juliana_phang wrote:

anyone makin choco? jpn style ^^)

is there a special or other method in the way they make chocolate in japan?

Learn a bit more about V-day in Japan.

http://japanesefood.about.com/cs/holidays/a/valentinechoco.htm

I want to try and make the green tea chocolate cake. Just thinking about it makes me want to eat one. Hm.... yummy.

smallangel1 wrote:

is there a special or other method in the way they make chocolate in japan?

erm
the way they make choco?
no idea..but most of them buy choco now
they'll give to the guys..then during "white day" the guys will return a gift to the girls..cool huh
it's like exchanging gifts

juliana_phang wrote:

it's like exchanging gifts

Only if the guy is diggin' the woman though!
Too bad if she's a dog! Or a psycho for that matter!

Tekanan wrote:

i met this girl early jan this year and i really like her. so what i'm planning to do on V-day[sounds similar to D-day] is to go to the local florist,get some sunflowers[she loves them],go over to her place and surprise her.

goooooood luck!

i dont know what will i do in v-day...
3 days more..
still dont have any plan...coz usually v-day is just like regular day for me..
my hang out friends are busy with their works....
hhhhhhhhhhhh...........*taking a deep breath*

_________________

P'UNK EN CIEL
.................................dir en grey

lovelessemotion wrote:

make sure she is not married.... I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH ppl.... oh and oftopic: Tekanan ur a guy!? i always tought u were a gal!.. srry

.........

anyway~.don't worry.she isn't married.she's a year younger than me and we are in the same course[mechanical engineering].
i am doing summer classes right now[i'm in australia] and that's how i met her.
this is my plan.
give her a bunch of sunflowers on sat[and maybe show my heart?].then the coming week i can't do nuts as it's my summer classes' final exams.
BUT in the following week after that,i'm planning to actually get her to go out and i'm gonna drop the bomb!
my first time doing this...in other words i've no idea how to do it and i might end up messing things....
so YES,i need luck....plenty of them!

Chocolate

Making loving chocolate for Valentine's Day

Recipe

Ingredients: White chocolate, edible red colouring

Method: 1. Add the colouring to the melted chocolate.

2. Pour the mix into half of a heart-shaped mold.

3. Use the colouring to draw a set of small lips at the bottom of the other part of the mold.

4. Pour melted white chocolate into this part. Wait for it to cool

Chocolate Conversation Heart Cakes
Ingredients:

One and a half c. all-purpose flour
Half cup granulated sugar
Half cup packed light brown sugar
Six full tablespoons cocoa
One tsp. baking soda
One fourth of a tsp. salt

One cup water
Six tablespoons vegetable oil
One tsp. white vinegar
One tsp. vanilla extract
Creamy Frosting
Red Decorating Gel
Method: Heat oven to 350~ F. Grease and flour a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Stir together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Add water, oil, vinegar and vanilla; beat with whisk or spoon until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Transfer to cutting board. Cut cake into 8 to 10 hearts using 3-1/4 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Chocolate Pecan Valentine's Day Kisses

3 Egg whites
1/4 ts Cream of tartar
3/4 c Granulated sugar
1/2 c Finely chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 c Sifted unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 ts Vanilla
1 pn Salt

Method:

Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar until stiff, glossy peaks form. Fold in pecans, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt.

Spoon into pastry bag fitted with 1/2 inch tip. Pipe 1 inch kisses, about 1-1/2 inches apart, onto lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake in 250F oven for about 45 minutes or until outside is firm but inside slightly soft.

Let cool on racks. Store at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 5 days.

Decorating a Plate with Chocolate Hearts

Put a row or ring of dots of chocolate sauce (each about the size of a dime) on your plate. A plastic squeeze bottle, a pastry bag fitted with a medium plain tip, or a spoon and steady hand are ideal for making the chocolate-sauce circles. Space them as evenly as you can, with about a half inch between them. Then take a toothpick or skewer and draw it through the middle of the first chocolate circle and on into the next circle. Draw the skewer through the middle of all the circles, and it will create a chain of hearts, indenting the top of each and drawing a pointy end at the bottom.

It looks even better if you fill the bottom of the plate with a sauce of a contrasting color (a white Crème Anglaise, for example), and squeeze your chocolate circles into that, or vice versa.

News

On Valentine's Day, Japanese women give chocolate to men. (Men give gifts to women on March 14th called White Day.) This tradition started as a marketing tool for chocolate companies in Japan. Japanese women are encouraged to express love to men by giving chocolate and other gifts on February 14th.

Grocery stores, department stores, and convenience stores sell many different kinds of domestic and imported chocolate. More than half of the chocolate sold in a year is sold around Valentine's Day in Japan. Women buy chocolate for their co-workers, bosses, male friends, brothers, father, husband, boyfriends, and so on.

Chocolate given to men whom women don't feel special love are called "giri (obligation)-choco (chocolate)." Chocolate given to co-workers and bosses are usually considered as giri-choco. Many men feel embarrassed if they don't receive any chocolate on Valentine's Day. Women usually make sure to give giri-choco to men around them so that they don't feel left out. The average price range for giri-choco is from 100 yen to 300 yen each.

Women tend to give special gifts, such as neckties and clothes with chocolate to those men whom they love. Chocolate given to a special man from a woman is called "honmei (prospective winner)-choco." Honmei-choco is more expensive than giri-choco and is sometimes homemade. It's lucky if a man could receive a honmei-choco. How about making green tea chocolate cakes for your loved ones?

The most popular Japanese chocolate brands are glico, Meiji, and Lotte. They make many delicious chocolates and sell them in attractive packages.

You can buy some kinds of Japanese chocolate on line.
Happy Valentine's Day!


~ Setsuko Yoshizuka

FLOWER

Beside Chocolate u can give flower too...As every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these fragile blooms. Of course, even the experts disagree on the "true meaning" of many flowers and most have different meanings to different people. So, while all flowers convey thoughtfulness and love, here are some of the more traditional meanings, according to one source. See, if you agree.

ACACIA - Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love
AMBROSIA - Your Love is Reciprocated
AMARYLLIS - Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE - Forsaken
ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA - Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single Blessedness
BEGONIA - Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND - Good Luck
BITTERSWEET - Truth
BLUEBELL - Humility
CACTUS - Endurance
CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK) - I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED) - My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED) - No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
CROCUS - Cheerfulness
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity
DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR - Time
FLAX - Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT - True Love, Memories
FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
GARDENIA - You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM - Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI - Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA - Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) - Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Play
HYACINTH (WHITE) - Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
HYDRANGEA - Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
IRIS - Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor, My Compliments
IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned
LARKSPUR (PINK) - Fickleness
LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You
LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
LILY (CALLA) - Beauty
LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete
MAGNOLIA - Nobility
MARIGOLD - Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MISTLETOE - Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
MONKSHOOD - Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near
MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity
MYRTLE - Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage
NARCISSUS - Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory in Battle
OLEANDER - Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE MOCK - Deceit
ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm
PALM LEAVES - Victory and Success
PEONY - Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage
PETUNIA - Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me
PINE - Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED) - Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE) - Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW) - Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconstancy
ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happy Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) - You May Hope
ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me
ROSE (RED) - Love, I Love You
ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember Always
ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love at First Sight
ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence
ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW) - Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care
ROSEBUD - Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure and Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) - Gratitude
ROSES (Single Full Bloom) - I Love You, I Still Love You
SMILAX - Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON - Deception, Gracious Lady
SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with Me
STEPHANOTIS - Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel
STOCK - Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SWEETPEA - Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED) - Believe Me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine in Your Smile
VIOLET - Modesty
VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take a Chance
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance

Ne now u know u don't choose da wrong one for Cupid's day ne minna
Source: Redbook

Last thing I struck in me mind Da idea is da poetry ne...

The First Day
by Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894)

I wish I could remember the first day,
First hour, first moment of your meeting me;
If bright or dim the season it might be;
Summer or winter for aught I can say.
So, unrecorded did it slip away,
So blind was i to see and to forsee,
So dull to mark the budding of my tree
That would not blossom, yet, for many a May.

If only I could recollect it! Such
A day of days! I let it come and go
As traceless as a thaw of bygone snow.
It seemed to mean so little, meant so much!
If only now I could recall that touch,
First touch of hand in hand! - Did one but know!

But well u can wrote ur own poet to da one u love right

!!!!!!!!

i'm beginning to be impatient...

i just want to steal her heart away.....~


u guys know what.last time i always wished my love life to be a fairy tale,like one u see/read in animes/dramas/mangas.

but now for once,i wish that on V-day AND on the day i drop the bomb,everything is as normal as it should be![on the positive side i mean!].usually in those 'stories',something bad or awkward will turn up and......

spending v-day alone. single life sux during feb
going to be studying, wow wat a way to spend v-day ...

gifts are not everything but when u get something, it really brightens up ur day. unless u dun give a crap ...

ahochaude wrote:

Only if the guy is diggin' the woman though! Too bad if she's a dog! Or a psycho for that matter!

lolz...ha..that's a sad thing too

well, this v-day...i'm gonna spend it by myself..probably, but i'll have a great time baking cookies!!! yum yum oatmeal raisin!
_________________

Tekanan wrote:

but now for once,i wish that on V-day AND on the day i drop the bomb,everything is as normal as it should be![on the positive side i mean!]

u can't wait 2 more days? ..lol jk

GOOD FOR U.. that's a great attitude to have! ... i wish u the best of luck boyeeeeeee... ask her out for coffe and take it s...l..o..w... i'm telling ya GUYS it may sound stupid but IT REALLY WORKS!!! .. noone seems to belive me tough

lala81 wrote:

gifts are not everything but when u get something, it really brightens up ur day. unless u dun give a crap ...

i'm sure there's a guy out there that's just wating for ya to tell him u like him.... cheer up man! ...i'd buy ya flowers if i lived near ya!

on a side note: lisasan posted!!! XD sugoiiiiiiiiiii hey lisasan baking cookies sounds like fun

lovelessemotion wrote:

GOOD FOR U.. that's a great attitude to have! ... i wish u the best of luck boyeeeeeee... ask her out for coffe and take it s...l..o..w... i'm telling ya GUYS it may sound stupid but IT REALLY WORKS!!! .. noone seems to belive me tough

they'll believe you once they're tried that approach there, Dr. Phil!
_________________

Here's my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/kwan1?ref=profile

this is the first time i'm so worked up over valentine's day!!!
i'm so damn nervous,valentine's day and my birthday party (just urned 18) are pretty close and "my dreamguy" (read: the guy that i've been having a one year one sided crush on) is coming too...
(<----- goes completely crazy)

lovelessemotion wrote:

ask her out for coffe and take it s...l..o..w...

i'd love to but most likely she'll say no.so i won't bother asking.
and about being s.l.o.w.....i'm reaching my limit!
i consider myself to be a patient guy,this i can't stand it anymore.i MUST blurt it out!
and the fact that a new semester's starting.....so competition's gonna be tough....


maybe it is afterall a bad idea?......
to blurt it out i 10 days after V-day i mean.....

valle wrote:

i'm so damn nervous,valentine's day and my birthday party (just urned 18) are pretty close and "my dreamguy" (read: the guy that i've been having a one year one sided crush on) is coming too...

...and DON'T BLOW IT!... just have fun

man,i'm flushed.
after walking through the city for almost 90mins+ non-stop,i couldn't find the "thing" that she wants.
i came back and felt depressed cause a flower definitely isn't enough to steal her heart...
after some unwise thinking and nonsense,a friend of mine came online.we had a good chat and i've come to my senses.

so i have concluded that i won't blurt my feelings out.i WILL wait and go slowly even though i will suffer alot.
but it's definitely worth it cause i like her alot!

so for u guys who've been wishing me luck,sorry to dissapoint you!


i'll still give her that sunflower though...

Tekanan wrote:

so for u guys who've been wishing me luck,sorry to dissapoint you! i'll still give her that sunflower though...

why a sunflower?? -_-x
_________________

<kizuna>