Easy-to-prepare Hershey’s Deep, Dark Chocolate Cake (shown here with peanut-butter frosting) is a delicious treat for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. (Photo by Laura Groch)

Best wishes to everyone for a sweet Valentine’s Day — which doesn’t have to be as commercial as all the advertising that’s been surrounding us for the past two weeks. Kisses, hugs, small kindnesses and heartfelt words will have a longer-lasting impact than candy, flowers or jewelry. (Not that I’m knocking candy, flowers or jewelry.)

But telling and showing the people you care for that you do care for them doesn’t cost you a cent. So please do just that. To paraphrase the immortal words of Bert Berns as sung by the Exciters: “Tell them, tell them, tell them, tell them right now.” ;<)

And if you don’t make it to the candy store, florist or jeweler’s, may I recommend the chocolate cake recipe in the notes on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/notes/laura-groch/hersheys-deep-dark-chocolate-cake/430299706998549) . It’s from Hershey and probably on their website or cocoa tins, too. It makes an excellent cake, easy to prepare, and frosted with peanut-butter frosting (or whatever your favorite frosting is) delivers a fantastic Valentine’s Day dessert!

(Peanut Butter Frosting? Just substitute peanut butter for the butter in your favorite frosting or icing recipe. Adjust to taste.)

(c) copyright 2015 Laura Groch