valentine's day Extreme chocolate cupcake by extremecupcakes

This super chocolatey chocolate cupcake is by extremecupcakes on Flickr.

valentine's day Chocolate heart cupcake and I Love You cupcake - an early valentine's day treat

This chocolate heart-topped cupcake is by London (UK) custom cupcake compay Lairy Fairy Cupcakes via Flickr. They can be reached at lairy at btinternet.com for orders and can also be found on their blog, @Lairyfairycakes on Twitter and Facebook.

valentine's day Grasshopper cupcakes from Chez Us

These grasshopper cupcakes are by bloggers Chez Us, where you can get the recipe (via LA Times food blog Daily Dish). From Chez Us:

Normally Grasshopper ice cream is a deep green but keeping with the chocolate theme, I opted for a deep dark chocolate cupcake using Scharffen Berger’s unsweetened cocoa powder and strived for not only flavor but moisture and texture; I wanted this cupcake to be dense, moist and flavorful. I made a batter using the coconut butter, chocolate powder and buttermilk and I added crushed Oreo cookies and peppermint oil instead of vanilla extract for the extra flavor. The oil is intense and you only need a small amount to make an impact on the flavor. My frosting was made with more chocolate, sugar, creamy butter and condensed milk. I was afraid the milk may make the end result too sweet, instead it was rich and creamy.

valentine's day Pretzel antlers on reindeer cupcakes from blogger Mini Baker

I know Christmas is over, but we will be keeping the Christmas cupcakes coming this week, because there are just so many fun ones, like these reindeer cupcakes by blogger Mini Baker, where you can get instructions on exactly how to make these at home.



Here's the breakdown of what's in them:

-Ears= pieces of Tootsie Rolls
-Red "Rudolph" Nose= Mini Red M&M
-Muzzle= Nilla Wafer
-Eyes= Mini Brown M&Ms
-Antlers= Twist Pretzels
-Fur= Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Speaking of Mini Baker, how better to promote your food blog than...writing your name across "Ding Dong" filled cupcakes?

valentine's day Chocolate moustache Big Poppa cupcake with root beer frosting

This cupcake is called BIG POPPA: spice cupcake topped with a rootbeer frosting and chocolate moustache, and it's from MoCupcakes, as part of their "question for the world's manliest cupcake." Enter yours today!

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valentine's day Cake for Two. Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse, layered with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Bavarian Cream, Flourless Chocolate Mousse Meringue Cake, and Raspberry Chambord Caramel. Must be ordered 48 hours in advance. $28

What are the necessities for valentine's day ? Well....the list has grown over the years. But everyone has to agree that CHOCOLATE is high on the list. We are very lucky in Sacramento to have cultivated a premier chocolatier by the name of Ginger Elizabeth. She is a hugely talented young woman especially in the ways of chocolate. This valentine's day , Ginger Elizabeth is offering two very special treats if you live in the Sacramento area.

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Handmade edible Bittersweet Chocolate Box with edible White Chocolate Rasberry Bow, filled with Chocolate Pearls and 8 Artisan Chocolates. Limited....order in advance. $50

To read more about Ginger Elizabeth and place orders for shipment online click here.

Chocolate is a must....and so is a card, don't you agree? These flocked vintage Victorian style cards from Carmel Bay Company are so pretty and romantic:

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Over two dozen assorted vintage style flocked Valentines and envelopes punch out, assemble, And send to the ones you love. $4.99

Hearts for valentine's day ? Of Course!:

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African soapstone hand painted and polished to a smooth touch. The perfect gift for someone you love. Use as a paperweight or create a colorful collection. Background colors: black, red, pink, yellows etc. Small $6.75, Large $15.50. Carmel Bay Company.

Let's see......Flowers are always important, but never more so than when sending to a Valentine. Some of my favorite bouquets can be ordered from Jayson Home and Garden. I thought this Anemone bouquet was particularly wonderful, and the onyx box is a keeper!:

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Fuschia Anemone's in an Onyx Box. $135. Jayson Home and Garden.

Hmmmm, what's next......JEWELRY! How could I forget. I can always count on Sundance for having jewelry I will love. Here a re a couple of rings I particularly LOVE. And that is what valentine's day is all about, right? LOVE:

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Red Jade Ring. $48. Sundance.

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Rose Petal Ring. $220. Sundance.

Well....those are the essentials. But it never hurts to show your love by showering your Valentine with gifts. I heart all of these sweet gifts: valentine's day

Proust Questionnaire - Pink. $34.95. Read more about it here. Jayson Home and Garden.

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Surprise Ball. $10. Unwind to discover keepsakes, fortunes, and prizes. Sea and Jae

I loved these when I was little and have only been able to find them again through Sea and Jae. Sea and Jae also have a wonderful blog all about giving gifts that are unique and creative. Check it out here.

I was recently introduced to a fabulous pillow company called Fabricadabra, and this pillow says it all:

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Felted Wool Appliqued Pillow. 20"x20". $65. from Fabricadabra

The most important thing to give for valentine's day is, of course, LOVE. So be generous and spread it around. The world needs it right about now.

valentine's day Neighbors and Daughters

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Dining Table at our house Last Saturday

I feel regretful that I didn't capture all of the wonderful moments I had this last weekend. I was just too busy enjoying to pick up the camera. But I will try to regale you with description. For those of you who are tightening their belts this year, like we are, I wanted to let you in on an idea that is perfect in so many ways. Let me count them:

1)You get to meet neighbors previously not met, and actually get to know them beyond the distant wave across the street.

2) You get to see into your neighbors houses without peeking in the windows...you are actually invited in!

3) You get to eat a five course meal and share it with 20-30 people without paying for more than dessert.

4) You get to drink lots of wine...lots...and only contribute one bottle yourself. Unless the evening goes really well and then you can always break out more.

My husband and I participated in a Progressive Dinner Party last Saturday which was just a blast. The organizer of the event, Mark, referred to it as barely controlled chaos, but it went off without a hitch. There were about 12 couples organized into teams of two to three couples. One couple prepared the meal, one couple provided the wine, the last couple hosted the course (at least that is what our team did).

We started at one house for appetizers. My favorite had to have been a caramelized onion and dried cherry Crostini concoction that was out of this world! Can you just imagine my excitement to be eating fabulous food prepared by a bunch of foodies AND get to see their homes as well? My little bit of heaven.

At the next house we had a soup "tasting". It began with a green tomato and mango ( I think) gazpacho, then a lobster bisque, then a butternut squash soup topped with sage and a french bread crouton, and ending with a red pepper and tomato soup. All you could hear were sipping noises and mmmm,mmmm against the sounds of Adele's Chasing Pavement in the background. Music was generously provided by Steve, who made CD's for all with his favorite songs from 2008. Steve and I are simpatico on the music front! Could you just kill me for forgetting my camera?

The salad course was at a house which has been one of my long-time favorites in the neighborhood. A dutch colonial style, it has out buildings that have been added over the years, and we were lucky to get to see the "playroom" above furniture making studio of the multitalented woman who lives there. The space is a large open room with a huge fireplace that has a hammered copper hood. The exposed wood ceiling has trusses with custom craftsman style lanterns hanging from them. The owners had set up tables with white linen table cloths with bunches of carnations in silver Derby cups. Salads: romaine and Mandarin oranges, and spinach with walnuts and dried cherries. Mmmm.

On to the next house for the main course of angle hair pasta with Chicken Marsala. This house was so pretty, but the main attraction for me (cuz I love cats and can't have one since Tim is allergic) was the two cats that were the life of the party. Most cats would high-tail it out of a mass of people, but these two were the comic relief. Hanging from their kitty-condo, they commanded the room. Fantastic meal here too!

Then on to our house for dessert....I might be biased, but I think we had the best team. C'mon guys! Admit it....the desserts were amazing! A perfect lemon tart, and a chocolate tart with sea salt and pistachio brittle...and the chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and whipped cream....and the strawberries with brown sugar. Oh, and don't forget the Port! Dessert is my favorite food group. Thank you Joe and Mike for the delicious tarts, and Rocky and Janet for the decadent cake! You are welcome at my house house anytime (as is everyone else!).

The only picture I caught was a bit of the Dining Room Table above, but I received alot more than that. I have made new friends and strengthened other neighborhood ties. I am so lucky to be in a place where this kind of thing happens more often than not. Thank you to all!

This is a recession proof way to entertain, and develop a system of support right next door. I urge you all to try it.

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I also have some pretty amazing talent in my own kitchen. I had to take a picture of a dessert made by my oldest daughter, with a bit of help from the younger. This is what we had for dessert on Friday night:

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From the latest In Style Magazine,February 2009, Orange and Bourbon Chocolate Cake from the Spotted Pig in NYC. Amazing.....just like my girls.

valentine's day Chocolate Love: Ginger Elizabeth

What is the most important thing about valentine's day ? That's right:

LOVE

And what better way to express it than with Chocolate!

That's where Ginger Elizabeth comes in. A delectable new chocolate shop run by a brilliant young woman by the equally delectable name: Ginger Elizabeth! (I just can't get over how much I love that name!)

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Sacramento happens to have an Art Walk every Second Saturday of the month. All of the Art Galleries in town are open late and people congregate in the downtown area to visit the galleries, shops, restaurants, and listen to music, which you find all over town. This last Saturday, Ginger Elizabeth was packed with a bevy of new fans all salivating over the luscious chocolate samples being given away. What struck me, other that my first instinct to devour everything in sight, was the distinctively charming design of the shop. It is very contemporary, while still being a little girly. All and all, very appetizing!

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Designed by Curtis Popp of Blank Blank. Many of the fixtures were designed and made through Blank Blank.

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I like the barstool design here, and the chandelier is paper.

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The wallpaper is the perfect backdrop for Ginger's confections.

Ginger has a fascinating and impressive resume for a young woman of 27. She has worked with some of the greatest pastry chefs in the world and recently was the pastry chef for one of the best restaurants in the region. She started Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates in 2005 at the age of 24! Her boutique is new this year. To find out more about Ginger's fascinating journey, click here.

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Just a few items in Ginger's own chocolate heaven.

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Talented girl, no? YES! This is Ginger putting together the chocolate sculpture I saw in her shop last Saturday.
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And here she is. Ginger Elizabeth. Could a person match up with a name any better? Ginger and chocolate. Destiny!

Please pay her website a visit to see all of the chocolate possibilities. It is as well done as her shop!

HAPPY valentine's day !

(all photos courtesy of Ginger Elizabeth, Photos by Vivien Chen of Littlest Details Photography)