Valentine’s Day is named for two early Christian martyrs whose common feast day was Feb. 14. Medieval folk tradition maintained that the springtime mating of birds took place on St. Valentine’s Day, which led to a later custom of choosing a valentine, or sweetheart, for the day by a random drawing. Messages of affection were passed between these randomly chosen “lovers,” which were precursors of the valentine card.
The heart shape, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was considered the “seat of love and affection.” But the symmetrical, double-lobed figure that tapers to a point at the bottom is not the shape of the heart that beats in our bodies. It has been said that the valentine heart is more the shape of the lipstick mark left by a woman’s kiss.
Valentine’s Day has always been a time to think about special baking, and here’s one recipe that I have enjoyed. With a clever…
