Last year, I mentioned that we were pretty casual observers of Valentine’s Day. We don’t like to spend a lot of money or make a lot of effort.
We’re sticking to our Valentine’s Day schedule this year, which consists, in its entirety, of the following:
1) Dinner at a Thai restaurant (I swear, this is the best thing ever, as they are never crowded on Valentine’s Day. Of course, this year, since the holiday falls on a Sunday, we’ll be going Saturday night instead, so it’s not like it even matters).
2) Homemade Chocolate dessert. Because, let us be honest with ourselves – Thai restaurants are not exactly known for their chocolate desserts. Also, for Bart, any dessert that is not chocolate, isn’t really dessert.
So, here’s where I ask for some help again (I know, it’s just take, take, take over here). What chocolate dessert should I make for the holiday? Suggestions? Links? Pictures?
I am with Bart. Dessert=chocolate.
I've got a couple that I like, but I won't clutter your comments with the full recipes, so I'll email you.
I love low-key Valentine's Day! However, I am wholly unqualified to suggest a chocolate dessert seeing as I am not a huge fan and JG is not a dessert person. If you're interested in my go-to brownie recipe, that is always a winner, and you can jazz it up with whatever chips or goodies you like.
Maybe the Chocolate section at Smitten Kitchen could give you a few ideas…
Not necessarily a valentine's day treat, but an amazingly easy and yummy recipe for chocolate lovers: Oreo Truffles. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-oreo-truffles/Detail.aspx
Ha! Was just coming to post the exactly same link that Lisa C posted- the oreo truffles. I have been craving them since eating two at Christmas. And I don't even LIKE Oreos, so you know they are good.
I would go with some sort of chocolate mousse or chocolate pudding. Silky, smooth, sexy, and chocolaty.
You have GOT to try this cake from Orangette: http://orangette.blogspot.com/2004/08/and-then-cake-came-forth.html
Cake really isn't even the right word. It's rich and decadent – like eating brownie batter, but cooked so it's not dangerously raw.
These slow roasted tomatoes are amazing too: http://orangette.blogspot.com/2005/08/better-living-through-slow-roasting.html
I think I have a post about this recipes scheduled for sometime this week on my blog.
Here are some I'm dreaming about trying: the raspberry cheesecake brownies & chocolate cake at the bottom of this blog: http://greenbeanruminations.blogspot.com/2010/01/random-musings.html I love these but have never made them – homemade oreos: http://sisterscafe.blogspot.com/2010/02/homemade-oreos.html or either one of the recipes on this blog: http://thegabblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/caramel-cake-conversation.html
We like to keep things simple: we melt Hershey's Special Dark chips and then dunk anything we can find ( fresh fruit, dried fruit, pretzels, cookies, marshmallows, nuts, etc.) in it.
I saw this and swooned…you must make it!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/01/life-by-chocolate/
I recommend a chocolate cream pie. I don't have a recipe on hand, but my mother-in-law makes a really delicious one that I'm sure I could get the recipe for if you want it, because oh. my. amazing.
This Chocolate Truffle Torte is amazing [http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/chocolate/truffle-torte.html] its a fairly failsafe recipe. The rum is substitutable, and its chocolate deliciousness.
Chocolate mousse is always good too.
Chocolate fondue is always fun. It's a dessert and an activity in one!
this chocolate cake is the best i have ever had in my life…. in fact, I'm going to go blog about it right now……you know where to find it 🙂
thank you for reminding me that i need to make this on valentine's day also! it would've been tragic if I'd forgotten.
Triple chocolate mousse cake. The recipe is from Cook's Illustrated and it was DIVINE. Of course, it takes like three days and a zillion steps, so…
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700005919/Valentines-Romantic-evening-starts-with-cooking.html
Replace the coffee ice cream with chocolate and do extra chocolate syrup and I bet he'd swoon more than once. 🙂
http://itwasamazing.blogspot.com/2010/01/bittersweet-chocolate-mousse-cake.html
Sometime you should check out the Chocolate Bar in the Langham Hotel in Boston. It's all-you-can-eat and really great. My motto is "don't eat anything you can make".
Re: recipes – I have a bunch but would suggest chocolate croissant bread pudding (Barefoot Contessa)
WOW! You've got some pretty awesome ideas! I am a choco-holic and Ryan just made an INSANE chocolate cheesecake from scratch- SO GOOD! Start early in the am or even the night before- it has to set in the fridge for six hours- it's the ghiradelli chocolate cheesecake on their website- oh my goodness!
We love Chocolate Molten Cakes and it is super easy. Just mix a chocolate cake mix per instructions. Fill cupcake tins 1/2 full, then drop a heaping tablespoon of Hershey Hot Fudge Sauce (from a jar) into the batter. Bake as usual. Turn upside down and serve with a big scoop of ice cream.
The cake will be warm and the center gooey, fudgey goodness!
You can look at picture of my monsters enjoying it at:http://tonthemove.blogspot.com/2009/03/bellies-full-of.html
You have a lot of great suggestions here. I am a fan of good old Texas chocolate cake and I bet you probably are too. 🙂
One other option that is delectable in the best way is the following:
http://www.tongue-n-cheeky.com/2009/06/ideal.html
Nie mentioned this on her blog awhile back and the resulting recipe and photos are absolutely amazing. Check it out for the photos, if nothing else. 🙂
This is a super easy but the best tasting ever chocolate cake on my friends blog – http://inmyshoes-nicole.blogspot.com/2009/09/please-forgive-me.html. Since we're non-coffee I made a few alterations, here they are on my blog – http://myloveandhatelists.blogspot.com/2009/10/cake.html
It's also plenty big enough to share!
Well! Ask for chocolate, and the world is at your doorstep…
http://mykitchencafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/hot-fudge-pudding-cake.html
oozing with chocolate-y goodness.
Whatever you decide, it seems you can't go wrong.
I second the Smitten Kitchen chocolate section comment. I can personally vouch for the:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake (http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/)
Dark Chocolate Tart (http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/dark-chocolate-tart-with-gingersnap-crust/)
Chocolate Chip Cookies (http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/01/chocolate-chip-cookies/)
I also LOVE Caramel Brownies (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Caramel-Pecan-Brownies/Detail.aspx?prop31=8). I'm considering making them with Smitten's cocoa brownie base next time.
totally with bart…i will not purchase dessert at any restaurant unless it consists of CHOCOLATE!! you will have to share your homeade recipe. steve and i love thai food. we hit the thai spoon up by the heb on a regular basis. we don't even have to tell them what we want…maybe we go a bit too much??
This link is to my favorite…molten chocolate cake!
http://kevinandlizzyskousen.blogspot.com/2009/09/molten-chocolate-cake.html
I haven't figured out the invisible font problem, but it's there, I promise!
My two cents: Diana bananas cake is incredible. I was going to suggest that cake and then noticed she had done so… so I will just second it as UBER (meaning even more, over the top) amazing. Danny requests I make it on a monthly basis due to it's yummy goodness. Happy V Day!!!
3 ideas:
1. Nigella Lawson's chocolate cheesecake (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/chocolate-cheesecake-recipe/index.html), which I have been dying to try. It got great reviews, which is always a good start. Of course, I'd make it with an Oreo crust for even more chocolate.
2. This fondue, which looks great and would be fun with a sweetheart (http://sisterscafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/chocolate-coconut-almond-fondue.html).
3. Texas sheet cake, which is the best chocolate dessert ever invented. I have a great recipe if you want it and don't already have one.
Now I must read all the other comments and dream of chocolate.
Those Cooking Light chocolate souffles are really good… but really, so is almost anything made of chocolate. Scratch that, anything made of GOOD chocolate.
I think you should make Chocolate Lava Cakes with freshly whipped cream on the top. You can prepare them ahead and then pop them into the oven for 20 minutes before you want to eat them. They are divine. 🙂
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Molten-Chocolate-Cakes-102177
NOTE: I cut out the brandy and the espresso powder
Your one-liner re. Bart's dessert preferences = hilarious.