Katerina's Kouzina - Authentic Greek Recipes and more

Greek Valentine chocolates

Pretty soon love is celebrated on Valentines Day. Since I photograph the recipes for Katerina’s Kouzina, we recently discussed what to choose for this special occasion. The first thing that came to my mind was Valentine chocolates. Katerina was not at all surprised. After all, she knows that chocolate to me is what ouzo is to the Greeks.

Chocolate mixed with love

I said the chocolate would have to be mixed with a little bit of love. What could suit it better than the bright red, juicy, exotic pomegranate seeds? The fruit of the winter, the fruit that grows so abundantly in Greece and actually… is a little bit sexy. Chocolate and pomegranate seeds are an irresistible combination of divine flavors that give a real kick. While I was raving about the Valentine chocolates, Katerina looked at me with amusement. “Why don’t you be my ‘guest cook’ and make it yourself?

I was wondering if this meant a total switch of jobs and she would take the pictures. Totally intimidated by Katerina’s cooking skills, I doubted. But hey, I should be able to handle a little bit of chocolate no? I bought some heart shaped tins and gathered the chocolate and pomegranates. Before I got started, I felt I needed another ingredient. Some wisdom. I looked at what the Greek philosophers had to say about love.

Greek philosophers on love:

Plato was not very positive…

“Love is a serious mental disease”

But then he also said:

“At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.”

A bit confusing I would like to say…What about Socrates? Turns out he has a good solution to a lack of love:

“If you find a good wife, you’ll be happy; if not, you’ll become a philosopher.”

And then there is Aristotle:

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies”

Plutarch words make me smile:

Love is like drunkenness. It makes people warmer, happier and effusive.

Euripedus words gave me frown wrinkels:

“He is not a lover who does not love forever”

But we do agree on the following:

“The greatest pleasure of life is love.”

Making Greek Valentine chocolates

Having all the right ingredients, it’s time to get this love recipe started. First remove the seeds from the pomegranates and put them in a bowl (or have some fun and make hearts out of them!)

Chop the chocolate and melt it.

When the chocolate is well melted, add two third of the pomegranate seeds and mix it. At this point it’s difficult not to loose control and eat some of this divine mixture, it’s so good!

Poor the chocolate mix into the heart shaped tins. While doing so, you can make them as thick as you like. Sprinkle the left over pomegranates on top. Don’t forget to add some Greek wisdom!

Let the hearts cool at room temperature before you put them into the refrigerator for about four hours until the chocolate has become solid. Once ready, take the Valentine chocolates out of the tins and give the hearts to somebody you love!!

I wish everybody a very happy Valentine’s Day next week!

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