**VALENTINE'S DAY RECIPES**

MOIST CHOC CHIP COOKIES:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended.
Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy.
Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended.
Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted.
Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.


CHOC LAVA CAKE:

5 squares (1 oz./28 g each) semisweet chocolate
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter
2 eggs
2 additional egg yolks
1/4 cup (50 mL) granulated sugar
2 tsp. (10 mL) vanilla
1 tsp. (5 mL) instant coffee powder
1 tbsp. (15 mL) all purpose flour
whipped cream and berries as an accompaniment


Grease four 3/4 cup (175 mL) custard cups or individual souffle dishes.
In a small saucepan, melt together the chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
Remove from heat.
In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the eggs, additional egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and instant coffee powder until very thick, about 5 minutes. The mixture should be thick enough to form a ribbon when you lift the beater from the bowl.
Gently fold in the flour and the chocolate mixture, mixing just until combined.
Pour batter into prepared baking dishes, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until about one hour before you're planning to serve dessert. (You can prepare the batter as much as 24 hours before serving -- great for do-ahead entertaining.)
Remove baking dishes from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Arrange baking dishes on a large pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the top is just barely set. (A toothpick poked into the center of one of the cakes will come out with batter attached.)
Let cool for 5 minutes, then very carefully loosen the sides of the cakes by running a knife blade around the inside surface of the dish and turn them out onto individual serving plates.
Serve immediately with whipped cream and, if desired, fresh strawberries or raspberries.