This article, by Jen Laskey, lists oyesters, chocolate, red wine, ginseng, chili peppers, avacados, asparagus, strawberries, and honey as traditional aphrodisiacs. Interestingly the article reveals that many of of these items are high in anti-oxidents.
Here is an experimental aphrodisiac, based on Laskey’s article; I give you “The Passionate Heart.”
Ingredients:
Strawberries, honey, 1/2lb semi-sweet (or dark) molding chocolate, cocoa powder, chili or chipotle powder, white wine, your lover
To a small bowl of honey add just enough wine to it that the wine can be tasted, but the honey does not loose too much of it’s thickness – set in fridge to chill.
Scalp the strawberries and scoop out a little hollow inside. Save the tops of the strawberries!
In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave a handful of chocolate for 15-30. Be sure to actually take the chocolate out and stirr it for a few seconds because when the chocolate is right at the melting point it may still hold its shape, or the edges might be melty a bit and the stirring will distribute the heat evenly and finish the melting. With chocolate better safe than sorry; if it appears to need a little more heat, pop it in for 10 seconds and check again.
Once your chocolate is stirrable, beging adding in the chili or chipotle powder (to taste). If the chocolate starts to cool and get stiff, pop it back in the microwave for 5-1o seconds.
Now you can go two different directions from here – the “Hard Heart” or the “Soft Heart.”
“The Soft Heart.”
Retrieve the honey/wine mix from the fridge and scoop dollops (God, I hate that word) into the hollows of the strawberries, replacing the cap. (optional) you can use the chocolate to attempt to secure the top back on the strawberry.
Roll the bottom of the strawberry in the chocolate/chili mix. Once the strawberry is dipped in the chocolate, dip it into a small bowl of cocoa powder.
Use immediately or place in fridge.
“The Hard Heart”
Scoop dollops of the chocolate/chili mix into the hollow of the strawberry, instead of the honey/wine mix. Set in fridge to set.
Once the strawberries have set, take out and dip into the honey/wine mix and share!
