As proprietor of an online gift shop specializing in fresh flower arrangements and baked goods, I often encounter love stories. We cater to folks all over the world who want to send their warm wishes to a loved one in the Philippines and majority of our clients are in a long-distance relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I do not pry into my clients’s love lives. The sentiments on the note cards reveal a lot about a status of a relationship. While I cheered for the couples who finally got married and moved together abroad, the business person in me also guiltily feels a twinge of sadness whenever this happens—another client gone! But of course love is all around and goes around and there is always a lovestruck Romeo ready to woo his Juliet with a dozen roses, a teddy bear and heart-shaped cookies. I’m just happy that we make people happy by helping them keep alive their love across the miles.
One particular love story that stood out this Valentine’s Day on the local front involved a couple named A._ and J._. A._ called me and ordered cupcakes that she said her husband loves, Chocolate Banana and Macapuno Ube. She wanted them delivered on February 14 at her husband’s place of work. We have a minimum amount for delivery and A._’s order did not meet the requirement but since she sounded like a sweet person doing something equally sweet for her husband, I agreed to have her order delivered. She didn’t put her name on the note card but she wrote a loving message.
On the very day the cupcakes were delivered, I got a call from a guy asking about the same cupcakes and how to go about ordering and delivery. Hmm, could he be the hubby? A._ texted me later and gushed that her husband loved her gift and was totally impressed. She also said her family shared and loved the cupcakes and she would want to order another batch as her kids are pestering her for more.
I got another call from the guy inquiring about the cupcakes and this time he was ready to order. He gave me his contact information and I promised to let him know when his order will be available for pick up. Was he a friend of the couple who got lucky enough to see or even taste the cupcakes? I wondered.
And so just three days after Valentine’s Day, Mr. Guy Client arrives and picks up his orders. While he merrily went on his way, A._ and I were texting each other about her orders. She is letting her kids pick the flavors they like. And then things got interesting. Just as we were texting back and forth about her payment options, A._ texted me for the nth time and said that it was her turn to be surprised. Mr. Guy Client was her husband and he ordered the cupcakes for her! She told me how J._ ordered under an alias because he feared that A._ and I are now becoming textmates and somehow, the secret might leak (but J._, I am totally trustworthy … 
!). Anyway, I’m sure A._, J._ and their kids were happy twice over.
This sort of reminds me of O. Henry’s short story, “The Gift of the Magi” but with a twist. Sometimes, the act of acquiring a present for our dear ones is a lot more valuable than the gift itself. To A._ and J._, a toast to you!
February 19th, 2009
Mini Chocolate Firecrackers – melt-in-the-mouth mini chocolate cakes laced with cayenne pepper. Price available upon request.
eat a chili (or chocolate), be happy!
Want to banish pain and experience a feel-good moment? Chew on a chili pepper! Chili peppers contain capsaicin, (cap-SAY-sin) a compound that gives these fruits their heat. When ingested, our body releases endorphins, which are chemicals produced in the brain that reduce pain and induce euphoria, giving us that feel-good moment. That burning sensation you feel while eating a spicy Kimchi or a fiery Bicol Express is actually your body’s protective response, a sign that endorphins—the body’s natural painkillers—are at work. When the capsaicin comes in contact with nerve endings in the mouth, pain signals are sent to the brain which then releases endorphins to desensitize the pain and in turn create a feeling of well-being. The spicier the pepper, the more endorphins are secreted. Who knows, those tears streaming from the eyes after chewing on a jalapeno might actually be tears of joy! And I can hear the chili lovers say “bring on those jalapenos, habanero and siling labuyo!”
For those who want to feel euphoric but can’t stand the heat of these edible firecrackers like I do, there is a sweeter alternative—chocolate! To most people, chocolate is the ultimate comfort food, and justifiably so. As a piece of chocolate gloriously melts in the mouth, we get an endorphin rush which explains why our moods turn brighter after indulging in this sweet treat.
So what better way to trigger our body’s pleasure-inducing chemicals than having chili and chocolate in one go? To borrow from Doublemint’s tagline, “Double the pleasure, double the fun.” Mixing chocolate and chili might seem exotic—the Mayans have been indulging in this potent brew as far back as 2,600 years ago—but adventurous chefs and imaginative cooks all over the world have rediscovered this wonderful concoction and are incorporating it in their repertoire.
I myself am not a fan of chili peppers alone but chocolate and chili sounds mighty good to me. I had been surfing for cupcake recipes featuring this hot combination when I chanced upon Chocolate and Zucchini‘s Chocolate Chili Bites—thanks, C._, for the wonderful recipe! I scaled down the recipe and modified it a bit— decreased the number of eggs and used cayenne pepper because that is all I had on hand. I also put them in heart-shaped mini muffin tins for a touch of whimsy.
They came out perfect. I especially like their wrinkly, crusty tops that yield so softly as you pop them in your mouth. And as they dissolve in your mouth, you get this wonderful chocolate rush followed by a mini heat wave that subsides moments after. And you can’t help but smile and feel good. Euphoria in a bite-size morsel!
Chocolate Chili Bites – about 24 mini bites using regular mini muffin tin; adapted from Chocolate and Zucchini
100 g bittersweet chocolate (I used chocolate with 72% cocoa solids)
1/2 c butter
1/2 c + 2 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 tsp flour
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or any variety you prefer; adjust to taste)
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt the butter and chocolate in a saucepan or microwave.
3. Transfer in a bowl, add the sugar and mix. Let cool a little bit then add the eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition. Add flour and cayenne pepper and mix well.
4. Put in lined mini muffin tins and bake for 10-12 minutes. The top should look set but the inside should still be soft.
5. Let cool and enjoy!
February 8th, 2009
