Welcome to Week 162 of Mmm Mondays, where we turn Monday woes into Monday whoas!
header image for Week 162 by revac film’s&photography:
Be Mine!
So, it turns out Rome was a wild and wacky place. Annually they would celebrate Lupercalia, a time when Romans thought spring fever could be cured with, what else but a sacrifice?
All in the name of fertility and purification, Romans would slaughter goats and often dogs, and then whip other folks with their hides (kinky hey?).
But then came Emperor Claudius II, who didn’t really care for the lovey-dovey men of Rome who whipped the ladies, stating they made lousy soldiers. So, he outlawed marriage, and the men of Rome were blue.
But fear not, St. Valentine, a rebellious priest with a heart of gold and a penchant for playing matchmaker would not stand for this new decree, and secretly married couples faster than you can say “toga party.”
Naturally, Claudius wasn’t as keen of St. Valentine, so , he caught Valentine, gave him the ol’ thumbs-down, and sentenced him to a date with a sharp blade.
But even in death, St. Valentine became a symbol of love, the patron saint of star-crossed lovers, and the reason so many flowers are delivered every February 14th.
And so, with a mix of ancient rituals, forbidden love, and a sprinkle of martyrdom, Valentine’s Day was born—a time for cheesy cards, heart-shaped everything, and a fervent hope that your love life won’t end up as chaotic as an ancient Roman party.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Last Week
Last Week we talked about the invention and progression of the condom, began a new sexy romance and made Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
Plus, David Mei stopped by to share his time away with Kitten during the holidays.
Week 162 Recommended Reading
Mmm’s on Medium
On Medium, we believe that life matters, and many things in life make us say Mmm. This week we had submissions from:
Kinky Katie in Let’s Talk about a Cock in my Ass
Juniper Less (a.k.a May More) shared some stats in Food and Sex make me say Mmm
Flure took us a journey in My Date with a Bisexual to Explore My Bisexuality
Posy gave us a review of a saucy book in Detective Denny Deep-Dives into the Seedy Side of NYC
and Juniper discussed an important topic in Let’s Talk about Vaginismus
Book of the Month
Dirty Talk by Lauren Landish
He makes dirty sound so good. So right. The moment I heard his velvety voice growl that I’m his ‘Kitty Kat’, I knew I was in trouble. Derrick ‘The Love Whisperer’ King gives out relationship and sex advice on the radio to everyone, but he’s giving me something a bit more personal. Nobody’s ever talked to me the way he does. Daring, Demanding, Sexy… and oh, so Dirty. Maybe we started this whole thing a little backward, sex first and getting to know each other after. But I’m starting to let my guard down, my untrusting heart beginning to think that maybe fairy tales do come true. Even for me. I feel beautiful and hopeful when he worships my body. I feel dirty and naughty when he whispers filthy things in my ear. But is it real? Can something so naughty really be good for me? And more importantly, against all odds, can it last… forever?
Ummmm. Do NOT. I repeat. DO NOT read this book in public. I cannot be held accountable for your body’s reaction if you do. Oh, and you’re going to learn a new vocabulary!
Week 162 Recipe
Valentine’s Day is a day of romance (or something as close as we can achieve) for many. But it’s also a chance to get lucky, as they say. Nobody likes doing the tango on a bloated belly. This crostata recipe is the perfect compromise. Dessert, but not so much to keep you from being light on your feet.
Strawberry Crostata
Ingredients
For the crust:
- ½ cup unbleached flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter diced
- ¼ teaspoon white vinegar
- 2-3 tablespoons cold water
For the filling:
- 1 ½ cups sliced ripe strawberries
- 1 teaspoon rose water
- 2 teaspoons unbleached flour
- 4 teaspoons sugar plus extra for topping
- splash of milk for brushing on the crust
Instructions
- First, make the crust: In a medium bowl, stir together lightly the flour, sugar and salt. Add the butter and blend with a pastry cutter or two knives. Once the butter is smaller than peas, add the vinegar and cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time until a moist dough forms. It should clump together when squeezed in your hand but not be overly wet. Form the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk, then wrap in plastic before storing in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir the sliced strawberries, rose water, flour and sugar together in a bowl. Let sit while you roll out the dough. Preheat the oven to 375°.
- To roll out the dough, place a piece of parchment paper on the counter. Gradually roll out the dough to a 9” circle, taking your time to turn the dough a quarter turn each time after rolling in one direction. Transfer the parchment paper and dough directly onto a baking sheet. Mound the strawberries in the center of the dough, leaving a 2” border. Fold up the edges of the dough onto the strawberries. Make sure you do not have too many areas for the strawberry juices to escape, although some will inevitably. Brush the dough with milk, then sprinkle extra sugar over top. Bake for 40 minutes. I find the crust is the flakiest if it is served at room temperature.
Notes
This Week’s Links
For bloggers, Mmm Mondays opens Friday at noon (MST- that’s N. America) and closes Tuesday December 31/2024 at 6pm. If this is your first time joining the fun, please read the rules and grab a badge. You can add your post(s) below using the linky tool.
Don’t know how to take part? Find out how, here. You don’t have to have a blog! And we love images too!
Since you’re already here, take a second and read one or more posts (you’ll be glad you did!). And don’t forget to like or comment if they make you say Mmm too.
I always encourage sharing, so for any posts you may have missed, watch for them on Monday when I share them via Twitter.
For those on Medium, you can find the guidelines here.
What makes you say Mmm?
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