When we think of Valentine’s day we tend to think of chocolate. Chocolate hearts, chocolate truffles, and chocolate cake are just a few that come to mind. Have you ever noticed how once the new year hits every ad on TV is either weight loss or chocolate. I think the companies get together and formulate a plan. Let’s tempt them with chocolate and then get them to join the countless weight-loss programs to reduce their weight from eating said chocolate. For the last few years the chocolate ads, in particular, have begun to drive me crazy. First and foremost, they don’t include any men. Secondly, they have all turned into these sensual scenes where women are sneaking off to indulge in their truffle, or treat. So here’s my thoughts on this.
Chocolate is delicious. All kinds of chocolate. I love chocolate! But if I want to eat a piece of chocolate I’m going to eat it. I’m not going to sneak off into a private dressing room in a clothing store and eat my brownie. I’m not going to lay on a bed with silk sheets and bite my chocolate square like I’m making love to it. And I’m certainly not going to walk through a room filled with flowing organza curtains letting the smooth caramel flow from my lips. What the heck??? The last thing I want my daughter to think is that she has to sneak off someplace to eat a treat. “Sexual chocolate,” as I call it, is ridiculous. I’m pretty certain that no sensible woman in advertising created these ads.
What I would like to see is every single one of these ads re-made with a man doing the same things as the women. Can you imagine the response from the viewers with men laying in silk sheets scantily dressed eating a truffle or sneaking into a dressing room peering around the corner and eating their brownie. How about walking through organza as it floats past their hands, with flowing caramel dripping from their lips!! Just thinking about it makes me laugh out loud. Have you seen the Ben Stiller spoof where he re-made the Viagra commercial wearing the football jersey and underwear like the woman in the original ad crawling all over the bed? It was brilliant and equally ridiculous. I think that I’m going to have to have my own private boycott of certain companies, until they get a grip on reality and stop marketing their products like women are completely mindless chocolate eating machines. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. But in the meantime, I guess we’re going to have to continue to watch all of the “sexual chocolate” on our screens and try to impress upon our children that men like chocolate as much as women and it’s perfectly OK to eat it out in the open, where people can actually see you. So now lets get cooking! Here’s a little “sexual chocolate” for you!
I’m sharing two fabulous recipes that are perfect for Valentine’s Day. The first is indeed chocolate, a spectacular lava cake, and the second is for the most delicious almond-pear galette ever!! I have lots of recipes for sweet treats, but these are two that seem a little bit fancy, but are much easier than you think.
The galette recipe is from epicurious so I’m attaching the link. It is perfectly delicious exactly as written but I served it with a scoop of salted caramel or vanilla bean gelato and we were in heaven. Be careful not to over broil the top and although it requires a food processor to make the crust, It can be done by hand, but will take a little more effort.
I hope you thoroughly enjoy these two recipes and that you get all the chocolate your hearts desire this Valentine’s Day! Cheers and happy eating! That’s my dish!
xoxo Deb
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/almond-pear-galette-236924
There are many versions of lava cake out there, the one I’ve listed below is one I’ve used and love. However, the other one in the link looks excellent and it’s from the food and wine website.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/molten-chocolate-cakes
Molten Chocolate Lava cake:
- 6oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3 eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp flour
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream whipped to soft peaks (optional)
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat melt the butter and chocolate stirring until smooth; remove from the heat and cool.
In a small mixing bowl combine 3 eggs, 3 egg yolks, sugar, and salt beating on high speed for 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken; stir in cooled chocolate. Sift flour over the batter and fold to blend.
Prepare 6 half-cup ramekins by generously greasing them with butter and sprinkling the inside with sugar. (swirl the sugar around until the bottom and sides are coated and dump out any excess sugar from the cup)
Spoon the batter equally into each cup; place cups on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Do not over-bake or you’ll have no lava. They should look a little crunchy on the sides and top but slightly soft in the center. Remove from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes. Take a sharp knife to loosen the edges and invert each cake onto individual dessert plates. Garnish with whipped cream or ice cream! We prefer ice cream and have used vanilla, peppermint, and salted caramel.
*Cook’s note: Many lava cake recipes specify cooking these in a water bath. This recipe does not and it works perfectly, however you can cook them in a 9×13 baking dish in a water bath if you prefer, they just may need a few extra minutes to bake.
Deb Vuagniaux Designs and Home 