Strawberry Heart Pastries
How do different nations celebrate Valentine's Day around the world?
Everyone knows that on February, the 14th is Valentine’s Day. In the States and the UK that means heart-shaped cards, stuffed animals and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. And how about in other countries?
In Denmark people traditionally exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops instead of fresh bouquets. It’s also traditional for people to send their crushes letters called “gaekkebrev”. These poems or rhymes are signed only with dots, so the recipient has to guess who sent it. If they guess correctly, the sender will owe them a chocolate Easter egg later in the spring.
In South Korea and Japan, the boyfriends and husbands are spoiled for Valentine's Day with chocolates and flowers instead of the ladies, while March 14th is White Day when women are doted on with chocolate, flowers and a gift.
In Germany that means chocolate pigs and gingerbread. The pig represents both luck and lust. It’s traditional to exchange pig-themed gifts with the one you love. Germans also celebrate Valentine’s Day with a much tastier version of those “conversation heart” candies: big, heart-shaped ginger cookies with messages written on them.
And in Norfolk, England, Santa Claus-type figure Jack Valentine leaves gifts on the front porch.
What is your way of celebrating this day?
Cut roll out puff pastry with heart shaped cookie moulds, then put a teaspoon of strawberry jam on half of them. I used strawberry jam with strawberry pieces for maximum taste.
Then with the other half of the hearts cover the ones with jam and press a fork against the edges to press them together.
Spread them over a lined baking sheet and brush with some milk.
Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/392°F for a couple of minutes until golden, then take them out and sprinkle with some icing sugar.
Strawberry Heart Pastries
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut roll out puff pastry with heart shaped cookie moulds, then put a teaspoon of strawberry jam on half of them. I used strawberry jam with strawberry pieces for maximum taste.
- Then with the other half of the hearts cover the ones with jam and press a fork against the edges to press them together.
- Spread them over a lined baking sheet and brush with some milk.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with some icing sugar.
