f a __ Cooking to perfection VALENTINE’S day evokes visions of chocolate, sugary cinnamon hearts and other sweets. : If you're inte collecting Valentines, this week’s chocolate cake will guarantee vou more adoration than you can probably handle. .__ For those not quite so keen to embrace high calories, a baked chocolate pudding will please the hearts of many cherubs. Chocolate may not be the only tasteful way to mark this day, but you have to agree, it’s certainly one of _ the best. " Baked Chocolate Pudding ” NEWS photo Gindy Goodman WITH. Valentine's “Bay - approaching weethearis: have treats to took for- FOOD rating with the taste of choc Loaded with cholesterol, this treat is not for the faint of heart, but Valentine's Day is only once a year. 3 eggs 4% ¢, cocoa Kc. sugar 2c. milk 1 Thsp. icing sugar % ¢. cinnamon hearts Whisk eggs, then sift cocoa and sugar together in a large bowl, mixing well. Warm the milk in a small saucepan or in the microwave ind gradually whisk it into the egg mixture. Divide into four ovenproof dishes. Put the bowls into a larger pan filled with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 25 minutes at 325 F, Reduce heat to 360 F and bake for another 20 minutes or until the pudding is set. Sprinkle with sifted icing sugar and cinnamon hearts just before serving. Chocolate Chunk Torte If you don’t have a valentine before you make this, you will afterwards. It’s neither a light dessert nor quick to make. But it’s defi- nitely a delight tc eat, and yes, it’s worth the effort. 1 . strong coffee % c. unsweetened cocoa 1% c. unsalted butier 2 squares semisweet chocolate 2c, all-pi se flour lke granulat su 1% tsp. baking soda % tsp. salt 2 eggs 1 tsp. vaniila % c. buttermilk 4<¢, chocolate butter icing or whipped creara 2 Tbsp. sherry 1% c sweetenes dried cranberries Pre-heat oven to 350 F (186 C). Butter and dust with flour two 9-inch (23-cm) cake pans. In a large mixing bowl stir hot coffee with cocoa and butter, until the butter melts. Coarsely chop the chocolate squares and set aside. In a medium-sized bow! blend flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Stir eggs and vanilla into the 'ukewarm coffee mixture. Then add a third of the flour mixture and beat well. Stir in half of the buttermilk and mix well. Repeat this step until all of the flour mixture and milk have been added. Fold in chocolate chunks. Divide batter between the two prepared cake pans and bake in the center of oven until a cake tester, inserted in middle of cake, comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then turn the cakes out on racks to cool completely. Make a butter icing, then add a spoonfu! or two of sherry to thin it a bit. To assemble, lay the cake rounds on a flat surface and stice each horizontally into four equal but thinner rounds. Place one piece of * cake on a plate and spread with butter icing or whipped cream and sprinkle with dried cran- berries. Repeat with remaining layers, stacking each and icing the top. Do not ice the sides of into wedges for serving. — If von have questions to ask or recipes to share, contact Plyl and jude at: R.R. #2, S. 27, 23, Peachland, B.C. VOH LX@. cake. Refrigerate, uncovered, about three hours. After icing has set, cover with plastic wrap. Use a sharp knife rinsed under hot run- ning water after every slice, to cut the cake THIS WEEK'S BES CHILI CON CARNE Buy 2s & get 2ibs - a Reg. price $5.95 nti ink Bakery VALLEY RD., LYNN VALLEY CENTRE _ 985-1622, Intel Ceiron 400MH2-based, 15"... monitor, 64Mb RAM, 56K modem, - 6.4Gb hard disc, Windows 98. Spend 3 nights and 4 days at the beautiful five-star Hotel Luxor. Value $1,600.00