This is the time of year when it is acceptable to sit on the couch grazing through a giant heart-shaped box full of chocolate covered cherries while crying over a chick flick.

It is perfectly fine to have a lollipop in the shape of a cupid for lunch and little Hershey’s kisses for dessert. Everyone’s breath smells like cinnamon from all the complimentary bowls of spicy cinnamon hearts set out all over the office.

We all love candy, from jujubes to peppermints, but it isn’t something we usually make at home. That gets left to the pastry chefs and professionals. Many of whom will be competing in a Candy Battle tonight at the Drake Hotel. Taste candies from Yummy Stuff, Wheelie Sweet, The Sweet Escape, She’s Baking & The Gabardine, then vote for your favourite. A fun indulgence on a Monday night!

This year why not try to make your own candy for Valentine’s Day?

Here are a few simple recipes from Saveur & Martha Stewart to try if you’re a complete beginner, easy enough for a child to make.

Fruit Jellies, Homemade Marshmallows, Chocolate Truffles, Dark Cherry & Orange Peel Bark

and here are some for those who are comfortable using a candy thermometer.

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cordials, Pistachio-Cranberry Torrone, Lollipops, Twig Taffy

Pistachio-Cranberry Terrone by Martha Stewart

A candy made with your loving hands says so much more than one that’s mass-produced and sitting on a shelf waiting to be marked down on February 15th. This is your chance to try something new in the kitchen, learn a great skill and show a special someone how much you care.

Here’s our favourite candy recipe, they look like little rubies when you put them out in a glass dish.

Cinnamon Hard Candy

Seeds is arresting documentary theatre chronicling the 4‐year legal battle between Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser and biotech giant Monsanto Inc. Based on court trial transcripts and interviews with all the players, including, Schmeiser, Monsanto representatives, farmers, academics, lawyers and scientists from across Canada, Seeds takes us behind the scenes of the battle for the future of food. In 2004 Annabel Soutar began to research the case of Monsanto Inc. versus Percy Schmeiser. Monsanto accused Schmeiser of growing their genetically patented Round‐up Ready canola seeds on his property without paying the licensing fee they require.

By taking us through a suspenseful labyrinth of legal conflicts regarding patent rights, scientific showdowns about GM food, and property clashes between farmers and the biotechnology industry – Seeds asks an essential question – can you patent a living thing? Or as Percy famously asked, “who owns life?”.

This landmark trial not only brought this question before the Supreme Court, but also garnered Schmeiser attention from around the world.

Chris Abraham says, “I’m thrilled to be introducing Toronto audiences to playwright Annabel Soutar and her remarkable piece Seeds. When I read it for the first time, I couldn’t put it down. Her dogged pursuit of the truth in the case of Monsanto vs. Percy Schmeiser is entirely gripping, as are her observations of the social and political implications of the paradigm shift in genetics happening under our feet. I can’t wait for the conversation and debate that will be sparked by this show.”

Seeds will have its Toronto premiere at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts from February 18, 2012 to March 10, 2012.