A Passion for Chocolate By Julie SengerWhether you’re looking to make a homemade sweet treat for your Valentine, or you’re interested in creating something special for a favorite group of “Galentines,” kiddos, or coworkers, or you’re part of the “Love Stinks” camp and plan to treat yourself to chocolate goodness this year, most everyone will be able to find a recipe on these two pages to fall in love with. Healthy Chocolate Hummus This would be wonderful for a Galentine’s Day charcuterie board. BONUS! The avocado/coconut oil is heart healthy, and the recipe has no gluten, dairy, or refined sugars. Ingredients 1 15 oz. can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained2 tbs. avocado oil or coconut oil1/3 cup maple syrup2 tbs. tahini or favorite nut butter1/4 cup Dutch cocoa powder1 tsp. vanilla extract1/2 tsp. fine sea saltFlaky sea salt for garnish (optional) Procedure Put chickpeas, oil, maple syrup, and nut butter into a food processor and process until smooth (1-2 minutes). Add cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and sea salt, then process until the mixture is well combined. If the mixture is too grainy, add a tablespoon of warm water while the food processor is on and let it run until it’s smooth again. Transfer the hummus to a cute bowl and sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to one week. Use fresh fruit, cookies, crackers, or pretzels for dipping. White Chocolate Cherry Fudge For those who are not big fans of super chocolatey desserts, this recipe is as pretty to look at as it is delicious to eat. Ingredients 6 oz. dried cherries1 pinch salt1 tsp. vanilla extract3 3/4 cups white chocolate chips1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milkSparkling sugar sprinkles (optional) Procedure Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper, so that it goes up the sides of the pan. Pour the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl and microwave for one minute. Stir to combine and distribute the heat evenly to melt the chocolate chips. If the chocolate isn’t completely smooth, microwave the mixture for another 30 seconds. Stir in the vanilla extract, dried cherries, and salt. Pour the mixture into the lined pan and spread evenly. If you’d like, sprinkle some sparkling sugar on top of the fudge and lightly press down on it, so it adheres. Allow the fudge to cool completely before cutting into squares. You may also refrigerate it to expedite the process. Spicy Chocolate Hearts This recipe is perfect if your sassy Valentine likes chocolate with an unexpected kick of sweet heat. You’ll need a silicone mold to make this candy, preferably one with hearts. Ingredients 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper1/2 tsp. cinnamon10 oz. dark chocolate (not bark)4 oz. white chocolate for garnish (optional)Red sugar crystals for garnish (optional) Procedure Melt the chocolate in a double broiler or microwave until smooth and shiny. If using a microwave, be sure to take the chocolate out every 20-30 seconds to stir and distribute the heat to help facilitate the melting process. Add cinnamon and cayenne pepper to the melted chocolate and stir until evenly distributed. Using a teaspoon, fill each silicone heart 2/3 full and carefully shake the mold back and forth to settle the chocolate. Refrigerate the mold for 1 hour. Remove the chocolate from the molds, then melt the white chocolate and drizzle over the top of each heart. Sprinkle with red sugar. Refrigerate the hearts for 30 minutes or until white chocolate drizzle and sprinkles are set then remove and serve. Brownie Cookies Need something easy to take to an office party or send with the kids to school? This vegan recipe is a great way to combine two favorite desserts into one yummy treat. Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup cocoa powder1/2 cup sugar3/4 tsp. baking soda1/4 tsp. + 1/8 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. baking powder6 tbs. vegetable oil2 tbs. milk of choice1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract1/3 cup mini chocolate chips Procedure Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir to form a batter. Grease a cookie sheet and roll the batter into balls (or use a mini cookie scoop) to place on the sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes at 325 degrees. The cookies will look underdone when you take them out of the oven but will become firm after cooling. Momma Jean’s Chocolate Chess Pie This old-fashioned pie recipe (like Momma used to make) is a rich, comforting dessert to share with your family. Make sure to have glasses of ice-cold milk ready to go with it! Ingredients 1 deep dish pie shell1 stick margarine, melted (not butter)2 1/2 cups sugar3 tbs. cocoa powder1 5 oz. can evaporated milk2 eggs slightly beaten1 tsp. vanilla extract Procedure In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients and stir until well combined. The mixture will be a loose liquid. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and bake at 325 degrees for approximately 1-1.5 hours or until the center of the pie has little movement when slightly jiggling the oven rack. Let the pie cool for at least an hour to set before serving. "All you need is Love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz