- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 5
-
Sparkle (0)
Ahh, the romance of Valentine's Day. The roses, yikes, $100 a dozen. The restaurants, yikes, crowded, overwrought food and expensive. The cards, yikes, sappy sweet, just one more Hallmark holiday. Romantic? Not in my book, yours either, I'm betting. There IS another way to express your love, whether on February 14th or your very own special Day of Love (July 23rd, anyone?). It takes just a little planning, a little time, some recipe inspiration ... and a lot of chocolate.
First Up -- Twitter Links
(NOTE: Every so often, my fellow BlogHer editor Kalyn Denny and I do a call for links via Twitter. This is a great way to share a favorite recipe here on BlogHer. (And bloggers, you know the value of a link from a high-pagerank site, right? That too!) Follow me via Kitchen Parade on Twitter and Kalyn via Kalyn's Kitchen on Twitter.)
Andrea's Recipes ~ Mexican Hot Chocolate Fondue
"We love dipping foods, whether it’s chocolate fondue or chips and salsa, because it’s just more fun that way. And what is more fun and romantic than dipping luscious strawberries into thick, rich, hot chocolate? Not many things I can think of!"
Photo by Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy
Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy ~ Rose-Kissed Chocolate Truffles for Your Valentine
"Roses are one of the most popular symbols of love and affection between two people, especially on Valentine's Day. Ever wonder why? ... if you rearrange the letters of the word rose, you get Eros. Eros is the Greek counterpart of Cupid, again, the god of erotic love and sex. With all that symbolism for erotic love and sex going on, it's no wonder that roses are one of the most popular gifts between lovers on Valentine's Day!"
Fatfree Vegan Kitchen ~ Chocolate-Covered Cherry Pudding Cake "To me, nothing says Valentine's Day like chocolate. Unfortunately, my husband is not a big fan. Like his love of sports, his apathy toward chocolate is something I just don't get. I've tried enticing him with all sorts of decadent chocolate desserts, but his reaction is always the same: "It's okay...for chocolate." So in order to get him to really love something with chocolate in it, I've learned that I have to combine it with a flavor he really likes."
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate. And More Chocolate
Photo by Karina's Kitchen
Karina's Kitchen ~ Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake "So send me a kiss when you've baked this confection. And be sure to kiss the one you love. Young and old. Seasoned and brand new. Straight, gay and in between. Celebrate love in all its generous forms this Valentine's Day. And don't forget to love yourself. Because that, Babycakes, is where the seed of true love begins to grow."
Sassy Radish ~ Chocolate Cola Cake with Toasted Coconut-Pecan Frosting (used to celebrate a real-life love story!)
"Well, for those of you who like a good nostalgic, Southern-themed dessert, this cake is for you! Flavored with cherry cola, frosted with a dulce du leche frosting with pecans and coconut, this is a rich, chocolatey, powerful cake. It's intense and decadent and were it not for the fiercely cold temperatures outside, it would make me feel like I'm lounging in Charleston somewhere sipping on sweet tea and fanning myself."
Photo by Straight from the Farm
Straight from the Farm ~ Cranberry Heart Tarts
"Chocolate and fruit do epitomize the food that might be served at a lovers’ tryst. Not wanting to ignore that association in my current quest for local seasonal sweet treats but lacking any strawberries, I decided I’d give coating cranberries in chocolate a go. They are wonderful – the sweet rich chocolate coating breaks over a burst of tart juice in your mouth. Like any perfect union, these two flavors compliment each other flawlessly."
The Pioneer Woman ~ Baked Fudge
"Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, and you know what that means: It means…well…it means you can bake a lot of fattening, gooey, yummy desserts and say “it’s for Valentine’s Day!” and no one will judge you. I just LOVE Valentine’s Day!"
Photo by Kitchen Unplugged
Kitchen Unplugged ~ Hot Chocolate Cake
"... the wet ingredients include a
