Chalk It Up!

I discovered the most wonderful romantic tool the other day - glow in the dark chalk! I have been having a lot of fun with it. I wrote some welcome home messages to my wife on our front sidewalk.

My sidewalk "art" shows up day or early night (the glowing properties only last an hour or so after it is no longer exposed to light). Next, I drew hearts and wrote silly messages all over our white bedroom walls. The graffiti is impossible to see in the daytime, but at night it shows up faintly (the fatter and larger drawings show up better.) Athena got a big kick out of it when she turned off the lights and she saw glowing hearts and sentimental messages surrounding the bed.

Clean up was a piece of cake. All I had to do was turn off the lights and I knew exactly where to scrub the walls. I find glow in the dark stars to be much brighter but the chalk is quite versatile and creative. Chalk one up to romance!

Food sure is fun. It is fun to eat and, despite what my mother tried to teach me, it is fun to play with. Have you ever played with your food? Try it, you might like it.

One particular fun food is the hearty toast and eggs. Take a slice of bread and use a heart cookie cutter to take a hole out of the center. Lightly toast both pieces. Scramble up an egg and just when it begins to take some non-runny form, put the toast in the skillet and place the eggs in the open heart of the bread for it to finish cooking. Serve with grits, bacon or some other side dish.

You can alter the above idea for even a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Place the piece of bread with the heart cut out on top of a whole slice. Does your lover like licorice? A message written in licorice "string" might just brighten their day.

If you are creating a Chinese meal or ordering one in, that would be the perfect occasion to make a giant fortune cookie with a special poem or note tucked inside. I'll even provide the recipe.

My mom knows I still play with my food, but now she gives her approval.

Giant Fortune Cookies
1 cup-all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup salad oil
1/2 cup egg whites (whites of about 4 large eggs)
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons vanilla

Prepare fortune, poem or note to include in cookies. Cut or fold the paper so it is approximately 1" x 3" in size.

Mix all the dry ingredients and then add oil and egg whites until smooth; beat in water and vanilla.

Drop 1/3 cup of batter onto a greased baking sheet and spread evenly into a 10-inch circle. Bake only one or two at a time in a 300 degree oven for about 14 minutes or until light golden brown; if underbaked, cookies will tear during shaping.

With a wide spatula, remove one cookie at a time from oven. Working quickly, flip it onto a your hand (please use a towel or wear cotton gloves). Place fortune in center of cookie and fold it in half, but do not crease it. Then fold the two ends towards each other and hold for a minute or two while it hardens. Repeat until all the batter is used. Makes 6.