Chocolate Rose Love Potions

Yeah, I went there...

Valentine’s Day. Adored by lovers, abhorred by singles. What is it about chocolate and roses anyway? Well, I’ve combined these two most iconic of Valentine’s gifts into two dessert drinks that will have you celebrating your love (or your freedom) in romantic style.

Speaking of romantic style, Orville comes home today from a visit with his folks in California just in time for a lovely Valentine’s Day evening tomorrow. I’m planning a menu starting with oysters on the half shell & champagne, moving on to a dinner of truffled risotto and pork chops. I’m still undecided what flavors I’ll work with on the chops. I’ll probably wing it with whatever strikes my fancy, and if it works out, I’ll reproduce it and post it to MTK since that’s how most of my posts end up here. I’m following dinner with a couple of rose scented chocolate elixirs for dessert.

But wait, there’s a story here. Early on in our relationship, Orville and I decided not to do all the usual Valentine’s Day gifts – flowers, chocolate & jewelry. I initiated this, partly because our anniversary falls on January 8th, RIGHTaftertheholidays, and Orville’s birthday is on February 6th, so we’ve been in gift-giving celebration mode basically since Thanksgiving and it would be nice not to have the pressure of being inventive and romantic so soon after all the anniversary and birthday milestones. I told him I would love to keep it simple – a single rose and a heartfelt card is plenty. I’d rather just spend a romantic Valentine’s Day evening together with my Pig.

He agreed, and so I got him a rose and a box of chocolates, the beautiful velvet box for which still holds assorted buttons in our sewing kit . But let’s face it, the chocolate was as much for me as for him, so I really stuck to the deal. He presented me with a beautiful gunmetal multi-tip pen/stylus for my Palm Pilot (remember those?). As I opened it, I was touched, but disappointed–”But, I didn’t get you anything. Just this rose.”  He looked at me and said, “This IS a rose.” From then on, we call unexpected gifts (especially mechanical pens) “roses.” Awww.  And so a rose is my inspiration for this week’s Valentine’s Day Treat – a rose for dessert, that is!

For those of you who aren’t completely nauseated by all this sappiness, read on for the particulars of my chocolate-rose love potions!

Wait a minute?

Did you say chocolate and roses? In a drink?

Yes. Rose water is used in many cuisines to add an intoxicating floral note to dishes. I’ve paired it here with chocolate liqueur for a sophisticated Chocolate Rose Martini, and added it to make a variation on my Liquid Decadence Hot Chocolate. The trick is to be judicious. Just enough is perfect. Any more is your grandmother’s perfume. So go easy. The amounts I’ve used are the perfect balance to me, but your tolerance for this unique taste could be a tad bit lower. That’s all right. If you’re wary, start with half the amount in the recipe, taste, and add until you find your chocolate-rose nirvana. The perfect amount will perfume the drink without overwhelming it, giving it an exotic aroma as it hits your tongue (yeah, I got that right – it’s like tasting a smell!)

Since I’m a little buzzed from concocting the martini (three tries to perfect it! *hic*), I’m going to get to the sharing part before I conk out (oh the sacrifices I make for MTK!)

Chocolate Rose Martini

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 1 min | Servings: 1 serving | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces Vodka
1 1/2 ounces Godiva chocolate liquor
1/2 tsp Rose water
1 tsp Vanilla simple syrup
For the Vanilla Simple Syrup
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1tsp vanilla

Directions:

Vanilla Simple Syrup
In a small jar, mix the water and sugar. Microwave for 45 seconds. Stir to dissolve. Add the vanilla. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Chocolate Rose Martini
Put one cup of ice in a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, Godiva liquor, rose water and Vanilla Simple Syrup. Shake vigorously until chilled and icy. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an edible rose petal (optional).

Rosebud Liquid Decadence

Prep Time: 0 hr 0 min | Cook Time: 0 hr 0 min | Servings: 1 serving | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

2 cups milk
5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 tsp rose water
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
pinch of ground New Mexican chilis (or cayenne pepper)

Directions:

In a saucepan, heat the milk until hot but not boiling. Remove from heat.

Add the chocolate. Whisk, then let sit for two minutes. Whisk again. Add the rose water, vanilla, salt and chili pepper.

Serve in demitasse cups topped with whipped cream and an edible rose petal (optional).