Have your cake and eat it too…

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
Feb. 11, 2004
With Valentine's Day approaching, love is in the air and chocolate is on the shelves.
Each year the push to show your affection on Feb. 14 increases. According to Candy USA, $1.01 billion was spent on Valentine's candy in the United States in 2003 alone.
At Meridian's Dairy Queen, the most popular item is the made-fresh-daily, heart-shaped frozen ice cream cakes.
General manager Melvin Henry said the cakes are so popular at Valentine's that special orders are taken in advance to have enough cakes to meet the demand of those who want to please their sweatheart's appetite.
The heart-shaped cake is made with one layer of chocolate ice cream topped with a layer of fudge cake. A layer of vanilla ice cream completes the top and sides of the cake. The cakes are about $18 and can be topped with a special message from you to your sweetie for free.
VALENTINE'S DAY: BY THE NUMBERS
3: Percentage of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.
15: Percentage of U.S. women who send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
27: Percentage of women who buy flowers for their sweetheart Valentine's Day.
60: Percentage of American roses California produces, even though the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported mainly from South America.
73: Percentage of men who buy flowers for their sweetheart on Valentine's Day.
1,000: Number of letters the Italian city of Verona, where Romeo and Juliet lived, receives addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.
1,330: Number of cards Hallmark prints specifically for Valentine's Day.
110 million: Approximate number of roses, the majority red, that will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period of Valentine's Day.
1 billion: Approximate number of Valentine's Day cards that are exchanged each year the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year next to Christmas.
SOURCE: Valentopia Web site.