BE MINE!
6 Pieces of Valentine’s Day Trivia
SWEETHEART CANDIES WERE BORN IN THE 1860S. Oliver Chase, a Boston pharmacist, created a machine that produced medicinal lozenges (a common way to take medicine back then). With the success of his machine, he decided to use it to make candy as well, and thus Sweethearts were created in the 1860s. VALENTINE’S DAY IS AN EXPENSIVE HOLIDAY. According to the National Retail Foundation, in 2019, Americans spent more than $20 billion on the holiday to buy gifts that included flowers, chocolates, cards, and jewelry.
The Hallmark cards have hit the shelves, boyfriends and husbands have all scrambled to plan, and the local restaurants are all swimming in reservations — Valentine’s Day has arrived! On this day, many are left wondering how far back exchanging valentines goes, why we exchange valentines, and where those little heart-shaped candies came from. Look no further, we have the answers. THE FIRST VALENTINE DATES BACK TO THE 15TH CENTURY. According to History.com, the oldest record of a valentine was in 1415 when a French medieval duke named Charles, while in prison, wrote a poem to his wife. One of the lines read, “I am already sick of love … My very gentle Valentine.” SAINT VALENTINE IS NOT THE SAME PERSON. It’s unclear after which Saint Valentine the holiday is named. One was a Roman priest who was sentenced to death after being caught illegally marrying couples during a marriage ban and the other was a man who got caught helping Christians escape into Rome — he later wrote a letter from prison, signing it, “From your Valentine.” MASS-PRODUCED VALENTINES WEREN’T A THING UNTIL THE 1840S. Known as the mother of the American Valentine, Esther A. Howland commercialized Valentine’s Day cards that were decorated with ribbons and lace (as some are today) in the 1840s.
IT’S A POPULAR DAY OF ENGAGEMENT! According to a survey by American Express, millions of couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day. It was also voted as the best day of the year to pop the magical question.
Train Your
BRAIN!
Feta Chicken Burgers
xxx
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber • 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise BURGERS: • 1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper • 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Greek seasoning • 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground chicken • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese • 6 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat broiler and mix chopped cucumber and mayonnaise. 2. For the burgers, mix the red pepper, garlic powder, Greek seasoning, and black pepper. Add chicken and cheese; mix lightly but thoroughly (the mixture will be sticky). Shape into 6 patties about 1/2-inch thick. 3. Broil burgers, remembering to cook both sides thoroughly. Serve on buns with cucumber sauce. If desired, top with lettuce and tomato. Enjoy!
www.federalbenefitsmadesimple.com |3
Published by Newsletter Pro . www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator