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What women want

Gabrielle DevenishFood Editor

OK, men, let’s take a little trip to Venus for a second. There are three things that all women like, whether or not they tell you so. So learn these, memorize them, and you can make any woman in your life happy.The first thing is flowers. No, not when you’re trying to make up for something, and not necessarily on a special occasion, either (though it wouldn’t hurt). Girls like getting flowers for no special reason at all, other than you are thinking about them. If a guy shows up at his date’s door with a bouquet, or even a single rose, he pretty much can do no wrong the rest of the evening (unless he skips out on the check or something). And getting flowers at work is every girl’s dream, because all the women in her office will congregate around her desk, asking her who they’re from. It’s sweet even when the flowers are from her dad.The next thing is champagne. Champagne makes any evening special, and it doesn’t have to be Cristal, either. So guys, when you’re out to eat with a girl, order some champagne, even if it’s just by the glass. She may refuse at first, but order it anyway. She will like it.And finally, girls like dessert. It doesn’t matter if they’re on a diet or not. When the waiter comes at the end of the meal and asks if you want dessert, do not listen to your date when she says, “I’m OK if you are,” or “No, that’s all right.” A woman will rarely ever say she wants dessert, but she does, so you should order something you both can share. Even if you only get a few bites.The other evening, I finally had to be frank with my date about this last point. We had enjoyed a wonderful meal at one of my favorite restaurants and were nursing the last of our wine when the waitress asked the inevitable question, “Will there be anything else? Would you like dessert?””I’m kinda full; I don’t need any dessert,” my date told the waitress. “But if you want something …” he asked me.”That’s OK. I’m fine,” I said (all women will say this at first; it’s an automatic response).So he just asked for the check and the waitress left. Little did my date know that I had been eyeing the Chocolate Thunder Cake ever since we opened our menus. But I wasn’t going to order it unless he suggested dessert first. It’s a girl thing.However, as we left the restaurant, I stopped him and took him to a chocolate shop right below the restaurant and treated us both to a piece of dark chocolate. Heck, if I wasn’t getting dessert, at least I could get myself a little bit of chocolate.Later, I think a little light bulb went on, and my date asked if I really did want dessert when we were out. So I just told him point blank – women want dessert. It doesn’t matter what they say, they want it. Then I proceeded to explain to him the three Venus principles – girls like flowers, champagne and dessert.”Yes, it’s cliché,” I told him. “But those things work.”I think he was a little surprised. He said he never would have guessed any of that, and couldn’t really understand why women don’t just say those things. But he was definitely grateful for the advice, because, as he put it, “Guys are naive about that stuff.”Therefore, I feel it is my duty to inform men, for the good of my entire gender, about these things. If it takes a two-by-four to tell you guys what we want, then dang it, I’ll spell it out: Flowers, champagne, dessert.Remember it. Teach it to your sons.Because next time, I’m getting that Chocolate Thunder.Gabrielle Devenish is the food editor at the Post Independent. She gives kudos to her dad, who has learned the Venus principles and always lets her and her mom order dessert. Contact her at 945-8515, ext. 535, or gdevenish@postindependent.com.

Chocolate suicide cakeThis isn’t the exact same cake as I was lusting after on my date, but it’s pretty close, and it’s easier to make.1 package chocolate cake mix 1 small package chocolate instant pudding mix 4 eggs 1 cup sour cream 12 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips in a large bowl with a mixer, on low speed, for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into greased bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. After cooling, frost the top with chocolate icing (recipe follows). – http://www.parenthood.comDeath-by-chocolate icing23 cup sugar3 tablespoons milk3 tablespoons butter12 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips1 teaspoon vanillaCombine sugar, milk and butter in saucepan. Heat to boiling, boil 30 seconds. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips. Stir until completely melted. Add vanilla and stir well. Recipe may be doubled for larger cakes.- Lee Devenish


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