Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Today is the day! Valentine's Day! Since every day is pretty much Valentine's Day here at Sequential Crush, I thought I would do something a little different than usual.
In a couple issues of Young Romance, readers were encouraged to send in their best recipes for the "Get Your Man Contest," and a chance to win the first prize of $5.00! As the DC romance editors saw it, "Standing in a kitchen whipping up a goodie you can both enjoy is one of the best ways in the world to get to know each other." I couldn't agree more! Cooking together has always been something Justin and I enjoy doing, so we thought it would be fun to make one of the recipes!
We decided on "First-Love Fudge" from Young Romance #188 (November 1972), which tied for first place.
First, we assembled all the ingredients -- milk, sugar, brown sugar, butter, marshmallow creme, and peanut butter. Don't worry, we kept the comic book out of the mixture!
Close up shot: all these things are great on their own (and in moderation), but will they be tasty mixed together? Two whole pounds of brown sugar is a lot!
As indicated by romance comic book fan Helen Chambers of Scarborough, Maine, we mixed the first four ingredients together.
My arm was getting tired stirring. I thought the mixture would never blend together.
Eventually, it did though, and we added in the marshmallow creme and peanut butter and I continued to stir. We then put it in a pan and let it cool overnight in the fridge, so it would firm up into a fudge consistency.
Tah-dah! The finished "First-Love Fudge!" It even looks like it came from the '70s!
The Outcome:
We had high hopes for this recipe. It won first place in a DC comic book, after all! So, I am sad to say that after one bite we both set the fudge down politely before having to say, "YUCK" and vowing never to eat sugar again. I am guessing that the editorial staff at DC never even tried the recipes before picking a winner!!! Sorry, Helen -- your "First-Love Fudge" just didn't do it for our modern palates! Our dog Sgt. Furry seemed pretty interested in it, however!
Oh well. We tried! If you are going to attempt anything from the "Get Your Man Contest," I suggest the "Kiss-and-Tell Dessert" -- that seems pretty safe and unlikely to require a trip to the dentist after consuming it!
Valentine's Day just wouldn't be complete without a little romance story, would it?! Surprisingly, there aren't a whole lot of stories in the romance comics that have to do with Valentine's Day. A little too obvious, I suppose!
Here is one of the few, "Remember Your Valentine" from Young Love #112 (November 1974) with art by the very romantic Winslow Mortimer.
Happy Valentine's Day!!!
For more romance comic book goodness, check out my book How to Go Steady!
