"Without chocolate, there would be darkness and chaos." Don Kardong

I think Valentine’s Day is the one day of the year that women persuade themselves into thinking that it’s okay to eat a whole box of chocolates even though this is what they want to do the other 364 days of the year. Before I got sick, my idea of a dessert was fruit. I had successfully trained myself from a young age to never ever eat dessert. I convinced myself that I didn’t like it. My poor child did not have that kind of mother who would have a plate of cookies waiting for her after school. We did not even have ice cream in the freezer but we had a whole bunch of mangoes. No wonder she hates me. Just kidding. Anyway, after I got sick and the doctor told me that I would most likely die within three years I decided from that moment on I would shovel into “ma bouche” any and every delicious chocolatey, sugary, meringuey, cream puffy treat I could get my hands on. I have been true to my own word. Living in Paris helps. For example, this week alone I have had a sticky bun, a chocolate eclair, a caramel eclair, 4500 gummy bears, cheesecake, peanut M&Ms, French toast with powdered sugar, three macaroons and probably other stuff I’m forgetting. Here’s the funny thing… Nothing bad has happened. All those years I worried. I haven’t broken out, I’m not a big fatty and I don’t have any cavities. I can’t believe I wasted all those years on fruit. Here is a little collection of beautiful and delicious Valentine’s Day treats. I have included links to the recipes if you feel adventurous. XO XO

www.laduree.com "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." Earnestine Ulmer

"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart." Erma Bombeck

www.thecomfortofcooking.com "I'd consider being a farmer. As long as I could live on the Pepperidge Farm. And raise Milanos." Author unknown

www.foodideasrecipes.com "There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love chocolate, and communists." Leslie Moak Murray

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie." Jim Davis

www.onefabday.com "Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal." Voltaire

www.bedifferentactnormal.com "A boy doesn't have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn't like pie when he sees there isn't enough to go around." – E. W. Howe

www.100layercake.com "Is there's no chocolate in heaven, I'm not going." Author unknown

www.pineconesandacorn.blogspot.com "Fruit only angers my need for chocolate." Jason Love

www.excellentrecipe.net "If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated." Author unknown

www.sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net "When you're dead, you're dead. And until then, there's ice cream." The Mentalist. That's it. Happy Valentine's Day "I hope your wildest dreams come true." Napoleon Dynamite XO XO