Friday, February 5, 2010

Valentine Opiates

There is no lover like chocolate. He is sweet, dark, sometimes dangerous. He whispers softly as I unwrap him. He caresses my tongue and gently juices flow.
I smell him and he fills my mind. My blood races. Month after month, I crave him. Sometimes he comes with gifts, sweet cherry liquid, soft caramel, almonds...
I have no lover but chocolate...

Chocolate contains chemicals that reproduce the effects of marijuana. The combinations also produce a euphoric feeling sort of like falling in love.

Ellen Kuwana of the website Neuroscience for Kids says "Researchers at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, Emmanuelle diTomaso (she's now at Harvard University) and Daniele Piomelli (he's now at the University of California, Irvine) looked into the chemical components of chocolate. They found three substances in chocolate that 'could act as cannabinoid mimics either directly (by activating cannabinoid receptors) or indirectly (by increasing anandamide levels).'"

No small wonder then that chocolates form an intrinsic part of the Valentine's rituals. Although I must warn the readers that chocolate has a limited effect. The chemicals are not sufficient to produce actual marijuana-type "highs" or "euphorias." Maybe the flowers are contributory, and you need all the ingredients for the full effect. Nevertheless, I would not suggest a Valentine celebration without both chocolates and flowers.

For those who intend to stay home, though. One can be consoled with chocolate recipes. The way I see it, if there are enough cannabinoid-like compounds in your food, who needs a date?

This is my favorite brownie recipe -- no it has no opioids other than cocoa powder! Its pretty easy, I've been baking this solo since I was nine.

Ingredients


¾ cup butter (room temp)
1+½ cup sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of salt (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (cashew, pecans or walnuts) optional
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and suger. Add eggs mix well, then add vanilla. Add in all dry ingredients except nuts and mix well. Add nuts if any.
Grease a 13x9 inch pan. Pour in mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 to thirty minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool, dust with powdered sugar, if desired.




4 comments:

Anonymous said...

With chocolate, "who needs a date." Hahaha! Precious!

Anna said...

Hah!

Agree!

My daughter wrote in her blog:

"What Valentine's Day is telling you is that if you do not get your girlfriend an "I Love You Beary Much" teddy bear, then you are a total loser and your relationship doesn't deserve to survive and probably won't. And your girlfriend agrees with Mr. Valentine. So you better get off your backside and buy that stupid teddy if you don't want her to dump you.

Thus Valentine's Day is not about love. It only highlights two unflattering facets of mankind: our love of materialism and our lack of regard of fellow humans. Finally, Valentine's Day feeds off fear: our fear of not being loved if we do not conform.

So... Be cool, don't buy that teddy bear. Just get me the chocolates."

Seems chocolates are a universal valentine solid love potion... :-)

DeliSyosa said...

Hahaha, Anna, agree completely! and please pass the box of chocolates.

DeliSyosa said...
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