I Heart You

We aren't big Valentine's Day celebrators. I've always seen it as a great marketing opportunity for companies. Flower companies, greeting card companies, and just about everyone else make you feel guilty if you're not spending a ton this time of year.

We all know, the greatest things in life are free, so to me, spending a lot on the greatest thing of life--LOVE--seems silly to me.

We'll hold each other close on Saturday. There might be a card, homemade or not. There may be flowers. There may be heart shaped pancakes in the morning, but most likely they'll look like misshapen blobs. I'll make a special dinner and maybe we'll crack open a bottle of bubbly that some friends of ours made and shared with us.

It certainly won't be a material holiday. In fact, I wouldn't go near a restaurant or anything deemed "romantic". We'll celebrate with our son. Maybe hit the movies. We'll just be together, that's all I could wish for.

My mom and her cousins hit White Castle every year. I think it's hysterical. It's become so popular that reservations are now required. They put white tablecloths on the tables and I believe there is candlelight and the workers dress up. What started as a joke celebration has turned out to be something bigger and more and more people go every year. Sliders all around and maybe a little heartburn later in keeping with the holiday's theme.

The most important thing to remember is that you can't put a price on love. With a little thought, you can make the day special without spending much if anything.

This is a dessert that my mom made throughout my childhood. There's very little fat and so is a very Weight Watchers friendly dessert. Put it in the oven right before you're ready to have dinner and it will be ready at dessert time. I think it would be the perfect ending to a homemade romantic or love filled family dinner.

Moms Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

Rich chocolate pudding on the bottom, decadent fudge cake on the top. You can make this in the crock pot too. Serves 12 at 3 Weight Watchers Points per serving.

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In ungreased 9 inch square pan, stir together flour, white sugar, cocoa, the baking powder, and salt. Mix in milk, oil, and vanilla with a fork until smooth.
Spread batter evenly in pan (batter will be thick). Sprinkle with brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa. Pour boiling water over batter.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes, then spoon into dessert dishes or cut into squares. Invert each square onto dessert plate and spoon sauce over each serving. Top with ice cream or whipped topping, if desired.

Want to control your portions and really make a wowie zowie kapowie impression on your loves? Well, bake these cakes in ramekins or coffee mugs. Each cup will get two tablespoons of batter, 1 1/2 tablespoons of cocoa mixture and two tablespoons of boiling water. Bake the cakes for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are cracked. Cool slightly, top with mini marshmallows and broil until marshmallows are browned like you toasted over them the most perfect campfire (without turning them into horse crap, like we always did as kids, allowing them to burn to a crisp). Marshmallows are not included in the Point count.