Welcome to my Love page!

Love is in the air! (Or was that beans?) 

"I love you more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wif cheese puffs." -Josh, 7

"Yeah, I love you too honey, where's the remote? Hey, and can you get me a beer while you're up?" -My dear husband

"Love? No, but I think there's another problem with my month-end labor cost run." -Head Cost Accountant

"True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." -Erich Segal

"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not." -Andre Gide

"Give all to love; obey thy heart." Ralph Waldo Emerson

By: Angela Gillaspie © 2001

I am surprised that I ever found a husband.

My parents had different rules when it came to my sisters and I finding a beau. Momma attempted to teach us how to walk properly, sit lady-like, smell good, talk politely, and smile coyly at the boys, but Daddy taught us useful things like how to hoe and giggle hysterically when a bodily function presented itself loudly. He also refused to let any of us shave our legs until we were sixteen saying "Yer har can drag tracks behind yuns, fer all I care!"

When Allan, my first date arrived, Dad positioned himself on the front porch cleaning his shotgun, and Mom hid behind the curtain in the living room (to make sure Allan was a gentleman and opened the car door for me). I answered the door dressed in shorts and color-coordinated bandages on my knees and ankles from shaving my legs the first time. I barely survived that date; next time I vowed I'd bring flash cards with Mom's etiquette rules on them so I'd know whether to eat pizza with my fingers or with a fork. I did remember to be a lady (like Momma said), and I even remembered to ask Allan to pull my finger (like Daddy said). Allan never asked me out again. Go figure.

My older sister taught me to meet my dates down at the Burger King and to not listen to anything Daddy said.

When I was twenty-one, I met my future husband, Paul, and he insisted on coming to my house to meet my folks. I gave him vague directions to my house, but he ended up finding it anyway. He presented Dad with a six pack of Budweiser, and buttered up Mom by telling her how wonderful I was.

Yup, this one was a keeper.

Paul started visiting my house more often, and I allowed myself to finally become more comfortable with him being around Dad. But little did I know that dear old Dad still had some tricks that I hadn't yet seen.

Late one night while Paul and I watched television, Dad got out of bed to relieve himself. The den is right next to his bathroom (which had no insulation) and all the sounds echoed loudly. From beginning to end, we heard all three states of matter. Pretending that I couldn't hear Dad, I talked loudly over the noises creeping from the bathroom. Finally, I gave up and said, "If you promise to never do that I'll marry you." Paul agreed.

On another night, Paul got a glimpse of Dad in his worn underwear scratching his forever-itching buttocks after he exited the lavatory. Paul commented to me, "If you promise to never do that I'll marry you," and I agreed.

A few months later, we were wed. Daddy finally accepted his new son-in-law and Momma was overjoyed. She did get upset when I asked the preacher to pull my finger, though.

• Valentine's Day Jokes and humor
• The Kids Doman Valentine's Jokes
• Love Laughs - jokes about love, relationships, and Valentines Day
• Valentine Crafts for Families

This recipe has a bar, a filling and a frosting and about a million calories per serving. If this ain't love, I don't know what is.

**Bar**
1/2 cup butter
1 oz. (square) unsweetened chocolate (optional)
1 cup sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cups pecans, chopped (optional - I don't use this)
1 tsp. baking powder
2 large eggs

**Filling**
8 oz. cream cheese, softened (save 2 oz. for frosting!!)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs. flour
1/4 cup butter
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional - I leave these out too.)
1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
2 cups mini marshmallows

**Frosting**
1/4 cup butter
1 oz. (square) unsweetened chocolate
Remaining 2 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

MAKE BAR: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour (or spray with Pam) 13x9-inch pan. In saucepan over low heat, melt 1/2 cup butter and 1 oz. chocolate, if using. Add remaining bar ingredients and mix well. Spread in prepared pan.

MAKE FILLING: In small bowl, combine 6 oz. cream cheese with the next five ingredients (sugar, flour, butter, egg vanilla). Blend until fluffy. Stir in nuts and spread over chocolate mixture. Sprinkle chocolate chips all over. Bake for 25-30 minutes - until knife in center comes out clean. Sprinkle marshmallows over cake and bake 2 minutes longer.

MAKE FROSTING: Over low heat in large saucepan (I use a double boiler), melt 1/4 cup butter, 1 oz. chocolate remaining 2 oz. cream cheese and milk. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Immediately pour over marshmallows and swirl together. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans, if desired.

Store in refrigerator and pray that someone else eats it before you do or you'll have to get your doors widened due to your large buttocks.

1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate cookies
1 cup peanut butter, in all
1/4 pound cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons chopped peanuts
2 3/4 cups heavy cream, in all
6 oz. Semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350°. In a mixing bowl (what else?), combine the cookie crust with 1/4 cup of the peanut butter. Combine the mixture thoroughly and press into a 9-inch spring form pan. Bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese and sugar until smooth (I don't want you suing me for carpal tunnel syndrome, now). Add the remaining peanut butter, milk and nuts and whip for 1 minute.

Turn the peanut butter mixture into a mixing bowl (again, what else?). Whip 2 cups of the heavy cream and fold into the peanut butter mixture. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and refrigerate for 2 hours or until the pie is set. In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the chocolate with the remaining cream, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat and cool for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove the pie from the spring form pan and place on a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pour the chocolate topping over the pie, covering the top and sides completely. Refrigerate the pie for 2 hours or until the chocolate coating is set. Oh baby.

Yes, Chili. This is comfort food and is definitely a labor of love! J

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium large onion, chopped
1 (32-ounce) can whole tomatoes, chopped
1 (16-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup water
1 beef bouillon cube
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup ketchup
Ground pepper to taste

Brown beef in skillet and drain off excess grease. Add meat to crockpot with remaining ingredients, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Garnish with chopped red onion and green pepper.

SouthernAngel's links:

• For the definition of true love, go to John 3:16.
• To send your own heartfelt feelings of love, go to Blue Mountain Arts for free postcards.
• Want to cook something special, but are out of ideas? Try Valentine's Food Ideas and Recipes.
• Awesome Cards for Valentine's post cards and greeting cards.
• Children's Software and More!
• LovingYou.com has tons of gift ideas and more!