Floral Arrangement - Red Carnations and Roses

When Valentine's Day ends, the flowers remain. But these flowers don't have to lose their meaning after the holiday. They offer the perfect opportunity for creative flower arrangements that will brighten up your home. Here, I repurpose, refresh, and redesign some red carnations by changing vases or adding different leaves and accessories. 

Floral arrangement 1:  add accessory such as a red vase and matching flexible reeds.

Flower arrangement 2: use different greenery

 Flower arrangement 3: use  a different vase and add berries and ferns

floral arrangement 4: use wider leaves to match the blossoms 

floral arrangement 5:  mix with silk flowers to match the surrounding

Chocolate Molten Lava cake

This Chocolate Molten Lava Cake is so ideal for Valentine's Day and for that matters -  any week.  It is so easy and so devilishly delicious!   I wanted something chocolaty, rich and yummy-gooey and this chocolate cake  melts in your mouth and melts your heart!

 Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

  Ingredients

1 1/4 sticks butter

4 (1 oz) squares semi-sweet chocolate

4 (1 oz) squares bittersweet chocolate

1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

1/2 cup King Arthur's flour

3 large eggs

3 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Tablespoon  coffee or orange liquor, optional

 unsweetened cocoa for dusting the custard cups

 Directions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Grease 6 (6-ounce) custard cups. Dust with unsweetened cocoa
•  Melt chocolates and butter in the a nonstick saucepan by using medium low heat. Just enough so that the chocolate is softened. Take it away from the heat. Stir until smooth.
• Stir in the sugar and flour to chocolate mixture.
• Stir gently in all the eggs and extra yolks until smooth.
• Stir in vanilla and/or orange liquor until well combined.
• Divide batter evenly among custard cups.
• Bake for 12-14 minutes.
• Edges should be firm but the center will be soft and jiggly. Run a knife around the edge to loosen and invert onto dessert plate. Serve with ice cream or whip cream or dust with confectioner's sugar.