Tomorrow, 14 February, is the Feast of Saint Valentinus, who founded the Valentinian sect of Gnostics. According to the Invisible Basilica of Sabazius:
Valentinus was the most prominent and influential of the historical Christian Gnostics. The Valentinian system refined and elaborated on the Basilidean and Simonian systems, developing a highly complex model of the universe in which each of fifteen successive levels of emanation (Aeons) occurs as a Syzygy, a male-female pair.
Why not celebrate Saint Valentinus with this cherry-vanilla cake?
Cherry Marble Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter (1 stick) room temperature
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1¼ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup milk
- 1 (20 oz) can cherry pie filling
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together to full combine. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add sugar and cream again until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating to fully combine after each addition.
- Add vanilla and beat again until combined.
- To the butter-sugar mixture, add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Then add 1/3 of the milk and mix again until just combined. Continue added the dry ingredients and milk alternately until all are incorporated.
- In a lightly greased and floured 9″x 9″ deep baking dish or large bundt pan, pour half of the cherry pie filling. Gently spread to cover the pan. Next pour half the cake batter into the pan. Spread again. Repeat to create two more layers.
- Run a butter knife through the batter and cherry pie filling in a zig-zag or swirling pattern to create the marble effect.
- Bake in a 350° oven for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with only fine crumbs. (Start checking at an hour, then bake for an additional 10 minutes if it’s still not done, and check again.
- Allow to cool before removing from pan.
- Serve topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries.
(Source: The Gracious Wife)
Learn more about Saint Valentinus:
As a note, there was another Valentine who was venerated as a Roman Catholic saint until he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969. You can read about him at catholic.org.
