From rich chocolate fudge to creamy caramels and sweet lollipops — candy is always a crowd-pleaser. This Valentine’s Day, serve up a few of your favorite confections, sweetened the natural way, using pure honey.

Using honey in a candy recipe not only provides a mild, naturally sweet flavor, it also dissolves and blends well and delivers a smoother candy texture. Candy making can be tricky, so keep the following tips in mind:

* For a candy making surface that can take the heat, use a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Cool the candy at room temperature and then gently remove from the foil.

* Use pure honey, which is already in a liquid form, to help avoid the hassle that comes with large sugar crystals forming during the candy-making process.

* Bringing the candy mixture to the correct temperature is essential A candy thermometer is the most accurate and efficient way of testing the temperature.

* Only use real butter in candy making.

The following candy recipes are easy to make and feature scrumptious, seasonal ingredients such as cinnamon, walnuts, vanilla, almonds and of course, chocolate. Friends and family will be delighted to savor these tasty treats at parties or as Valentine’s Day gifts.

Visit www.honey.com for more delicious candy recipes.

Chocolate Walnut Fudge

Makes 25 squares.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pure honey
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:
Line an 8-inch by 8-inch pan with foil; butter and set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine honey, sweetened condensed milk and salt. Mix well. Bring mixture just to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower heat to a simmer. Add chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts completely and mixture is smooth. Stir in walnuts. Pour immediately into pan and smooth top. Let cool, then refrigerate until cold. Cut into 25 pieces.

Honey Pops

Makes 15 to 20 lollipops.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup pure honey
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon candy flavoring (or 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
red paste food coloring, optional

Directions:

In a heavy pan, combine sugar, honey, and water. Over high heat, bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-high and continue to boil until honey mixture reaches 300F on candy thermometer (hard-crack stage), about five to six minutes, stirring frequently. Add flavoring and color. Mix well. Pour into prepared lollipop molds (greased with lollipop sticks inserted), following manufacturer’s directions. Cool completely. Remove from molds and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in a cool, dry place.

Cinnamon candy flavoring is an oil-based flavoring, which can be found where candy-making supplies are sold. You may substitute 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, if desired.

Tip: Candy may be molded in buttered, wax-coated paper drinking cups.

Honey Caramels

Makes 30 caramels.

Ingredients:

2 cups pure honey
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
finely chopped almonds, optional
1 cup butter (no substitutions)

Directions:

Line bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with plastic wrap and set it aside. Melt butter in medium-sized heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add honey, cream and brown sugar. Mix well. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring frequently. Continue boiling, stirring frequently, until candy thermometer registers 250 F, about 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared pan.

Let cool completely in refrigerator before cutting into individual caramels with very sharp knife. Roll in chopped nuts or coconut, if desired, and wrap each individually in clear plastic wrap. Store tightly wrapped in refrigerator up to one month. Caramels will be soft at room temperature and firm if kept chilled.

Serving Suggestions:

Drop one into a cup of hot coffee or tea or enjoy this delicious treat on its own.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Valentine’s Day is a mysterious holiday—we celebrate it every year, and yet nobody really knows where it came from or what the origins of Valentine’s Day are.  What we do know is that the holiday, despite thought to be a Hallmark-holiday, is based on the legends surrounding Saint Valentine.

Saint Valentine can be traced back to Christian and ancient Roman traditions, and the Catholic Church alone recognizes three different Saint Valentines.  The many myths and legend surrounding this patron saint are what gave us the holiday we today call Valentine’s Day.

Just a Tall Tale?

There are many legends about the origin of Valentine’s Day, and of Saint Valentine for that matter.  One story says that Valentine was a Roman priest during the third century, who continued to perform marriages for young men and women despite the Emperor Claudius’ forbiddance of the practice.  Claudius then supposedly ordered Valentine to be put to death.

This story has another ending.  Instead of being put to death, some legends argue that Valentine, in fact, went to prison, where he created the first valentine.  He is said to have fallen in love with a young girl who visited him, and to have written her a letter before his death.  He signed the letter “from your Valentine,” coining the phrase as it is used today. 

Whichever legend may be true, if any of them are at all; there are certain elements of the stories that remain true.  The origins of Saint Valentine always dictate that the man was a martyr, and he is always said to be a brave and courageous hero.

Popular Practice

Though the origins of Valentine’s Day remain unclear, more is known about when Valentine’s Day first became a popular holiday.  It was not until the seventeenth century that Valentine’s Day became a popularly celebrated holiday in Great Britain.  At first, crude letters were written to carry on the tradition of the holiday, which made it very similar to Valentine’s Day’s supposed origins.  Soon, printed cards were used instead.
In the 1700’s, America first began to celebrate the holiday.  The first mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards were produced in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. 

A Modern World

The origins of Valentine’s Day have survived over many years, and the holiday is still celebrated by the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France.  Though some traditions have changed, Valentine’s Day is still true to its origins in spirit.  

When you think of Valentine’s Day, there are many stories and traditions that come to mind.  One of the most famous symbols of the holiday is cupid.  Cupid continues to be referenced in modern times; yet, his presence in mythology is by no means a recent occurrence.

Cupid and Valentine’s Day have been associated together for a long time—ever since the ancient Greeks and Romans were around!  In fact, the word “cupid” stems from the Latin word cupido, which means desire. The association between Cupid and Valentine’s Day comes from a specific legend that has been passed down for thousands of years.

Legend and Lore

The main reason that Cupid is associated with Valentine’s Day in modern times is because the story of Cupid is one of love.  Cupid was said to have fallen in love with Psyche, a mortal.  He married her, but she was forbidden to look at him.  One day she disobeyed these orders, and Cupid ran away from her.  To be reunited with Cupid, Psyche paid a visit to Venus, Cupid’s mother.  After making her undergo several tests, Venus reunited Psyche and Cupid.  Eventually, according to the story, Cupid and Psyche gave birth to a child named pleasure.

Other legends are in circulation about Cupid’s arrows.  It is said that whoever is struck by Cupid’s arrow immediately falls in love with the next person they see.  Supposedly, this is how Venus came to fall in love with the god Adonis.  Cupid’s arrows are either golden or leaden.  A golden arrow represents true love, while a leaden arrow represents wanton and lust.  Sometimes, Cupid is even said to carry a torch.  This torch is supposedly used to light passion between a man and a woman.

Then and Now

The Cupid associated with Valentine’s Day is quite different in appearance from the Cupid we think of today.  Nowadays, Cupid is represented as a winged, naked boy carrying a bow and arrow.  Though this image of Cupid complies with the idea of Valentine’s Day, it differs greatly from the Cupid of the Greek and Roman legends.  This Cupid was said to be very mischievous and naughty. 

A Fun Fairy Tale

Almost everyone knows that there is no such thing as a Cupid with magic arrows that can control the love and passion of mortals.  Yet sometimes, especially around Valentine’s Day, some people find it nice to think that such a myth could bring them their chance at love.