The Sweetest Day of the Year

I really truly love February 14th. Not because of big romantic gestures or Hallmark slogans but because, once a year, there's a whole day dedicated to reminding us how big a role love plays in everything we do.

I love seeing people on the bus with bouquets of flowers, secret smiles, boxes of chocolate and an irrepressible sense of hope. That crazy humming in your veins when you like someone and maybe, just maybe, they like you back.

That's the kind of feeling that can light your life on fire and burn cities to the ground.

If you're in the mood for something extra sweet, I spent my morning baking Slutty Brownies. The mind-boggling creation of The Londoner, this doesn't really feel like a recipe so much as a road map to reaching culinary bliss. If you're looking for a made-from-scratch version, there's a lovely recipe here, but for those of us whose mouths water and pupils dilate at the mere thought of rich, gooey layers of cookie dough, Oreos and brownies, principles can wait until the 15th. This is no time for common sense. This is the time for pre-packaged cookie dough (just add butter and eggs! Who knew) and instant brownie mix. This is the time for sweet as sugar and baked to perfection.

Prepare the packaged cookie dough (or, if you're feeling particularly patient and virtuous, whip up a batch of your favorite chocolate-chip cookie recipe) according to the instructions on the package and pat it down at the bottom of a greased brownie pan. This is step one.

Step two: Make a layer of Oreos. Eat the broken ones - this recipe demands nothing but the best.

And finally, mix up your brownie batter and pour it on top. The thicker the brownie layer, the softer and easier to eat the Oreos will get. Bake at around 350F to 375F for about thirty minutes. The cooking time and temperature really depend more on the brownies - but go ahead and pull them out of the oven while there's still a bit of batter sticking to your fork. A little extra goo is never a bad thing.

Cool, slice and enjoy. Preferably with a tall glass of soy milk and surrounded by people you love. This is my Valentine, something sweet from me to you.