As Valentine’s Day approaches, Mark and I tend not to think of it as a lover’s holiday but more a day in which we celebrate all the people we love – parents, siblings, friends and our family-of-choice (honorary mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts and uncles).

One such person is our dear friend, S.  She is a woman of “a certain age” – one that remembers The Great Depression, World War II, and a slew of other historic events.  We rarely talk of those events but, having lived through them, she has some of the most incredible stories to share.  From the day we met her, we have laughed through many evenings.  I have never known anyone who enjoys life more than she, and it is contagious.  Many say, “When I grow up, I want to be just like her!” – even if they have surpassed her in years; this isn’t about age, it is about state of mind.

On any given day, S. might be my sister (the one I never had) – or my mother (my birth mother died when I was not yet 30).  But on every day, she is my friend – someone with whom to share meals, a glass of wine and concerns for one another.   Just last evening she called us to make sure our pipes hadn’t burst in case we needed a bed and shower at her home.  She is someone of whom we will think on Valentine’s Day.

And, it is for her that we made this cake at Christmas time.  S. loves the combination of peppermint and chocolate, and I am always trying to find good recipes with this combination to make for her.  And this one had a really nice Christmas feel about it, but it could fit the bill for Valentine’s Day, too –  especially if you have a few leftover candy canes from Christmas.  The cake itself is like a brownie – chewy on the edges with a dense and moist interior.  The milk chocolate/peppermint filling is worth making by itself – perfect icing for any cake, or to sandwich between two sugar cookies.  And topping the cake with a dark, rich ganache (also flavored with peppermint) just pushes it over the edge!

This is what I call a “weekend cake” – a recipe for which you need a good full day to make it.  But, for me (and I think many of us who like to cook), spending the day in the kitchen is the best therapy for me, and often less expensive than the psychological variety.  But not always… those truffle posts nearly broke the bank!

So enjoy your Valentine’s Day – with all the people you love!

– David