February 13, 2021 Issue, Page 12 of 14

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e d e n February 13, 2021 i B X a l f Valentine’s Day gift ideas for guys A holiday devoted to love industry researchers at DFC other sort certainly may be a skipping a favorite coffee and affection is nestled in the Intelligence indicates that winning Valentine's Day gift. shop and barista on the way middle of the chilly days of billions of people across the More and more companies to work, and brewing a cup February. Valentine's Day is a globe people play video games. are getting creative with food of Joe before heading to the big day for retailers, and many ‘The next gaming generation is bouquets. From cupcake bou- advertising campaigns focus approaching with the PS5 and quets that require a double- home office. According to on gifting women everything Xbox Series X. Gift ideas can take to ensure they’re edible Sam Spillman of Dillanos Cof- from jewelry to chocolate to include consoles and periph- to exotic jerky bouquets, there fee Roasters near Seattle, the stuffed animals. That focus erals like headsets, gaming are items to tempt every pal- 2019 Barista winner of the may not be unwarranted, but chairs and laptop keyboards, ate. U.S. Coffee Championships, men also deserve tokens of among others. (Me sli + Cordless earbuds or head- coffee loses flavor minutes af- love and appreciation on Val- + At-home luxury: Some men phones: Fitness enthusiasts, ter it is ground. Buying whole entine’s Day. steer clear of massage therapy movie lovers or music fans With February 14 right dinics or spas. That doesn’t beans and grinding fresh How did “XO” come know that the freedom to around the corner, it’s time to mean they should forgo the move around can be impeded before every brew ensures a start thinking about shopping benefits of a deep massage. by cords on headphones and more flavorful cup. Gifting for items that show you care. Consider this list of carefully With a portable back and neck shiatsu massager, he can enjoy earbuds. A new pair of Blue- a coffee grinder, particularly tooth-enabled wireless head- a burr grinder, can help im- to symbolize curated gifts that can provide a massage while watching the phones can be just the thing kisses and hugs? prove the taste of that morn- inspiration for gifting the spe- game or streaming movies or to make men smile this Valen- ing brew. cial man in your life. television shows. tine’s Day. + Gaming gear: The appeal of + Treat bouquet: Floral bou- + Coffee mill: Many people ‘These are just some of the video games is hard to ignore. quets may be unusual gifts are sticking closer to home many gift ideas to make men Love letters are a great way the Middle Ages. In fact, that Anew report from the gaming for men, but a bouquet of an- these days. That may mean smile this Valentine's Day. for couples to express their development did not come affection and devotion to about until much later. The each other. The sentiments Oxford English Dictionary at- expressed in love letters are tributes the first use of “X” to Impress with homemade sweets as unique as the couples who symbolize love and/or kisses write them. However, love let- in a letter to English natural- ters often contain one partic- ist Gilbert White. However, about 1 inch apart, on the pre- ular turn of phrase regardless some historians debate the pared baking sheets. of their authors. accuracy of that attribution, 5. Bake on the upper and When signing a love letter, saying White's use of the let- lower racks for 50 minutes. it’s customary for writers to ter “X” in his letter was likely include at least one “XO” near meant to convey blessings on Turn off the heat and let the meringues stand in the oven recognized as symbolic of the letter’s recipient. their names. “XO” is widely with the door closed until wishing “hugs and kisses” to Researcher Stephen Goran- completely dry, about 11/2 son found many uses of the a letter’s intended recipient. letter “X” to convey love and/ hours. ‘This tradition is such an in- 6. Melt semisweet and or kisses in or after the 1880s, grained part of romantic let- 50 it’s very likely that this was white chocolate (see below) ter writing that few may stop and drizzle or pipe onto the to pause and wonder just how the first time that including cooled meringues. Let stand the letter “X” at the end of a the letters “XO” came to sym- until it sets. letter took on the meaning so bolize hugs and kisses. Few people can imagine 4 large egg whites heat to 250 F. Line 2 large bak- Tips & techniques: To melt ‘The origins of “KO” are not many people give it now. As for “O” symbolizing Valentine’s Day without choc- 1/4 teaspoon cream of ing sheets with parchment pa- the chocolate, place it in a definitively known, though hugs, even less is known about olate. While heart-shaped tartar per or nonstick baking mats. bowl and microwave on me- many historians note that how that came about. The late boxes of chocolate might be 1/4 teaspoon coconut ex- 2. Beat egg whites, cream of signing letters with “X” dates dium for 45 seconds. Stir; con- American writer Leo Ros- ubiquitous in February, those tract or imitation coconut ex- tartar, coconut, almond and tinue microwaving on medium back to the Middle Ages. Few ten, whose writings included who want to truly impress tract vanilla extracts, and salt in in 20-second intervals until people could read and write 1968's “The Joys of Yiddish,” that special someone this 1/4 teaspoon almond ex- a large bowl with an electric almost melted, stirring after in the Middle Ages, but sign- suggested that including “O” Valentine’s Day can try their tract mixer on medium-high speed each interval. Continue stir- ing “X” did not require either at the end of a letter might hand at baking up their own 1/4 teaspoon vanilla ex- until combined. Gradually ring until completely melted. of those abilities. Christianity have a similar origin story to batch of decadent treats. tract beat in sugar, 2 tablespoons at Or place in the top ofa double played a big part in many peo- “X.” Rosten theorized that This recipe for “Chocolate 1/8 teaspoon salt a time, until stiff, shiny peaks boiler over hot, but not boil- ple’s lives during the Middle Coconut Meringues,” courtesy 1 cupsugar form, 6 to 8 minutes. ing, water. Stir until melted. ‘Ages, and “K” was seen as a “O” was used by Jewish im- of EatingWell.com, makes for 1/4 cup unsweetened co- 3. Sift cocoa over the mix- representation of the Chris- migrants who did not want To decorate cookies with melt- tian cross. $o when people to sign a document with “X,” a perfect indulgence. Loaded coa powder ture and gently fold together ed chocolate, use a pastry bag signed “X” on legal documents, which they, like the people in with flavor but not too heavy, 2 tablespoons _semi- with a rubber spatula until fitted with a fine writing tip to they were essentially stating the Middle Ages, interpreted these sweet treats can be en- sweet chocolate chips or finely combined. joyed after a Valentine's Day chopped chocolate 4, Spoon the meringue into pipe the melted chocolate or the contents of the document as symbolic of the Christian dinner or even as a snack the 2 tablespoons _trans- a gallon-size sealable bag (or dip tines of a fork in chocolate were true in the name of Jesus cross. day after. fat-free white chocolate chips pastry bag fitted with a 1/2- and drizzle. You can improvise Christ. Exactly when “O” was paired or finely chopped white choc- inch tip). Seal the bag, press- a pastry bag with a small plas- While Jesus Christ’s teach- with “X” and came to symbol- Chocolate Coconut Me- olate, such as Sunspire ing out as much air as pos- tic bag, Add melted chocolate ings are rooted in showing ize hugs is unknown, though ringues sible. Cut a 1/2-inch hole in to the bag, cut a tiny hole in compassion for one’s fellow various historians suggest the Yields: 30 cookies 1. Position racks in upper one corner of the bag. Pipe the one corner and squeeze the man, signing a letter with two were not paired until the and lower thirds of oven; pre- meringue into 2-inch circles, chocolate out. “X” did not symbolize love in latter half of the 20th century. 229 Highway 44 (14.71 mi), Burns Flat, OK 73647 (580) 562-1720 KTS AUTO GLASS |Serving/a) 100 mile/radius|of Willow; Oklahoma) Welcome to you! www.monterreymexicanbf.com [email protected] * 580-291-3786 * Owner-Kristofer Schell Place your order early for accustom design! 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