In this week’s Cooking with Bwog, resident culinary expert and quasi-mixologist Matt Powell shows you how to make love potions for Valentine’s Day out of the two most potent aphrodisiacs known to man—chocolate and alcohol!

Like this, but chocolate and alcohol...and not in a heart-shaped bottle!

I may not be a mixologist, but I’ve always liked to experiment with different kinds of drink combinations. It probably all started when I was young. My mom would catch me mixing her good perfumes and expensive spices in a large pitcher… Let’s just say I’ve made some progress since then. At least my drinks are nontoxic now.

But seriously, these drinks would be perfect for your funny valentine. With a plenty of sweetness, they could be considered desserts in their own right. And they only take a split-second to make (as compared to the desserts from last week).

The Mephisto

Serves 2

In this drink Amaretto paired with strawberry ice cream to create a milkshake-like dessert.

Ingredients

  • 8 scoops of Strawberry Ice Cream
  • 1/4 C whole milk
  • 1/3 C Amaretto
  • 4 fresh strawberries, plus 2 for garnish

Directions

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender except for the garnish. Blend until smooth and thick—like a milkshake.
  2. Pour into 2 glasses. Cut a slit in the center of the two remaining strawberries and place on the rims of the glasses. Serve.

The Chocolate-Covered Cherry

Serves 2

A couple weeks ago, I had an excess of cherries and I decided to blend them into juice. I came up with this drink and it was absolutely delicious.

  • 4 oz. cherry juice
  • 2 oz. crème de cacao
  • 1 oz. vanilla vodka
  • Ice (for the shaker)
  • Fresh whipped cream (for garnish)
  • A small chocolate bar (for garnish)

Directions

  1. Combine the cherry juice, the crème de cacao, vodka, and ice in a shaker. Shake the contents until combined and chilled. Pour into two martini glasses.
  2. Top the drinks with the fresh whipped cream. Shave bits of the chocolate bar, using a microplane or grater, over the whipped cream and the drink.

The Godiva Martini

Serves 2

Granted, I didn’t come up with this recipe myself, but what Valentine’s Day is complete without the Godiva Martini? It may even be better than a box of chocolates.

Ingredients

  • 3 oz. Godiva chocolate liqueur
  • 3 oz. crème de cacao
  • 1 oz. vodka
  • Ice

Directions

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker. Shake until combined and chilled. Pour into two martini glasses and serve.

    Image from Flickr/Brenda-Starr