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.

Makin' Friends Monday

Today I am following Kasey's idea for Makin' Friends Monday post and our
task: 10 things that just really get you fuzzed up (that means makes you mad). So here are the ones that I have come up with:
1. I detest any make-up that you have to use your fingernails to get the substance out of the bottle. Because then you have it under your nails and have to try to clean it out from there too.
2. Why do commercials have to be 200 decibals louder than the actual show? Do they think we all are deaf?
3. Sports announcers, especially the news sports announcers, their voices grind on me.
4. Waiting. I'm not very patient. If an appointment is at 10:00 I expect everyone to be there ready at 10:00 (I know, I am not very patient). And along with that, people who don't show up at all when they said they would be there really irk me. Is it too much to call with your excuse?
5. Food that is supposed to be hot, but is served warm. I am not afraid to send it back.
6. When someone borrows something and does not return it and you have to hound them for it, or returns it in less than the condition it was in when they took it.
7. When the weather does not cooperate, like lately. It is supposed to be Spring. There is no snow in Spring, didn't Mother Nature get the memo?
8. Show stealers. You know the kind, that have to monolopolize the conversation every time. Their experience was better than anyone else's and they are not polite and let others have their say.
9. My hair drives me crazy! I am never satisfied with how it looks.
10. Toilet seats should be put down after use and toilet paper should roll from back to front.
(Just a disclaimer that I am very forgiving so if you find yourself doing any of these things I will probably give you a second chance--or three:))
If you want to check other posts for their pet peeves go to Kasey at All That Is Good.

Have a great Monday!!