ask him to do that is within both his power and the law.

Also he is never hesitant to ask for help. When he didn't immediately see a heart-shaped cookie cutter, he found someone to ask if there were any in the store.

We played along on one of the biggest greeting-card and boxed-candy holidays of the year

Turns out they'd already taken them down in preparation for stowing them away until next year, but a nice lady found some for TG.

Now that's teamwork.

(Turns out they were giving away the Valentine's Day balloons at Kroger, too, so that was an unexpected bonus.)

Outside was awash with rain. Inside we were awash with love.

Everyone was there when we got home and I started on my special recipe that needed to be baked in the oven, while the girls decorated the cake.

I guess you're all on the edge of your seat wondering what my new and special recipe was, that had to be baked in the oven and served hot alongside our cold sandwiches.

It was pepperoni roses.

One dozen pepperoni roses

I know that certain people don't like pepperoni -- I'm looking at you, Mari -- but none of them were at my party, so I was confident that, if I could execute the recipe correctly, the roses would be a hit.

I used this recipe and they came out pretty much as they were supposed to, with one exception.

And it was my fault rather than the fault of the recipe.

There was the romance of candlelight and cake

That being, I was not careful to cut my strips of pizza dough in a uniform width. I sort of eye-balled it, resulting in some strips being narrower than others.

If you decide to make these (highly recommended), take a tip from me and use whatever tool you have available to cut the strips on the wider side, and all the same width.

Definitely use the large slicing pepperoni that you get from the deli, and ask for a thickness the same as standard pizza pepperoni, or even a trifle thicker.

The cake was not miniature and my hands are not giant

I used muffin cups but they were unnecessary and I won't do that next time I make these.

Heat some pizza sauce to serve on the side, and I promise you'll get rave reviews.

All of that accomplished, we assembled at the table and tucked into hefty ham salad sandwiches with cheese and lettuce, plus two kinds of Utz chips, and our fresh-baked pepperoni roses.

Audrey took this precious picture using my phone

It was so romantic and immensely enjoyable to be warm and dry inside while the cold rain pelted down outside the window.

(We are so bourgeois; I know. The pirate is good wiv' it because these days, somebody has to be the disappearing middle class.)

We can't all be the perpetual whiners and the limousine-liberal champagne-and-caviar elitists who eternally exploit them.

The bear was outfitted accordingly

Later, after lounging around in the TV room conversing and sipping coffee and hot tea for a while, we went back to the kitchen and enjoyed thick slabs of chocolate cake.

Erica's first words upon her first bite of cake were: Wow ... you can tell this isn't from a box.

Indeed. It is a seriously chocolate chocolate cake.

Such fun to make, too.

 I'm all about dreamy cherubs and chick lit

Now it's a new week and we are looking at not one but two more get-togethers in our collective immediate future.

That would be, one, when we all traipse up to Charlotte on Friday evening to meet our North Carolina darlings, at Cracker Barrel, to celebrate little Andrew turning nine on February twenty-second.

(He was born on two twenty-two twelve at two thirteen in the afternoon. I begged the doctor to fudge his birth time to two twelve but she wouldn't play ball. Killjoy.)

I've bought him a present that I think he'll like. I'll take his picture with it, so you can see.

 Hearts on fireAnd two, when Henry comes from Greenville to visit on Saturday, to spend the night and go to church with us on Sunday morning.

He's lonely since Mom's homegoing and we have been talking of a visit for a while.

So on Saturday afternoon, those family members who live here will again convene in our kitchen, to see their grandpa for the first time since their grandma's funeral.

It was a good time any way you sliced it

And we'll have a festive repast along with fond reminiscences and lots of laughter.

I have everything planned and I'll share with you how it all goes down, complete with photographic evidence.

Furthermore, Brittany texted last night to convey the wonderful news that she and Andrew and little Ember are planning a visit for the weekend of my birthday in early March.

What? Another party? Yes please.

I was alone when I got that news but I can assure you that I was visibly elated.

Because for about fifteen seconds prior to receiving Brittany's text, I wasn't sure where the next pirate party was coming from.

Perhaps I should pause to catch my breath now that you're caught up on my current social calendar.

And that is all for now, except to say that I hope you have a wonderful week.

=0=0=0=

Happy Monday

Comments

[Mari]

I'm sorry you couldn't make your trip, but it sounds like you made up for it with your party! Everything looks wonderful, even those pepperoni roses (I'm impressed you remembered that I don't like it) :)
They are so cute though, and that cake looks heavenly.
That TG is a good Valentine. I think you better keep him (I know you plan to).
I was thinking about Erica the other day and wondered how she was doing. We need to see a baby bump. When I was pregnant with Laura, we called her peanut!
I'm excited that Andrew, Brittany and Ember are coming for a visit!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... of course I remember that, unlike the pirate, you care for neither coffee nor pepperoni! But that's OK; it's all good. Yes a bump picture would be nice, wouldn't it? Yesterday to church she wore a skirt with a top tucked in at the front and looked skinny, so we are frustrated, hahahaaa! She'll pop out here soon. That cake WAS heavenly. Wow. That is a serious dessert. Yep I'm going to get my hands on all my little peanuts in the next few days. xoxo

[Carla TePaske]

The menu sounds wonderful. The decorations are beautiful. I think I would fit right in, so I need to travel South to one of your parties, real soon! :-)

[Jennifer]

@Carla ... come as often as you can and stay as long as you like! xoxo

[Ginny Hartzler]

It could not have turned out any better! The cake, pepperoni flowers, and decorations are perfect and beautiful! You sure know how to throw a party!

[Jennifer]

@Ginny ... well I sure have had enough experience! Haaahaaha xoxo

[Cheri]

You are one terrific party planner...no old rain storm can do you in!!! Sounds like everything turned out wonderfully and beautifully. And as far as your valentine is concerned, I'd say you got pretty lucky and need to keep him around. Mine is pretty special too, so I've decided to keep him! I sure don't want to break in a new one:)

[Jennifer]

@Cheri ... ain't that the truth? I'm much too old to teach another old dog some new tricks. I'm convinced there aren't many (if any) around like my TG. And I actually enjoy winter parties in the rain (under roof) more than those with the sun shining. TG says I'm weird, haahaha but I think it's the coziness that appeals to me. xoxo

[Jeanette]

Too bad your picnic didn't pan out but it's nice that you were even able to think about it! Here in Michigan a outdoor picnic in February is out of the question! Your girls did a great job decorating that chocolate cake. I'm definitely trying those pizza roses! I'm having a Mother's Day brunch so I may make them for that!

[Jennifer]

@Jeanette ... oh DO try the pepperoni roses! They are delicious and fun and easy to make, and so pretty. Yes we were fortunate that we could even think about an outdoor excursion in February. TG told me this morning that South Carolina is one of three states in the Union right now that do not have snow! Haahahahaa I hope it stays that way and it probably will. xoxo

[Debbi]

Hi there Jenny, this sounds like a wonderfully perfect valentines pirate party to me!!--fun fun fun, so glad you had family there, and it all looks bright and festive. I have NEVER heard of pepperoni roses.........but they sure do look GOOD!---and oh I sure do love a good ham salad sandwich (or two! LOL) The cake looks amazing, bet it tasted so good!--the decorations ended up being pretty.I THINK y'all are "traipsing" LOL to Charlotte today to go celebrate little Andrew, so y'all be safe and be careful and have a wonderful wonderful time!! Cant wait to see pictures. I haven't been to a Cracker Barrel in AGES!! Love the fireplace, PLUS THE gift shop of course, ALWAYS good finds there. Enjoy enjoy!! PS....I do love a good long Sunday drive as well, we have never been to Aiken, and the gardens sound intriguing, I will check that out! Hugs!

[Jennifer]

@Debbi ... I think I like the CB gift shop even more than the restaurant! In fact I'm sure I do. Only two nights ago, TG and I had supper there just SO that I could buy a gift in the shop! Great deals if you can wait for something to be marked down, too. Yes all the food for our party was extra delicious! I hope you will try the pepperoni roses. And yes we are traipsing on up to Charlotte tonight to celebrate Little Andrew turning nine! He is a beautiful child and so talented musically. You MUST go to Hopelands Gardens in Aiken! I know you would love it. I can't wait to go again. Hope you have a great weekend my friend. xoxo

[Barb]

Your Valentine is definitely a keeper. Mine too. Your picnic turned party looks wonderful. That cake! Hope Andrew's party was a happy one, too. Now onward to the others on the calendar.

[Jennifer]

@Barb ... Andrew's birthday celebration was a stellar success and I shall share pictures soon! But next time, I'm going to make the cake from scratch and take it with me to the venue. Stephanie buys Walmart cakes and I'm over it. Hahahahaha! xoxo