There’s no need to spend a fortune this Valentine’s Day and anyway, most of us have been affected by the economic downswing in some way or other, so we can’t.  It is important, though, that we give ourselves some time to enjoy the company of our loved ones and even if there’s only an hour to spare late at night – make the most of it!  This short excerpt from Pablo Neruda’s* Love Sonnet XVII is so perfectly suited to Valentines day that it had to be included (do read the whole poem, it’s beautiful). He was a gifted Chilean poet, well known throughout South America, who started publishing poetry in his early 20’s.

The poverty in Chile, the civil unrest in Spain and the rest of South America affected him terribly and the love poetry soon became political – for today, however, we chose this simple declaration of love:

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you simply, without complexities or pride;
I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I do not exist, neither do you,

Ingredients

• 200 g dark chocolate, 70 % cocoa solids
• 4 large free-range eggs, separated
• 40 ml Cointreau
• To decorate
• whipped cream, to decorate
• grated chocolate

Method

• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water to melt – the chocolate must not overheat.
• Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until they form soft peaks.
• Stir the liqueur into the beaten egg yolks and add this to the melted chocolate.
• Now pour the chocolate/egg mixture into the egg whites and gently fold together.
• Divide evenly between four ramekins and place in the fridge to chill – serve with whipped cream and decorate as you wish.