When considering my penchant for cooking with lots of cream and butter, some friends tell me that they think my heart pumps cream; others say butter or chocolate.  I assure them that my blood runs as red as theirs and, thanks to pharmaceutical technology, without bad cholesterol and other annoying blockages. Is does not mean that I shouldn’t be a little more careful but, when it comes to Valentine desserts, I simple can’t help myself!

This Valentine’s Day will be shared, as I mentioned last week, with very dear friends S.  (‘star’ of last week’s post) and Our Friend Barbara (affectionately known as OFB). They will come over after we get home from work. There will be no big, elaborate, romantic dinner. Instead, we will get hors d’oeuvres from Trader Joe’s, serve them in front of the television and hunker down in front of a silly romantic comedy. The movie of choice this year is Down With Love, and along with Ewan McGregor and Renée Zellweger, Chocolate plays an important supporting role.

Both S. And OFB love their chocolate. Mark, however, does not. So it is my job as chef to find something that will make everyone happy. Sometimes this is a daunting task, but this time it was a breeze. I made this dessert last year for Mark and it may be the one chocolate dessert he loves. It is a coeur à la crème au chocolat. It falls somewhere between mousse, cheesecake and heaven. While Mark despises cheesecake, he rather loves this for its light, creamy texture, and also because the chocolate is not overpowering. And, of course, presentation is 9/10ths of success; this dessert is a show stopper.

This recipe has been in my repertoire since just after I graduated from college.  I did not have the appropriate mold at the time. But, I did have a 7-inch round cake tin which I pierced in a decorative manner (not that the design of the holes means anything), and made do. Eventually, I got a real mold (as pictured above) and I use it from time to time to make sweet or savory coeurs à la crème. I know the molds are available in individual serving sizes, too, but if I buy one more gadget, kitchen utensil, or serving piece… I will be facing an unpleasant divorce! And the irony of a divorce over a Valentine’s dessert would just be so wrong!

I hope you enjoy this light and exquisite dessert, and I wish you a very happy and chocolate covered Valentine’s Day!

– David

Coeur à la crème au chocolat