This Sunday is Valentine’s day, if you’re spending it with a hunky-chunk of man sandwich, my hat’s off to you. Conversely, I will be spending Feb 14th manless. Don’t cry for me Argentina, because I’ll be surrounded by my closest girlfriends, so cupid can suck it. I serve amazing appetizers loaded with garlic and onions (basically all the stuff lovers have to avoid) and one brilliant cocktail, the Chocolate Valentini.

When we’re all a bit tipsy, I put our names in a bowl and each of us shares why we’re grateful for the girl we randomly pick. It starts off funny, then pretty soon, the hankies come out, and before you can say Thelma and Louise, we all look like raccoons with bad allergies.

While I’d never steal another girl’s valentine, I’m not above stealing another girl’s drink recipe. This one comes from Cosmopolitan Magazine (the UK version – I know, I’m so global.) It’s made with chocolate and raspberries and my girlfriends swear it’s better than a heart-shaped box of stale chocolates any day.

Chocolate Valentini (or, the “who needs a guy when you have great friends-atini”)

Ingredients:

2 parts raspberry vodka


1 ½ parts white chocolate liqueur


1 part blended frozen raspberries

1 squeeze of dark chocolate syrup
 for inside the glass

(some chocolate dipped strawberries for the garnish if you’re feeling fancy schmancy)

Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into martini glasses coated with dark chocolate syrup.

Valentine’s Day is a time for exchanging loving sentiments punctuated with warm feelings of admiration and affection. Just because I’m single doesn’t mean I have to be alone on Feb 14th. I’m grateful for Valentinis because on Sunday I’m going to get a little drunk and tell everyone how they’ve personally affected my life – particularly cupid, that lazy bastard.

That’s why I’m grateful for Valentinis.