Chocolate Sweet Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day!

...Or Happy Singles Awareness Day, I guess, if you're one of those people.

I'm a (sometimes) happy single who's (always) aware of her singleness and someone who loves Valentine's Day nonetheless. This day might as well be Happy Eating Chocolate Day- although Easter does prove to be a close contender for the title. But then again, roses+chocolate wins over boiled eggs+chocolate, so there's that. 

If you're like me, you bake chocolate heart cookies, treat yourself to some Moscato, and catch up on The Mindy Project. You resist the urge to shout, C'mon Mindy the character! Stop going out with random jerks! Danny's the right jerk you should end up with!!! Then you pour yourself another glass.

You also read the Valentine status updates on Facebook and predict this year's single people bitterness index. I have to say, I didn't see a whole lot of negative posts this year. Either you guys are really happy or have turned completely apathetic.

This Valentine's Day, I surprised my mother with a bouquet of red roses. She surprised me with nothing, but that was okay. I ate the last of the rice.

I'm sorry to have to tell you that these heart cookies aren't the best cookies you'll ever eat. They are lovely cookies. However, they're not the sweetest cookies in the world, so if you were expecting cookies like these, you'll be disappointed. They will also get stale if you leave them out for too long.

But they're the right cookies if you so happen to be a dark chocolate lover. At about 50 calories a heart, these cookies are loaded with that perfect, just bitter cocoa flavor.

I imagine these will be excellent for mini ice cream sandwiches or cookie sandwiches. Sweet, indulgent cream cheese frosting would pair well. Or how about milk chocolate whipped ganache? You know, to double up on the cocoa but add just the right amount of sweetness?

That is, IF enough cookies manage to remain on the plate after coming out of the oven.

Today was a very happy Valentine's Day, single or in a relationship or too busy to care.

My mom received her favorite flowers, I got to bake, and some really great pictures happened. What's not to celebrate? Did I really miss out on that much by not having someone take me out to dinner?

My reasoning goes, I'll just make that future someone make every day feel like it's Valentine's Day. Make up for all the February 14s I had to spend by myself baking cookies. No biggie.

Chocolate Sweet Hearts

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg

Directions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, place chocolate, butter, and brown sugar; stir frequently until almost completely melted. Remove from heat, and stir until completely melted; let cool slightly.
   
2. Add egg to chocolate mixture. With a mixer on low, beat until well blended. Gradually stir in flour mixture (dough will form a ball).
   
3. Divide dough in half; roll out each half on a sheet of parchment paper to a 1/4-inch thickness. Transfer each half (still on paper) to a baking sheet; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
   
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Working with one half at a time, flip dough onto a work surface; peel off paper. Using a 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies; place, 1/2 inch apart, on two baking sheets. Bake until firm and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.
   

 From Martha Stewart