2/4/10

Valentine Dessert for Book Club

 For today's Tablescape I set up an informal Valentine Dessert for my Book group.
I used a red and white toile tablecloth on the table and my scalloped heart shaped dessert dishes that I purchased at Pottery Barn several years ago.  They came in sets of four with one each of white, pink, lavendar and dark pink plates.  I have two sets which was just right for our eight members that night.  I used my wedding silverplate dessert forks by William Rogers.
 
We had our ice water in these goblets from Target.  I love their dark ruby color and felt they were just right for Valentines as well.
 
The centerpiece was a large heart on a table stand that I got at Tai Pan last year at 50% off.
 
I served Ina Gartner's Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake with Ganache and on the side Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream with Orange Sauce.
 
Each serving was topped with a cute Valentine pick.
Ina Gartner's Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake
1/2 lb. unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 extra large eggs at room temperature
3 cups flour
1/2 each of baking powder and baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup buttermilk at room temperature
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups good semisweet chocolate chunks

for the syrup
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

for the ganache
8 oz. good semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. instant coffee granules

Grease and flour a 10" bundt pan.  Cream the butter and sugar for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, then orange zest.  Sift the dry ingredients together and add them alternately with the wet ingreds.  Toss the chocolate chunks with 2 T. flour then add them to the mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour until cake tester comes out clean.  Let cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Make the syrup by heating until the sugar dissolves.  Remove cake from pan and set on a rack over a tray.  Spoon the syrup over the cake.  Allow the cake to cool completely.  Then drizzle the melted ganache over the top of the cake.  It is delicious!

I am linking up with Thursday Tablescape and Foodie Friday for this post.

22 comments:

Sue said...

First, I just love your little heart plates and dessert looks so delish! I love Ina's recipes. What a fun treat for your guests.

Sue

HollyC said...

I love your heart plates & ruby glasses! What a special way to spend the evening with your book club. The setting is perfect! Oh, and the dessert made my mouth water! Thanks for sharing.

~Holly

Cass @ That Old House said...

So pretty! I "heart" it all. :-)
Cass

Designs on 47th Street said...

I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for letting us be a part of your book club ~~ only wish I could have a piece of that cake! Love those sweet heart plates AND those really fun ruby glasses.

Anonymous said...

Ina is one of my favorite's on the Food Network. That cake looks delish!

Lori @ Dining Delight said...

The dessert looks so yummy and is perfect on those heart shaped plates (I want some!) The ruby red glasses are perfect too!

DD

black eyed susans kitchen said...

A piece of that wonderful cake on a beautiful heart shaped plate? I would say that is a perfect Valentine treat.
Susan

dee dee said...

How very festive! I think Valentines day is so joyful and fun! I would treasure being in your book club!
Deedee

joybuzz said...

Ina has the best recipes ever! Enjoy your Valentines day. What is your book club reading next and what book have you all enjoyed the best?
Joyce

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Oh my! This dessert looks so fabulous! Orange and chocolate is a combinagtion made in heaven! Your ruby glasses are so elegant!
Fun table, fun dessert and great post.
Yvonne

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That dessert looks sinful it's so good. And I love your ruby glasses! Neat!

Happy Foodie Friday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Alea Milham said...

The combination of orange and chocolate sounds lovely!

Thanks for the reminder that I have ruby dishes tucked away in my China cabinet. I need to pull those out...

Unknown said...

Fantastic little party and luscious cake! Yum
Rainey

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That sounds and looks like a fabulous dessert. Orange and chocolate... YUM! Love your cute plates, too.

Happy Foodie Friday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

susan said...

This just has to be divine and a taste of citrus sounds perfect to chase away winter blues! Your book club was lucky! Love those red glasses!

From the Kitchen said...

Hello! I've just "met" you on Martha and checked out your blog. Food and books--my favorites. I love to cook (used to teach cooking classes) and belong to two book groups. One consists of four couples. We meet for dinner four times a year and discuss what we've read during that time. The other group is called The Muses. We meet once a month a discuss a specific book. This month is "The Help". Excellent and very interesting to me as I grew up in the south. Now am a mid-westerner. What is your group reading?

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

I think your dessert looks so yummy. And your home always looks beautiful!

Love you!

XOOX
Jen

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Who doesn't love a good Ina recipe?!!!

She never steers me wrong!

:)
ButterYum

Natasha in Oz said...

I am a huge fan of Ina's and I just love the look and sound of this recipe. Thank you for sharing it!

Thanks also for visiting and for your lovely comment-I really appreciate it.

Best wishes, Natasha.

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh yum! This looks wonderful -- love the sweet plates.

Gypsy Heart said...

This is my first visit to your blog and am I glad! Everything is just beautiful and the dessert looks delish. I want to be Ina Garten when I grow up.

Martha said...

Love your heart plates -- and that is one Ina recipe that I've not tried yet. I have a garden club meeting and need to bring a cake -- perhaps I should make this one.