making a meringue heart sculpture for valentine’s day

and a few kinds of victorian gift-giving traditions that inspired it

last year for valentine’s day i made théo a giant meringue heart. when lifted from the parchment it was baked on, it revealed a sweet message (see the image below). it was inspired by the history of valentine’s day cards and their aesthetic evolution over the years, as well as conversation heart candies which have a similar recipe to meringue.